DTG & DTF Printing - what is the difference, and which printing method should I choose?

As a shop owner in the Print on Demand industry, you've likely come across the abbreviations DTG and DTF. But what exactly do they entail, and what is the best choice for your products and, of course, for successful sales in your online shop? In this post, Printegy will unveil the secrets of these two technologies and help you make the optimal decision for your business. Because at the end of the day, it's not just about what you sell but also how it's made!

So, let's dive together into the world of printing and discover the difference between DTG and DTF, finding out which method aligns best with your needs!

DTG Printing:

DTG stands for "Direct To Garment," and you're probably quite familiar with it! You've likely seen it on T-shirts, long sleeves, and other clothing made from natural materials. When you touch a print made with DTG, you'll notice that the print on the fabric is barely perceptible. It feels soft and smooth—almost as if the design is woven directly into the fabric. This is because, in DTG printing, the ink penetrates directly into the fibers of the textile, resulting in a comfortable wearing experience.

The advantage of this technique lies in its ability to transfer detailed designs and vibrant colors onto the surface of fabrics. Essentially, DTG printing is similar to printing photos on paper, but applied to textiles. DTG is best suited for natural materials such as cotton, linen, and bamboo.

DTF Printing:

DTF stands for "Direct To Film" and differs significantly from DTG technology.

In this method, the design is initially printed onto a special film. This film serves as a carrier for the design and is coated with an adhesive layer that transfers the design to the target material (as DTF is not limited to textiles). Subsequently, the film is placed on the product to be printed and pressed with a heat press. Through heat and pressure, the ink on the film melts and is transferred to the material. Once the printing process is complete, and the material has cooled, the film is removed. Et voila - your product is ready!

In terms of the tactile feel, DTF printing creates a slightly raised pattern, and you can even feel the designs on products printed with DTF. Regarding application, DTF is highly versatile. As mentioned earlier, this technique is not limited to various textiles like cotton, polyester, spandex, denim, blends but can also be applied to a wide range of surfaces, including wood and even glass. This means that, thanks to DTF, you can incorporate not only clothing but also caps, hats, containers, glasses, etc., into your product lineup!

Which method should you choose for your products?

At Printegy, the printing technology used to create your products is already determined by us. This applies to products that are inherently not compatible with one or the other printing technology.

However, we value your individuality and grant you the full right to decide on the printing technology for other products that have the option for selection, for your online shop and your customers! You can choose this in your product editor when creating the product. This applies to T-shirts, sweatshirts, long-sleeve shirts, baby bodysuits, hoodies, and tops.

What should you choose now? This depends on various factors such as design type, design size, material, and, of course, your own preferences and the preferences of your valued customers! One thing to clarify: Both DTG and DTF are top-notch printing methods. Neither is worse nor better than the other. Both technologies have their strengths, which we have outlined below for your guidance:

However, it's always better to see and convince yourself once than to hear about it a hundred times. To personally verify the quality and appearance of two printing technologies, create two identical products with the same designs in the Printegy dashboard, but with different printing technologies—one with DTG and the other with DTF. Order the products through direct ordering and compare the two variants with your own eyes to choose the option that suits you. Order now and decide which is your favorite!