Decoration method guide
DTF (Direct-to-Film)
Cotton, blends & poly
Last updated September 14, 2026
DTF prints the design onto a release film, bonds a hot-melt adhesive to the wet ink, then heat-presses the transfer onto the garment. It has become the fastest-growing method in the industry because it pairs full-color prints with no minimums across cotton, blends, and polyester alike. For small-batch decorators it has largely replaced both vinyl multicolor work and entry-level screen printing.
Quick take
- Best for
- Full-color prints with no minimums on cotton, blends, and polyester alike: one-offs, reorders, and mixed small-batch orders.
- Watch out
- Flat per-piece cost loses to screens on big runs, and large solid blocks can feel heavy or plasticky on lightweight tees.
DTF (Direct-to-Film) categories
Sweatshirt
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63 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3719
Unisex Sponge Fleece Hoodie Sweatshirt
$27.18
Retail $36.23
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Jacket
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4 colors
Independent Trading style number EXP24YWZ
Youth Lightweight Windbreaker Full-Zip Jacket
$24.95
Retail $33.27
Save up to 25%
How it works and where it wins
Every DTF transfer is printed with a high-opacity white A first layer of (usually white) ink printed under the design on dark garments. It stops the dark fabric from showing through and keeps colors bright. , so colors stay bright on any garment color (black, navy, red) with no A quick burst of heat applied between ink layers during screen printing. It gels the first color so the next color can print over it without mixing. or extra screens needed. Transfers can be gang-printed, stocked, and pressed on demand, which makes one-offs and reorders trivially cheap compared to burning screens.
The newer wave is powderless adhesive: jettable glue replaces the loose TPU powder shake, which means cleaner edges, a softer How a fabric feels against the skin. Printers also use it to describe the tactile thickness of an ink deposit (a thick plastisol print has "high hand"). , less mess, and less waste. Where it's available it nudges DTF from a craft-market tool toward higher-volume production.
What it asks of the blank
Almost nothing, and that's the pitch. Cotton, CVC blends, tri-blends, 100% poly, denim, canvas, and nylon all take DTF, so one transfer can decorate a mixed order of tees, hoodies, and totes. Fabric texture matters more than fiber: a smooth face presses cleaner than heavily slubbed or deeply ribbed surfaces.
Polyester still needs care. Press temperatures get dropped for synthetics to avoid scorch, shine marks, and On polyester, fabric dye can bleed up into an ink layer after heat is applied, especially with light inks on dark poly. Results in a washed-out or discolored print over time. ; the white A first layer of (usually white) ink printed under the design on dark garments. It stops the dark fabric from showing through and keeps colors bright. blocks most bleed, but bright poly in saturated colors is still worth testing first. Water-repellent finishes on some jackets and bags can also fight the adhesive.
Costs and common pitfalls
Per-piece cost is flat (the first shirt costs the same as the fiftieth), so DTF beats screen printing on short runs and loses to it on big ones; the crossover depends on color count, but high-volume single-design jobs still favor screens.
The classic complaints are How a fabric feels against the skin. Printers also use it to describe the tactile thickness of an ink deposit (a thick plastisol print has "high hand"). and breathability: a large solid DTF block sits on top of the fabric like a decal and can feel heavy or plasticky, especially on lightweight fashion tees. Distressed or A technique that simulates gradients and shading by printing tiny dots of solid color. The dots vary in size or spacing. Closer together they look darker; farther apart, lighter. designs, quality film, and powderless systems all soften it. Cheap transfers that crack or peel after a few washes are a supplier problem, not a method problem. Vet the vendor.
Browse DTF (Direct-to-Film) by category
DTF presses onto cotton, blends, and poly alike, so it spans the entire catalog by category. Each row previews a category's best, and the Shop all link opens the rest.
