Modern Apparel Printing: DTG vs DTF T-Shirt Printing
The custom apparel industry has experienced a massive technological revolution in the last five years. If you are starting a clothing brand or outfitting a corporate team, you are no longer limited to traditional screen printing. The two most advanced digital decoration methods today are Direct to Garment (DTG) and Direct to Film (DTF).
The Soft Feel of DTG
Direct to Garment works exactly like it sounds, utilizing a highly specialized inkjet printer.
- The Process: Water-based ink is sprayed directly into the fibers of a cotton t-shirt.
- The Result: The print feels incredibly soft and breathes exceptionally well because the ink becomes part of the fabric itself. It is perfect for highly detailed photographs on 100% cotton shirts.
The Vibrancy and Versatility of DTF
Direct to Film is the newest and most versatile technology on the market.
- The Process: Your highly detailed design is printed onto a specialized clear film, backed with an adhesive powder, and then permanently heat-pressed onto the garment.
- The Result: It is incredibly vibrant, highly durable, and sits beautifully on top of the fabric.
The Raven32 Recommendation
While DTG is amazing for pure cotton, it completely fails on synthetic athletic wear. As printing and promotional experts, we utilize DTF heavily because it is the absolute modern standard for printing complex, multi-color logos onto tricky fabrics like waterproof polyester, nylon jackets, and gym bags. Contact us today to use the perfect printing technology for your apparel.