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Have you been thinking about upgrading to DTF printing lately? Maybe you’re coming from DTG or another printing method.
Either way, we bet the idea of making the switch to DTF has crossed your mind more than once.
Sometimes, we’re our own biggest obstacle—we get in our own way.
Deep down, we know it’s time to upgrade our apparel decorating equipment. We know switching from DTG to DTF is the right thing to do.
Yet, we hesitate.
Why? What’s holding us back?
Are we waiting for a sign? A miracle? A stroke of luck? Maybe we’re hoping it’ll just show up on our doorstep one day?
Sure, that would be great—who doesn’t love free stuff? But, that’s just wishful thinking on our part.
The change we need won’t come knocking on its own. It won’t walk through the door. It’s on us to make it happen!
The good news? Often, all it takes to get out of our own way is a subtle shift in thinking—letting go of overthinking and overanalyzing every little detail.
And that’s exactly what this article is here to help with. Think of it as your first step—a bridge that will help you transition from DTG to DTF with as little friction as possible.
On this page (and during our time together), we’ll explore DTF from just about every angle. We’ll start by giving you a basic overview of DTG and DTF printing. Then, we’ll dive into fabric limitations and production constraints of DTG printing, so you can see just how DTF printers overcome these challenges.
But that’s just the beginning. We’ll also discuss how adding a DTF printer to your customization business can set you up for growth right from day one.
Finally, we’ll shine a spotlight on ColDesi DTF printers and provide links to educational resources, how-to articles, video demonstrations, and where to buy one.
We hope you’re as excited to read this guide as we were to put it together.
Let’s get started!
Quick poll: rate, from 1 to 10, how much do you know about DTF and DTG printing? If you’re above a 5 or already familiar with the basics, feel free to skip ahead to the next section.
Still, it might be worth sticking around—you could learn something new or get a quick refresher on what you already know!
That said, let’s ease into things here. A good place to start would be to begin talking about the DTG.
DTG stands for “direct-to-garment” printing, and the name says it all. This method uses specialized inkjet technology to spray your design directly onto textiles and garments with water-based inks.
DTG is ideal for smaller print runs (typically up to 100 garments or more), making it perfect for custom orders or small batches. It works especially well for designs with multiple colors, gradients, or fine details.
What can you print on? DTG printing is perfect for fabrics like t-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel. You can print on black or dark polyesters, cotton, and blends, as well as whites. Whether it’s the front, back, sleeves, collars, or even shirt tags, DTG can handle it all.
Now, let’s go one layer deeper into how it works.
The way DTG printing works is rather simple, though it does require a few steps. We’ve outlined each step briefly below.
1. Pretreatment: First, the garment is pretreated with a bonding agent (typically with an aquatic polymeric emulsion) to prepare the fabric for the water-based inks.
2. Printing: Once pretreated, the garment is mounted on a platen. Then, the design is sprayed directly onto the fabric using water-based inks.
3. Curing: After printing, the ink is still wet. To set the design, you’ll need to cure it with heat using a heat press.
And there you have it—an extremely oversimplified way of looking at this. While basic, it does the job and provides a solid summary.
Now, before we get to the DTF and see how it outperforms DTG in almost every way, let’s be fair and give DTG some credit. To its defense, it does have its “green benefits,” which is why so many of us have used it for years—and why many still do today.
So, let’s go through them real quick.
DTG printing produces minimal waste because it only applies ink where needed, reducing excess ink, and use of intermediate setup materials like transfer films, or powder adhesives.
Many DTG printers use water-based inks, which are less harmful to the environment compared to solvent-based alternatives or plastisol inks.
DTG printers often consume less energy than some traditional printing equipment.
And that wraps up our overview of DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing. We hope this section gave you a solid refresher on this printing technology. Now you know what it is, how it works, what it’s used for (and the materials it works best with), as well as its key benefits and strengths.
Now, let’s do the same thing, but for DTF.
DTF is short for “direct-to-film” printing. If the acronym sounds familiar, it’s because two of the three letters overlap with DTG (direct-to-garment) printing. This similarity can make it easy to confuse the two. Once you get your head around it, you’ll see that they’re like two brothers from different mothers—similar but not quite the same.
