DTF Printing Guide For Custom T Shirts and Apparel

28/01/2026

DTF printing is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about options for custom clothing in the UK, especially for anyone ordering custom T-shirts, hoodies or workwear for the first time. If you are comparing printing methods and keep coming across those three letters, there is a good reason for it. DTF gives designers and brands a flexible way to put detailed, colourful artwork onto a wide range of garments without needing huge order quantities.

At A4 Apparel, we work with businesses, schools, teams and organisations that want their clothing to look professional and feel comfortable, without blowing the budget. This beginner’s guide explains what DTF printing actually means, how the process works, what you can print on, how good the quality is, and the key pros and cons, so you can decide if it is right for your next custom clothing project.

What DTF Printing Means and How It Differs

DTF stands for Direct to Film printing. Instead of printing directly onto the fabric, we print your design onto a special transparent film. That printed film is then transferred to the garment using heat and pressure from a heat press, bonding the design to the fabric.

It sits alongside other popular decoration methods you may already know:

  • Screen printing, where ink is pushed through a stencil onto the garment, is brilliant for simple designs and larger runs.
  • DTG (Direct to Garment), where a printer sprays ink straight into the fabric, ideal for soft-feel full-colour prints on cotton.
  • Vinyl printing, where shapes are cut from coloured vinyl sheets and pressed onto garments, is good for simple logos and names.
  • Embroidery, where thread is stitched into the fabric, is perfect for a classic, long-lasting corporate or school look.

DTF is carving out a strong place in the custom T-shirt and workwear market because it handles detailed, full-colour designs well, even on smaller orders and mixed sizes. Many UK businesses, schools and teams are choosing it for staff uniforms, promotional garments and club clothing when they want colourful logos or artwork without committing to very large volumes.

How the DTF Printing Process Works Step by Step

From the customer side, DTF feels quite straightforward, but a lot is happening behind the scenes to get a sharp, durable print.

First comes artwork preparation. You provide your logo or design, ideally as a high-resolution file in a suitable format, and tell us where it should sit on your custom T-shirts, hoodies or uniforms. We then check sizing, colours and positioning, and prepare the file so it will print cleanly to film.

Next is printing to film. A specialised DTF printer lays down the coloured inks, usually CMYK, along with a white ink layer. The design is typically printed in reverse, so that when it is transferred, the colours sit correctly and the white ink forms a solid base on the garment, especially useful on darker fabrics.

After printing, the wet ink on the film is coated with a fine hot-melt adhesive powder. The excess powder is shaken off, then the film passes through a curing unit. This melts the adhesive and sets the inks, leaving you with a ready-to-press transfer sheet.

The final stage is heat pressing to the garment. We place the film onto the T-shirt, hoodie or piece of workwear, ink side down, then apply a set temperature, time and pressure using a heat press. Once it cools slightly, the film is peeled away, leaving the design on the fabric. A quick finishing press may follow to smooth the surface and improve durability.

From your point of view, you simply need to supply:

  • Clear logo or artwork files
  • Brand colours or style guidelines
  • The garments you want (or choose from what we offer)
  • Quantities and sizes for each design

We handle printing, curing and pressing, and we will talk you through what will work best for your design before anything goes into production.

What DTF Can Print on and When It Works Best

One of DTF printing’s main attractions is the wide range of fabrics it works on. Because the design is carried on a film and bonded with adhesive, it is suitable for cotton, poly-cotton blends, 100% polyester and many performance fabrics that are popular in sportswear and activewear. That flexibility opens up a lot of possibilities for matching your branding across different items.

Typical products include custom T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, sports tops, school leavers hoodies, workwear, uniforms, tote bags and some types of caps, depending on fabric and construction. This makes it easier to keep a consistent look across your whole team or organisation.

DTF also performs well on both light and dark garments. The white ink layer sits under the colours on darker fabrics, so bold designs still pop instead of sinking into the background. This is a big help for brands with strong colour palettes or detailed logos.

Design-wise, DTF is very good at handling:

  • Gradients and soft shading
  • Photographic images
  • Small text and fine lines
  • Multi-coloured artwork with complex details

This is where it often outperforms vinyl or traditional screen printing, which can struggle with very small elements or lots of colours on shorter runs. For UK customers who need smaller quantities, frequent design tweaks or different designs across a range of garments, DTF can be a very practical choice.

Is DTF Good Quality for Everyday Wear?

Quality is usually the next big question after cost. With DTF printing, the feel and finish of the print are slightly different from some other methods, but in a good way for most everyday uses. The transfer sits on the surface of the fabric, so you can feel it, especially on larger solid areas, but it is flexible enough for regular wear and movement.

In terms of durability, DTF prints are designed to cope with normal washing and wearing, as long as the garment is cared for properly. Washing inside out, using moderate temperatures and avoiding very hot tumble drying will all help extend the life of the print. Fabric type matters too, since some materials hold colour and shape better over time.

Colour and detail are strong points. The prints tend to be vibrant, with sharp edges and crisp fine lines, even on darker garments. Photographs, gradients and intricate logos often look more accurate compared with some other techniques that need artwork to be simplified.

For everyday custom T-shirts used as staff uniforms, DTF gives a professional look with solid colour and good legibility. On sports kits, it can cope with movement and sweat, though fabric choice and wash care become even more important. For promotional items like event T-shirts, tote bags or hoodies, the balance of cost, colour and print quality is usually very appealing.

Pros and Cons of DTF Printing for Beginners

If you are new to custom clothing, it helps to see the key advantages and drawbacks side by side.

Main advantages of DTF printing:

  • Works on a wide range of fabric types and colours
  • Handles bright colours, gradients and detailed artwork well
  • Cost-effective for low to medium order quantities and mixed sizes
  • Straightforward to reorder once your artwork is set up

Main drawbacks to be aware of:

  • The print has a different feel to screen printing, especially on large solid blocks
  • Not always the most economical option for very high-volume, single-colour runs
  • Final quality depends a lot on the equipment, inks and application technique used

In practice, this means DTF is often ideal for eye-catching event wear, club and team gear, branded hoodies, and many staff uniforms where you need colour and detail. For simple one-colour text prints in very large numbers, traditional screen printing may still come out ahead on price. For a premium, textured look on polos or heavy-duty workwear, embroidery will usually be a better fit.

Choosing the Right Printing Method for Your Project

So, when should you pick DTF for your custom T-shirts, hoodies or uniforms? It is usually a strong option when you want full-colour or detailed designs, need flexibility across different garment types, or are working with small to medium quantities. It is also helpful if your branding relies on gradients, fine lines or photographic elements that would be difficult to recreate accurately with vinyl or simple screen prints.

There are times when another method is a better match. Classic corporate polos or knitwear often look best embroidered. Very tough workwear that is likely to see heavy abrasion might call for specific decoration approaches chosen with durability as the main priority. High-volume, single-colour promotional shirts may still be more efficient with traditional screen printing.

Before you speak to a custom clothing supplier such as A4 Apparel, it helps to have a few details ready: approximate quantities, garment types, preferred colours, your logo files and your deadline. With that information, we can suggest whether DTF printing, screen printing, embroidery or a mix of methods will give you the right balance of appearance, comfort and cost for your next order.

Bring Your Brand To Life With Quality Printed Tees

If you are ready to turn your idea into high-quality custom t-shirts, we are here to make the process simple and reliable. At A4 Apparel, we help you choose the right garments, print methods and finishes so your design looks sharp and lasts. Whether you need a small run for an event or a large order for your business, we will guide you from artwork to delivery. If you would like tailored advice or a quote, just contact us.

Written and published by A4 Apparel Limited.