DTF explained

What is DTF?

DTF (Direct-to-Film) is a printing method where your design is printed onto film and heat-pressed onto fabric, giving vibrant, durable, flexible results on almost any material.

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What is DTF?

DTF prints on cotton, polyester, blends, denim, canvas and more, in vivid full colour with fine detail and smooth gradients. The finish is soft, stretchy and crack-resistant, and unlike vinyl there are no minimum colours and no weeding. If you can press it, you can probably print it.

Works on almost anything
Cotton, polyester, blends, denim, canvas, workwear and more. One transfer type covers your whole range.
Full colour, fine detail
Vivid prints with gradients, photographic detail and small text, all in a single pass.
Soft, stretchy, durable
A thin, flexible finish that moves with the garment and resists cracking wash after wash.
No minimums, no weeding
Order one transfer or a thousand. No colour limits, no vinyl trimming, no fiddly prep.
What sets us apart

We print in 9 colours, not 5

A standard DTF printer runs five ink channels: CMYK plus white. We run a 9-colour DTF system (CMYK plus Red, Green, Blue, Orange and White). That wider gamut reaches colours a five-channel printer physically cannot reproduce.

Richer, more vivid colourBright oranges, greens and blues that stay true on fabric.
Accurate skin tonesPortraits and photographic artwork print naturally, not muddy.
Smoother gradientsSoft blends and fades without banding or harsh steps.
Standard DTF 5 channels
C M Y K W
YDTF 9 channels
C M Y K R G B O W
+ Red, Green, Blue and Orange

How DTF works

Five steps from artwork to finished garment. We handle the first three, you handle the press.

01
Print
Your artwork is printed in reverse onto specialist PET film using our 9-colour process, with a white ink backing.
02
Powder
A hot-melt adhesive powder is applied to the wet ink, and the excess is shaken away.
03
Cure
The film is heated so the powder melts and bonds with the ink, ready for pressing.
04
Press
Position the film on your garment and heat press at around 150-160°C for about 10 seconds.
05
Peel & finish
Peel away the film, then give the print a short final press for a durable, wash-resistant finish.

DTF vs other methods

DTF wins on full-colour detail, no minimum order, fabric range and soft feel. Here is how it compares.

DTF
Screen printing
Vinyl (HTV)
Ink channels
9-colour DTF system here at YDTF (CMYK plus Red, Green, Blue, Orange and White)
Mixed by hand, one screen per colour
One solid colour per layer
Colour and detail
Unlimited colours, gradients and fine detail
Priced per colour, gradients are tricky
Solid colours only
Minimum order
None, from a single transfer
Setup costs favour larger runs
None, but slow at volume
Fabric range
Cotton, polyester, blends, denim, canvas
Best on cotton
Most flat fabrics
Feel and stretch
Soft, thin and stretchy
Soft on light ink coverage
Thicker, can feel heavy
Prep required
None, arrives ready to press
Screens made for every design
Cutting and weeding by hand

We print, you press

Every order arrives as ready-to-press transfers. No printer, no inks, no film to handle. Position the transfer, press for around 10 seconds, peel, and your design is on the garment. All you need is a heat press.

Ready to order your transfers?

Upload your artwork today, or try our quality for yourself first.

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