As the name suggests, DTF involves printing your artwork (using water-based pigment inks) onto a special PET (polyethylene terephthalate) transfer film, which is then transferred onto the garment (or other substrates) using a heat press.
That’s where the ‘direct-to-film’ name comes from.
DTF is a new and improved technology in the custom apparel and product decoration industry, and one of its most notable advantages is its versatility. Unlike traditional methods, DTF allows you to press transfers immediately, store them for later use, or even sell them to other decorators, offering you flexibility that was previously unavailable.
Imagine adding a logo or image to a t-shirt or hoodie. While there are many ways to do this, DTF printing is one of the newest and most exciting methods.
Before DTF, decorators primarily relied on traditional methods such as screen printing, white toner printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, and embroidery to apply designs to products. While these methods were effective, they each had limitations.
However, times have changed, and it’s all about DTF now. It far outperforms traditional printing methods in pretty much every area: image quality, speed, durability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness over the long term.
Interestingly, the process behind DTF printing is quite similar to that of white toner printing and even DTG printing, especially if you’ve worked with DTF transfers before. This means decorators familiar with these methods will find the transition to DTF seamless.
Let’s walk through the process to give you a solid understanding of how it works.
Now, to complete the picture, we can’t skip over how DTF works.
So, in this section, let us walk you through the typical printing process, from design to print to the final press.
By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of the steps involved and how they come together to produce high-quality prints.
1. Design Creation: The first step is to create a digital design you want to print. These days, there are plenty of ways to do that. For a more customized approach, you can work with advanced tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or GIMP, or for a quicker start you can choose from ready-made templates available on online platforms.
2. Printing onto Film: Once the design is ready, it’s printed onto a special translucent PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film using a DTF printer with specialized water-based pigment inks. These inks are OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certified. A DTF printer typically uses the CMYKW color gamut, meaning it prints with five ink colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White, and Black (Key).
3. Film Preparation: Additional steps may include applying adhesive or powder to enhance adhesion to the fabric.
4. Transfer to Fabric: The film with the design is placed onto the item (like a shirt, hoodie, or tote bag), and a heat press is then used to press the design onto the fabric.
5. Peeling and Finishing: After the transfer, the film is peeled away, leaving behind the printed design on the fabric.
In broad strokes, that’s how DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing works. It might seem like a lot at first, but trust us—once you get the hang of it, it’ll feel like second nature. In fact, it’s one of the easiest pieces of equipment to operate, hands down.
Just like we did before, let’s take a closer look at some of the specific benefits and advantages DTF has over DTG.
You can read more about how the DTF printing process works by clicking here.
The main advantage of DTF is that it can be applied to a wide variety of soft and hard surfaces, including cotton, nylon, polyester, synthetic fabrics, treated leather, silk, polyester blends, ceramics, wood, metal, and even heat-resistant plastics. Additionally, the transfers can be applied to both light and dark fabrics.
With DTF printing, there’s no need to pre-treat fabrics before applying designs. This makes DTF faster, easier, and more efficient, especially for bulk production or last-minute orders. This is a big advantage over DTG, which requires pre-treatment for certain fabrics.
DTF transfers are incredibly portable and versatile. This means you can print designs ahead of time, store them for later, move them to another part of production, sell them as wholesale transfers, and even transport them to different locations for on-the-spot application at events like live shows, pop-up shops, concerts, or festivals. Unlike DTG, which requires the garment to be printed directly on-site, DTF gives you the freedom to print and press wherever and whenever you need.
We hope you’re keeping up with us here. If you’ve been following along, you should now have a good understanding of what DTF and DTG printing are, the difference between the two, how and when to use each one.
Now we can move onto the fun stuff! Before we get there, though, let’s take a moment to explore the challenges and limitations of DTG printing.
There’s still plenty to cover, so keep on reading.
DTG printing had its time and place—and it still does. But as technology has advanced, newer methods like DTF printing have come along, highlighting some of DTG’s shortcomings into focus.
You might be wondering, “What are they?” Well, we’ve outlined a few below that you should know about if you don’t already.
Fabric Limitations: DTG is ideal for cotton but struggles with polyester, blends, and other materials.
