Print method

DTF Printing

Direct-to-film (DTF) prints your design onto a film, adds an adhesive powder, then heat-presses it onto the garment. It works on cotton, polyester and blends, so it's a flexible choice for mixed orders and mid-sized full-colour runs.

Get a quote Try it in the Merch Lab

A heat press applying a transfer to a t-shirt

Is it right for you?

Best for, and not ideal for

Best for

Full-colour designs on cotton, polyester and blends
Mixed-fabric orders (tees plus sports tops plus jackets)
Small to mid-sized runs
Names, numbers and multi-position prints

Not ideal for

Ultra-soft, no-feel prints (DTG is softer)
Very large runs of one simple design

Behind the scenes

How it works

Your design is printed in full colour onto a clear film.
Adhesive powder is applied and melted onto the print.
The transfer is heat-pressed onto the garment.
The film is peeled away, leaving the design bonded to the fabric.

The details

Minimums, durability and colour

Minimum order

5 units

Colours

No colour limit; gradients and photos are fine

Hand feel

Smooth and flexible; a thin layer sits on top of the fabric

Durability

Very good on most fabrics

Price guide

From $2.90 per print (ex GST); no per-colour setup, depends on garment and quantity

Setup

$63 one-off file-prep fee, half price on repeat orders with the same artwork

Turnaround

1 to 2 weeks from proof approval

Prices are indicative, in AUD and exclude GST. Your quote confirms the final price for your artwork, quantity and delivery. Benchmarked against competitor pricing and reasonable market defaults (Hasan, 2026-09-24) — confirm against real supplier costs and margin before launch.

How dtf printing rates

Detail and colour range
5 out of 5 Excellent
Durability
4 out of 5 Very good
Soft feel
3 out of 5 Good
Suits small runs
4 out of 5 Very good
Value in bulk
3 out of 5 Good

Compare

How it compares to the other methods

All print methods

Print methods compared. Ratings run from 1 (basic) to 5 (excellent). This table scrolls sideways on small screens.
Feature	Screen Printing	DTG Printing	DTF PrintingThis method	Sublimation Printing	Embroidery	Specialty Finishes
Detail and colour rangeFine lines, gradients and lots of colours	3 out of 5 Good	5 out of 5 Excellent	5 out of 5 Excellent	5 out of 5 Excellent	2 out of 5 Fair	3 out of 5 Good
DurabilityHow well it holds up to washing and wear	5 out of 5 Excellent	3 out of 5 Good	4 out of 5 Very good	5 out of 5 Excellent	5 out of 5 Excellent	4 out of 5 Very good
Soft feelHow light and comfortable it feels to wear	3 out of 5 Good	5 out of 5 Excellent	3 out of 5 Good	5 out of 5 Excellent	2 out of 5 Fair	1 out of 5 Basic
Suits small runsGood value for a handful of pieces	2 out of 5 Fair	5 out of 5 Excellent	4 out of 5 Very good	4 out of 5 Very good	3 out of 5 Good	3 out of 5 Good
Value in bulkHow much cheaper it gets on big orders	5 out of 5 Excellent	2 out of 5 Fair	3 out of 5 Good	3 out of 5 Good	3 out of 5 Good	2 out of 5 Fair
Best for	Runs of 25 pieces or more	Full-colour and photographic artwork	Full-colour designs on cotton, polyester and blends	Full-colour artwork, gradients and photographs	Left-chest logos on polos and workwear	Streetwear and merch drops
Minimum order	20 units	5 units	5 units	10 units	5 units	50 units
Colours	Priced per colour; most jobs use 1 to 4 colours	No colour limit; gradients and photos are fine	No colour limit; gradients and photos are fine	No colour limit; gradients and photographs are suitable	Thread colours matched from a chart; priced by stitch count	Depends on the finish; ask us for the current range
How it feels	Ink sits on the surface, so heavier coverage feels slightly raised	Very soft: the ink soaks into the fibres instead of sitting on top	Smooth and flexible; a thin layer sits on top of the fabric	No raised ink layer on compatible polyester fabric; the colour is part of the surface	Textured and slightly raised, with a stiffer feel under the logo	Textured: raised (puff) or smooth and reflective (foil, metallic)
Durability	Excellent: the toughest option for repeat washing	Good, though not as tough as screen printing over many washes	Very good on most fabrics	Excellent on compatible substrates; the design will not crack or peel	Outstanding: stitching outlasts most garments	Good with careful washing; avoid high heat
Setup	$63 setup per colour (screens), reusable for repeat orders at half price with the same artwork	$63 one-off file-prep fee, half price on repeat orders with the same artwork	$63 one-off file-prep fee, half price on repeat orders with the same artwork	$118 one-off file-prep fee, half price on repeat orders with the same artwork	$73 one-off digitising fee, half price on repeat orders with the same artwork	Extra setup for the effect layer, on top of the base print's setup
Price guide	From $1.50 per print at volume (ex GST); depends on garment, colours and quantity	From $7.90 per print (ex GST); no per-colour setup, depends on garment and quantity	From $2.90 per print (ex GST); no per-colour setup, depends on garment and quantity	From $27.90 per item (ex GST); depends on product, print area and quantity	From $3.90 per item (ex GST); depends on stitch count and quantity	From $3 per layer (ex GST), added on top of the base print's price

Where it's used

Products suited to dtf printing

T-Shirts
Custom tees for teams, events, brands and fundraisers.
Screen PrintingDTG Printing
from$10.50/unitex GST
Hoodies & Sweatshirts
Heavyweight, cosy and made to be worn on repeat.
Screen PrintingDTG Printing
from$34.00/unitex GST
Polos & Workwear
Sharp, embroidered uniforms for staff and trades.
EmbroideryDTF Printing
from$24.00/unitex GST
Caps & Headwear
Embroidered caps and beanies with your logo front and centre.
EmbroiderySpecialty Finishes
from$11.50/unitex GST
Tote Bags
Everyday carry-alls that keep your brand in view.
Screen PrintingDTG Printing
from$4.50/unitex GST
Hi-Vis & Uniforms
Hi-vis and workwear branded for the job site.
Screen PrintingDTF Printing
from$30.00/unitex GST

Questions

DTF Printing FAQs

Both handle full-colour artwork. DTG is softer and best on 100% cotton. DTF transfers work on more fabrics (cotton, polyester and blends) and are a good all-rounder for mixed orders. If you're unsure, tell us what you're printing on and we'll recommend one.

For PNG or JPG, aim for 300 dpi at the size it will print. For a 30 cm wide chest print, that's roughly 3,500 pixels across. Images saved from websites or social media are usually too small and print soft, so send the original file if you can.

Wash inside out in cold water, avoid bleach and high heat, and don't iron directly on the print. Hang dry or tumble dry on low.

Related methods

DTG Printing
Full-colour detail, printed straight into the fabric.
- Full-colour and photographic artwork
- Small runs and one-offs
How it works and what it costs
Screen Printing
The workhorse for bold, hard-wearing prints in bulk.
- Runs of 25 pieces or more
- Logos and bold graphics (1 to 4 colours)
How it works and what it costs

Ready to print with dtf printing?

Upload your artwork, tell us what you need, and we'll send a free digital proof and a firm price.

Get a quote Try the Merch Lab