Digital Printing

DTF vs DTG

Why It Matters:

Both processes produce high-quality digital prints, but they achieve the finished result differently.

DTF • Direct to Film

Artwork is digitally printed onto a transfer film before being heat pressed onto the garment. It's highly versatile, works across a broad range of apparel and materials, and allows us to produce detailed, full-colour designs quickly with no minimum order.

DTG • Direct to Garment

Artwork is printed directly into the fabric of the garment, creating a softer finish that's closer in feel to traditional screen printing. We generally recommend DTG for larger print areas where reducing the surface feel of the print is important. DTG has a minimum of 25 units and typically requires a little more production time than DTF.

Neither process is inherently better than the other. The artwork, garment, quantity and required turnaround determine which method will produce the best result.

Digital Printing FAQs

Is there a minimum order for digital printing?

DTF printing has no minimum order, making it one of our preferred methods for samples, small quantities and short production runs. DTG has a minimum of 25 units.

Can digital printing reproduce full-colour artwork?

Yes. Unlike screen printing, where each colour requires an individual screen, digital printing isn't priced or restricted by the number of colours in the artwork. This makes it particularly suited to detailed graphics, gradients, photographs and artwork containing many colours.

What is the difference in finish between DTF and DTG?

DTF is printed onto a film and then transferred onto the garment, creating a noticeable surface layer over the fabric. For large areas of solid artwork, we may recommend DTG instead, as the ink is printed directly onto the garment and creates a softer, more integrated finish.

Is DTF lower quality than screen printing or DTG?

No. Modern DTF printing can produce highly detailed, durable results with excellent colour reproduction and longevity. DTF, DTG and Screen Printing are simply different production methods, and we'll recommend the process best suited to the individual job.

Does digital printing get cheaper with larger quantities?

Not in the same way as Screen Printing. Digital printing generally carries a consistent print cost per unit, whereas the setup costs associated with Screen Printing are spread across the quantity as orders become larger. For higher-volume jobs, we may therefore recommend screen printing where it makes more commercial sense.

Is digital printing suitable for express orders?

Yes. DTF requires relatively little setup compared with other print methods, making it our preferred option for many express and quick-turnaround printing jobs.

What can you digitally print?

Our digital printing capabilities cover a broad range of apparel and merchandise, including T-shirts, hoodies, uniforms and hats. The versatility of DTF also allows us to work with products and print placements that aren't always suitable for traditional printing methods.

What is the maximum digital print size?

Our standard DTG print area is up to A3, while DTF can accommodate prints up to approximately 38 × 48 cm, depending on the garment and print placement.

What artwork files should I supply?

For the best result, we recommend artwork supplied at 300 DPI at the intended print size, ideally as a transparent PNG or suitable vector file such as SVG. If you're unsure whether your artwork is production-ready, send it through and our team can check it before printing.