T-Shirt 286
Shop all 286 T-Shirt →
16 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 6405
Women’s Relaxed Jersey V-Neck Tee
$8.18
Retail $10.90
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31 colors
Rabbit Skins style number 3301T
Toddler Cotton Jersey Tee
$4.56
Retail $6.08
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34 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3001YCVC
Youth CVC Jersey Tee
$6.63
Retail $8.84
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Sweatshirt 176
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63 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3719
Unisex Sponge Fleece Hoodie Sweatshirt
$27.18
Retail $36.23
Save up to 25%
7 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3719Y
Youth Sponge Fleece Hoodie Sweatshirt
$23.66
Retail $31.54
Save up to 25%
6 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 7505
Women's Crop Raglan Crewneck Sweatshirt
$29.37
Retail $39.16
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7 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3719T
Toddler Sponge Fleece Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt
$21.57
Retail $28.75
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6 colors
Comfort Colors style number 1566L
Women's Garment-Dyed Mid-Length Crewneck Sweatshirt
$25.88
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41 colors
Gildan style number 18000
Unisex Heavy Blend™ Crewneck Sweatshirt
$10.56
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10 colors
Gildan style number 18000B
Youth Heavy Blend™ Crewneck Sweatshirt
$9.65
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29 colors
Gildan style number SF000
Unisex Softstyle® Midweight Crewneck Sweatshirt
$14.37
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15 colors
Gildan style number SF500B
Youth Softstyle® Midweight Hooded Sweatshirt
$16.71
Retail $22.29
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18 colors
Rabbit Skins style number 3317
Toddler Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt
$10.97
Retail $14.62
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31 colors
Rabbit Skins style number 3326
Toddler Pullover Fleece Hoodie
$15.35
Retail $20.45
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8 colors
Team 365 style number TT31HW
Women's Zone Sonic Heather Performance Quarter-Zip Pullover
$21.42
Retail $26.78
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42 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3901
Unisex Sponge Fleece Raglan Crewneck Sweatshirt
$25.64
Retail $34.17
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4 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3901Y
Youth Sponge Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt
$18.68
Retail $24.90
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Hat 62
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12 colors
Team 365 style number TT801Y
Youth Zone Performance Cap by Yupoong®
$11.12
Retail $13.90
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8 colors
Team 365 style number TT802Y
Youth Zone Peformance Trucker Cap by Yupoong
$11.12
Retail $13.90
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7 colors
Yupoong style number 6789M
Premium Curved Bill Snapback Cap
$10.67
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6 colors
Flexfit style number 110P
110® Cool & Dry Mini-Piqué Cap
$12.83
Retail $17.10
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4 colors
Flexfit style number 180AP
Delta® Snapback Perforated Cap
$21.32
Retail $28.43
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Bag 50
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6 colors
Liberty Bags style number 8871
Windward Large Cotton Canvas Classic Resort Tote
$24.50
Retail $32.67
Save up to 25%
4 colors
Liberty Bags style number 7006
Bay View Giant Zippered Tote
$16.11
Retail $21.48
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6 colors
Liberty Bags style number 8872
Carmel Classic XL Cotton Canvas Resort Tote
$27.71
Retail $36.93
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10 colors
Independent Trading style number INDDUFBAG
29L Day Tripper Duffel Bag
$25.56
Retail $34.09
Save up to 25%
3 colors
Liberty Bags style number 3906
27" Explorer Large Duffel Bag
$49.13
Retail $65.50
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Tank Top 42
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13 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 6003
Women's Jersey Muscle Tank
$6.78
Retail $8.84
Save up to 23%
14 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 6008
Women's Jersey Racerback Tank
$6.63
Retail $8.84
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34 colors
Comfort Colors style number 9360
Unisex Garment-Dyed Heavyweight Tank Top
$10.02
Retail $13.37
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26 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 8800
Women's Flowy Racerback Tank
$9.87
Retail $13.16
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Jacket 33
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4 colors
Independent Trading style number EXP24YWZ
Youth Lightweight Windbreaker Full-Zip Jacket
$24.95
Retail $33.27
Save up to 25%
20 colors
Independent Trading style number EXP54LWZ
Men's Lightweight Windbreaker Full-Zip Jacket
$27.11
Retail $36.15
Save up to 25%
6 colors
Independent Trading style number EXP60PAZ
Women's Poly-Tech Full-Zip Track Jacket
$30.05
Retail $40.06
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11 colors
Team 365 style number TT73
Unisex Zone Protect Lightweight Jacket
$24.72
Retail $30.90
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11 colors
Team 365 style number TT73Y
Youth Zone Protect Lightweight Jacket
$23.89
Retail $29.87
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17 colors
Team 365 style number TT80W
Women's Leader Soft Shell Jacket
$37.49
Retail $46.86
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1 color
Independent Trading style number EXP100PFZ
Men's Puffer Jacket
$57.63
Retail $76.83
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1 color
Independent Trading style number EXP200PFZ
Women's Puffer Jacket
$57.63
Retail $76.83
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4 colors
Independent Trading style number EXP64CRP
Women's Lightweight Quarter-Zip Pullover Crop Windbreaker
$27.77
Retail $37.01
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3 colors
Independent Trading style number EXP99CNB