Production Constraints: Challenges with high-volume orders and multi-garment versatility.
Print Placement Flexibility: DTG printing is limited to flat, smooth surfaces and typically used for specific areas like the chest or back of a shirt.
Color Vibrancy and Opacity: In DTG printing, colors are sprayed and embedded directly onto the fabric’s surface, which can make it challenging to achieve bright and opaque colors, especially on dark fabrics.
Honestly, we could go on and on, but you get the point—DTG printing has its place, but it falls short compared to DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing in several key areas. From versatility to vibrancy and beyond, the differences are hard to ignore.
That brings us to DTF.
Now that you’re familiar with the limitations of DTG printing, let’s talk about DTF.
With DTF printing, things look a lot more promising.
Simply put, it’s the upgrade you’ve been waiting for. It’s faster, more versatile, and delivers crisper, brighter prints—everything DTG falls short on.
Versatility: DTF can print on a wide range of fabrics, including synthetic materials.
Durability: DTF transfers are robust and maintain vibrancy through numerous washes.
Efficiency: Faster production for high-volume needs or last-minute orders.
Cost-Effectiveness: DTF printers are more cost-effective than traditional printing systems. While the initial investment is high, the long-term savings are significant. Consumables are notably more economical, too. Even small savings here and there can quickly add up, potentially saving your business hundreds or even thousands of dollars each month.
Printing Speed and Volume: DTF printers are built for high-volume, high-speed, full-color printing. If you’re aiming for quick turnaround times or large output, they’re an ideal choice. No one wants to deal with long wait times, especially for custom orders with tight deadlines—yesterday was when they needed their items! Fortunately, DTF printers can easily meet these demanding requirements. They’re often faster in production since you can pre-print designs on film and apply them as needed, making them perfect for bulk orders. Plus, you can store DTF transfers for future use or even sell them online.
Environmental Impact & Sustainability: DTF printing offers a cleaner, greener alternative to traditional printing methods. Unlike plastisol inks, which rely on harmful chemicals, DTF uses liquid, water-based inks that are not only safer for the environment but also safer for the people wearing the printed designs.
At the core of DTF printing are liquid pigment inks in the CMYK + W color model — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (black), and White. These inks are specially formulated (and calibrated) to bond with the PET transfer film and fabric, ensuring vibrant, long-lasting prints.
The benefits go beyond the inks themselves. DTF printing generates fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and emits minimal pollutants into the air. Plus, the printers come with built-in purifiers that filter out any smoke or residue during the process, making it a cleaner, more sustainable option for both the planet and the people involved.
Detail and Color: DTF printers deliver vibrant, high-resolution, full-color prints with exceptional accuracy and fine detail.
Whether you’re printing on cotton, polyester, or blends, these printers reproduce true-to-life colors, deep contrasts, rich blacks, and sharp, readable text. DTF printers work great on both light and dark fabrics, and the improvements are especially noticeable when you have high contrast between dark and light elements.
Additionally, they are suitable for both white and black soft and hard-surface items.
You’ll get impressive color reproduction that closely matches the hues in your original artwork. Thanks to their high resolution, both text and images remain crisp, clear, and easy to read.
High Stretchability and Soft Hand Feel: The texture of the prints is smooth and pleasant to the touch.
Consistency & Stability: When it comes to reliability, there’s no system that matches DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing. After hundreds of production hours under its belt, DTF printers have consistently shown themselves to be incredibly consistent and stable.
Maintenance: You will find that DTF printers are built to be remarkably durable and sturdy. The construction and overall design of these printers go well beyond the average. They are packed with high-quality parts and components that hold up for years. Best of all, they’re easier to maintain than DTG printers—you won’t have to clean them as often, and they’re less likely to clog.
No Pretreatment Required: As mentioned earlier in the article, DTF printing eliminates the need for pretreating fabrics before applying designs. This is a major advantage over DTG, which requires pretreatment for certain fabrics. Not only does this save time, but it also simplifies the printing process, allowing you to focus more on creativity and production rather than preparation.
Easy Application: DTF makes it simple to apply artwork to difficult or hard-to-reach areas of garments or fabrics. As we learned in the beginning, the process involves printing a design onto a special film, which is then transferred to the fabric using heat. This simplicity makes production quicker and easier.
