DTF vs DTG: Which is Better?

What are DTG & DTF?

Here's the short of it. DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing applies ink directly onto the fabric, making it ideal for natural fabrics like cotton and producing high-detail prints, while DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing involves printing onto a transfer film first, which is then applied to the fabric, allowing for greater versatility on different fabric types, including synthetic blends, but potentially with a slightly less soft hand feel compared to DTG. Essentially, DTG is better for detailed designs on cotton and DTF is more flexible for various fabrics. DTF can also handle more complex designs with beautiful and vibrant colors.

DTG (Direct-To-Garment)

Direct-to-garment printing is a method where the ink is jetted directly onto the garment, which allows for high-quality, full-color prints. DTG is perfect for simple and bold designs, and it's best for cotton, bamboo, and other natural materials, as the material absorbs the ink. Production costs are also lower because we can have these printed one at a time, making DTG printing perfect for individual products as we only need to set the machine up once with the digital file.

If you'd like to order a custom DTG-printed product, make sure your file has a transparent background and has a 300 dpi (dots-per-inch), which is optimal for high-quality printing.

 

 (source: Printful)

DTF (Direct-To-Film)

As we mentioned earlier, Direct-To-Film printing involves printing onto a transfer film first, which is then applied to the fabric. 

Here are the basic steps of DTF printing:

1. The design is printed onto a special transfer film with water-based inks
2. The ink on the film is then coated with a special adhesive powder
3. Then, the design is transferred onto the fabric using a heat press

So Which is Better?

Both DTG and DTF provide amazing results, but it truly depends on the fabric on which you would like to print your design and your needs. Here's a simple table that breaks down the differences between DTG and DTF printing, along with care instructions that will help you to retain the quality of each for the lifetime of your printed garment.

When to choose direct-to-film printing

DTF technology will be better for your garment if you want a product made with polyester, nylon, fleece, or other synthetic materials. Printing on other items like bags and hats is also possible, giving you more product options.

However, if you want to print a large design, this printing technique might not be the right choice. That’s because DTF prints are added to the garment as a layer and if it’s a large solid print. This will make the garment less breathable if a large area is printed onto it using DTF means.

DTF prints can last longer than DTG because of the print’s elasticity. If you wash and iron DTF-printed garments inside out and avoid washing them in hot water, the design will look new even after many washes.

When to choose direct-to-garment printing

If you want to print on cotton and cotton-blend garments or products made with other natural materials, the DTG technique will be the best. With this method, you can print apparel and accessories like tote bags, so you'll have even more choices.

The DTG technique is also great for less complicated designs. DTG supports colorful images and designs as well. Direct-to-garment prints are very durable, long-lasting, and great for printing larger designs, as the prints are breathable. Just make sure to follow the garment’s care instructions.

Summary

To summarize, both DTG and DTF printed products possess great quality, vibrant colors allowing complex designs to be printed on a variety of garments and fabrics. Be sure to check out our catalog and see what kind of DTF and DTG products we make at SweetArt Workshop! Also, don't forget to sign up for our email newsletters so you can be the first to know when we have new arrivals, sales, and exclusive products in the shop.