Men's Water-Resistant Windbreaker Coach’s Jacket
$39.26
Retail $52.34
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9 colors
Team 365 style number TT80Y
Youth Leader Soft Shell Jacket
$37.49
Retail $46.86
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11 colors
Team 365 style number TT90W
Women's Campus Microfleece Jacket
$28.01
Retail $35.02
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5 colors
Team 365 style number TT70
Unisex Conquest Jacket with Mesh Lining
$40.78
Retail $50.98
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4 colors
Team 365 style number TT86W
Women's Dominator Waterproof Jacket
$71.68
Retail $89.60
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Pants 27
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3 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3738Y
Youth Sponge Fleece Sweatpants
$21.77
Retail $29.02
Save up to 25%
7 colors
Comfort Colors style number 1469
Unisex Garment-Dyed Lightweight Sweatpants
$28.95
Retail $38.60
Save up to 25%
9 colors
Gildan style number 18200
Unisex Heavy Blend™ Sweatpants
$16.74
Retail $22.33
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3 colors
Gildan style number 18200B
Youth Heavy Blend™ Sweatpants
$14.70
Retail $19.61
Save up to 25%
3 colors
Independent Trading style number PRM16PNT
Youth Lightweight Special Blend Sweatpants
$18.17
Retail $24.22
Save up to 25%
3 colors
Gildan style number 18400
Unisex Heavy Blend™ Open-Bottom Sweatpants
$17.84
Retail $23.77
Save up to 25%
4 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3725
Unisex Sponge Fleece Straight Leg Sweatpants
$29.70
Retail $39.61
Save up to 25%
5 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3738
Unisex Sponge Fleece Sweatpants
$24.86
Retail $33.14
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10 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 4737
Unisex 10 oz. Heavyweight Sweatpants
$33.23
Retail $44.31
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5 colors
Gildan style number 18100
Unisex Heavy Blend™ Pocket Sweatpants
$15.44
Retail $20.58
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8 colors
Gildan style number SF100
Unisex Softstyle® Midweight Pocket Sweatpants
$23.16
Retail $30.88
Save up to 25%
Polo Shirt 24
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21 colors
Team 365 style number TT21W
Women's Command Snag Protection Polo
$17.30
Retail $21.63
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5 colors
Team 365 style number TT51HW
Women's Zone Sonic Heather Performance Polo
$16.48
Retail $20.60
Save up to 20%
5 colors
Team 365 style number TT51HY
Youth Zone Sonic Heather Performance Polo
$16.48
Retail $20.60
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8 colors
Team 365 style number TT51W
Women's Zone Performance Polo
$11.95
Retail $14.93
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8 colors
Team 365 style number TT51Y
Youth Zone Performance Polo
$11.95
Retail $14.93
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13 colors
Gildan style number 64800
Unisex Softstyle® Pique Polo
$10.02
Retail $13.37
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9 colors
Gildan style number 64800L
Women's Softstyle® Pique Polo
$10.23
Retail $13.64
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21 colors
Team 365 style number TT21
Men's Command Snag Protection Polo
$17.30
Retail $21.63
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5 colors
Team 365 style number TT21C
Men's Command Snag-Protection Colorblock Polo
$20.60
Retail $25.75
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Accessories 14
6 colors
Independent Trading style number INDBKTSB
Special Blend Blanket
$34.71
Retail $35.66
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4 colors
Comfort Colors style number 15BT
Garment-Dyed Fleece Dorm Blanket
$62.09
Retail $82.78
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7 colors
Gildan style number 18900
Heavy Blend™ Fleece Stadium Blanket
$16.98
Retail $22.64
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4 colors
Liberty Bags style number FT001SC
Slim Can and Bottle Holder
$1.31
Retail $1.73
Save up to 24%
4 colors
Liberty Bags style number FT007SC
12 oz. Neoprene Slim Can and Bottle Holder
$2.03
Retail $2.70
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5 colors
Rabbit Skins style number 1110
Premium Jersey Infant Blanket
$10.55
Retail $14.07
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Shorts 14
2 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 6824GD
Women's Garment-Dyed Shorts
$18.68
Retail $24.90
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6 colors
Comfort Colors style number 1468
Unisex Garment-Dyed Lightweight Sweat Shorts
$22.25
Retail $29.66
Save up to 25%
9 colors
Independent Trading style number IND20SRT
Men's Midweight Fleece Shorts
$19.92
Retail $26.55
Save up to 25%
9 colors
Independent Trading style number PRM20SRT
Women’s Lightweight California Wave Wash Fleece Shorts
$18.12
Retail $24.16
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6 colors
Team 365 style number TT11SH
Men's Zone Performance Shorts
$10.13
Retail $12.67
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5 colors
Team 365 style number TT11SHW
Women's Zone Performance Shorts
$10.13
Retail $12.67
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5 colors
Team 365 style number TT11SHY
Youth Zone Performance Shorts
$10.13
Retail $12.67
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5 colors
Bella + Canvas style number 3724
Unisex Sponge Fleece Shorts
$25.01
Retail $33.35
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1 color
Independent Trading style number PRM50STMW
Unisex Mineral Wash Fleece Shorts
$24.56
Retail $32.73
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2 colors
Independent Trading style number PRM50STTD
Unisex Tie-Dyed Fleece Shorts
$24.56
Retail $32.73
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10 colors
Independent Trading style number PRM50STPD
Unisex Pigment-Dyed Fleece Shorts
$23.58
Retail $31.43
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5 colors
Team 365 style number TT115B
Unisex Zone Performance Reversible Shorts
$14.83
Retail $18.54
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5 colors
Team 365 style number TT115BY
Youth Zone Performance Reversible Shorts
$14.83
Retail $18.54
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Other 2
Dress Shirt 1
10 colors
Independent Trading style number EXP50F
Unisex Flannel Shirt
$41.96
Retail $55.94
Save up to 25%