Choosing Small Batch Apparel: Heat Transfer Vinyl vs DTF Printing
For years, if you only needed five or ten custom shirts, the only affordable option was Heat Transfer Vinyl. However, apparel technology has evolved massively. Today, modern Direct to Film printing has completely disrupted the small-batch apparel market. Here is why you should upgrade your next order.
The Limitations of Vinyl
Heat transfer vinyl was great for its time, but it has severe drawbacks.
- The Feel: HTV leaves a thick, heavy plastic feel on the chest of the shirt that does not breathe at all.
- The Labor: It requires intense manual weeding, where a technician has to painstakingly pick out the tiny pieces of vinyl from the inside of your letters using a sharp tool.
The Superiority of DTF
Direct to Film completely eliminates the heavy plastic feel.
- The Feel: DTF provides an incredibly thin, breathable feel that moves naturally with the fabric.
- The Efficiency: Because the printer applies an adhesive powder only to the ink, absolutely no manual weeding is required, allowing for incredibly fast turnaround times.
The Raven32 Recommendation
We refuse to sell outdated technology. As your printing and promotional experts, we have completely replaced HTV with DTF printing in our facility. It feels much softer on the shirt and drastically outlasts vinyl, meaning it will not crack or peel aggressively after three trips through the washing machine. Reach out today to experience modern apparel printing.