Automation: DTF printers handle most tasks automatically, reducing the need for hands-on involvement on your part.
These machines come equipped with fully automated onboard systems that simplify the entire printing process from start to finish.
Key features include an automatic adhesive powder application and curing system, as well as a film-feeding mechanism that smoothly moves the film through the printer.
These systems work together to minimize manual effort and boost efficiency.
Additionally, the integrated design software allows you to tweak designs in real time and save settings for future use.
Real-time sensors and monitoring features detect issues such as misalignment or low ink levels.
With these features, users can remotely monitor, manage, and even update print jobs from a distance.
Did we leave anything out? Even if we did, the key takeaway is that DTF printing offers unmatched capabilities.
With all the benefits it brings, DTF printing is a practical option for most decorators.
It provides consistent results, is relatively easy to use, and works well on a variety of materials.
Plus, with constant innovation in the industry, you can be sure that the best is yet to come.
But enough of that, we must talk about what happens when you add this printer to your workshop—what kind of results can you hope to see?
Well, let’s look at that next.
Want to learn more about how DTF can help your business? Check THIS out!
One of the main reasons you’re considering upgrading to a DTF printer is the new opportunities it can open up for your business.
While DTG or any other printing method has helped get you to where you are today, it’s not what will take you to where you’re meant to go next, you know that all too well.
You’ve probably asked yourself, “Will this enable me to do more?”
So, let’s take a little time to answer that question and see what a DTF printer can do for your business.
Expands Product Offerings: With a DTF printer, you’re not limited to just t-shirts or traditional apparel. You can apply transfers on a wide variety of items, including hoodies, bags, footwear, and even non-clothing products like mugs, phone cases, and more. Plus, you can print on materials such as wood, acrylic, metal, plastic, ceramics, paper, and cardboard.
Increases Profitability: DTF printing cuts down on material costs and waste, so you’re saving money with every print. Faster turnarounds and lower production costs mean you can take on more orders, increase your margins, and keep your business profitable.
Flexibility for Customer Needs: Whether you’re dealing with bulk orders, custom one-offs, or printing on hard-to-print fabrics, a DTF printer gives you the flexibility to handle all kinds of customer requests. You can quickly adapt to new trends, offer unique designs, and tackle complex orders that other printing methods (such as DTG) might struggle with. This flexibility can help you build stronger relationships with your clients and attract a loyal customer base.
That, in part, is how DTF helps set your business apart from competition. So, will a DTF printer enable you to do more? The answer is a resounding yes—and then some.
With all of these benefits combined, you’re not just upgrading your equipment—you’re upgrading your entire business model!
Speaking of which, let’s cut to the chase and talk about the DTF printer models—you’ve waited long enough!
If you’ve made it this far, your wallet’s already out, and your credit card’s in hand.
You’re just waiting for us to point you to the DTF printer that’s worth your money and meets your specific needs.
Well, here it is. In this section, we’re shining the spotlight on the ColDesi line of DigitalHeat FX DTF (Direct-to-Film) printers.
Each of the printers on this list has undergone rigorous testing with hundreds of production hours logged. Over the years, these models have been continuously refreshed and updated to deliver nothing but the best.
So, take your time to go through each one of them. Learn about the many similarities and differences that make them special in their own right. After all, you’re going to be spending a lot of time together.
Once you’ve made up your mind about this, put yourself forward! At the bottom of this page, you’ll see a quick form. Just fill it out with a few basics—your name, contact info, and the printer you’re interested in—and hit “send”.
After that, a product specialist will reach out to you directly to answer any questions, go over the details, and help you finalize your order.
If you’d like some time to think it over, we’ve made it easy for you to further your knowledge about this technology at your own pace, in one place!
You’ll find a variety of resources—articles to read, videos to watch, and demonstrations to follow—all conveniently gathered in one spot for you.
When you’re ready, simply come back, and we’ll be here for you!
See you on the other side!
Not sure which DTF printer package is right for you? Give this buyers-guide a read.
Continue growing your DTF knowledge with detailed explainers, guides, articles, video demonstrations, and podcasts.
