Printing methods
DTG vs DTF: which one should you choose?
Choose DTG if your garment is 100% cotton and you want the softest possible print. Choose DTF for everything else — blends, polyester, and hats. Both are full colour, both print up to 15″×17″, and neither has a minimum order. The garment decides it more often than the artwork does.
The short version
DTG prints ink directly into the fabric. Nothing sits on top of the shirt, so it feels like the shirt. It needs cotton to soak into, which is why we only run it on 100% cotton tees and hoodies.
DTF prints your design onto a transfer film and presses it onto the garment. Because it doesn't rely on the fabric absorbing anything, it works on blends, polyester, and hats — the things DTG can't take.
When DTG is the better call
- The garment is 100% cotton
- You want the softest hand-feel available — a large print you'd otherwise feel as a panel on your chest
- The garment is a lighter colour. DTG ink soaks into the fibres rather than covering them, so it's brightest on light garments and more subdued on darks
When DTF is the better call
- The garment is polyester, a blend, or anything that isn't 100% cotton
- You're printing on hats
- You need punchy colour on a dark garment
- You're mixing garment types in one order and want every piece to match
The one thing DTF can't do is a knit beanie. A transfer has to press flat, and a ribbed knit won't give it a flat surface. Beanies are embroidery only.
What they have in common
- Full colour and photo-realistic — neither is limited to a set number of colours
- Priced by design size, up to 15″×17″
- No minimum order and no setup fee. One piece is a normal order
- Wash inside out and skip high heat, and both last
Ready to print it?
Upload your art, place it on the garment, and the price updates live. No minimum, no setup fee.