DTF Printing for Full-Color Custom Merch
Direct-to-film (DTF) printing transfers full-color artwork onto apparel using heat. It works on dark fabrics, polyester and blends, with no screens or per-color setup.
Free written pricing, usually within one business day.
Recent DTF work: a large cream tiger graphic across the back of navy zip hoodies for Whitney High School Club Chang'an, paired with personalized chest embroidery on every piece. See the case study
- Typical minimums
- 3 pieces per style and color, blank or decorated
- Timeline
- 3-4 weeks standard; small runs with ready artwork can move faster
What we offer
- Full-color transfers with no color-count limit and no screen setup
- Opaque prints on black, navy, and other dark garments without a pretreatment step
- Printing on polyester, cotton, and blends, including performance fabrics
- Large back panels, chest prints, and sleeve placements
- Mixed decoration on one garment, such as an embroidered chest with a DTF back
- Small runs from the same 3-piece minimum as every other order
Who this is for
- Teams putting full-color artwork on dark or navy garments
- Clubs and schools running personalized pieces alongside one shared graphic
- Brands printing on polyester or blended fabrics that DTG cannot hold
- Creators with illustrated or photographic art and a small first run
What drives the quote
- Print size
- Transfer cost scales with the printed area, so a large back panel costs more than a left chest
- Quantity
- Per-unit cost improves with volume; DTF stays workable on small runs because there is no screen setup
- Number of locations
- Each placement is its own transfer and its own press pass
- Garment type
- Fabric and color affect press settings; the exact blank is confirmed on your quote
- Artwork readiness
- High-resolution files (300 DPI at print size, transparent background) go straight to production
- Timeline
- Standard scheduling prices best; rush runs may carry a surcharge
Frequently asked questions
DTF stands for direct-to-film. blankup prints your artwork onto a transfer film, coats it with adhesive powder, cures it, then heat presses it onto the garment. There are no screens and no per-color setup, so a full-color design costs the same to set up as a one-color one.
Choose DTF when the artwork is full-color and the garment is dark, polyester, or a blend. DTG is softer but wants cotton-rich fabric, and screen printing is the better economic choice for simple designs at higher quantities. blankup recommends the method on your written quote once we see the art, the garment, and the quantity.
Yes. DTF is the most fabric-flexible method blankup runs: it holds color on cotton, polyester, and blends, and it stays opaque on black and other dark garments without the pretreatment step DTG needs.
A high-resolution file, ideally 300 DPI at the printed size, with a transparent background. PNG works well. Vector art (AI, EPS, PDF) is welcome but not required, and photographic or gradient artwork prints as-is.
DTF sits on the surface of the fabric rather than soaking into it, so it has a slight hand you can feel, similar to a smooth screen print. Large solid areas are more noticeable than fine line work.
Yes. Mixing decoration is common: an embroidered chest logo with a large DTF graphic on the back is one of the most requested combinations. blankup produced exactly that for Whitney High School Club Chang'an.
