Your Cart is Empty
If you've been shopping around for custom transfers, you've probably seen both DTF (Direct-to-Film) and DTG (Direct-to-Garment) on offer. They sound similar. They're not.
DTG prints directly onto a garment using a modified inkjet printer. The shirt goes in, the design comes out — no transfer step. DTF prints onto a special film, which is then heat-pressed onto any fabric you choose. The transfer step is what makes DTF flexible.
DTG requires pre-treatment on dark garments, which adds time and cost. It also works best on 100% cotton — polyester blends and performance fabrics don't hold DTG ink well. DTF has none of these limitations. It bonds to cotton, polyester, nylon, spandex, denim, and blends with equal durability.
For a run of 1–50 pieces, DTF is almost always cheaper per unit. No pre-treatment, no fabric restriction, no minimum. A single $10 gang sheet from DTF Vancouver can fit 3–6 standard logo transfers depending on size.
DTG has one real advantage: photorealistic prints on white or light cotton garments. If you're printing a full-chest photo-quality image on a white tee and you're decorating the garment yourself, DTG can look slightly softer to the touch. For apparel brands printing premium blanks in controlled conditions, that softness matters.
For most small businesses, heat-pressers, and print shops buying transfers in bulk — DTF is the better call.
A standard left-chest logo transfer (roughly 4"×4") on a DTF gang sheet from DTF Vancouver costs approximately $1.50–$2.50 depending on sheet density. A DTG print of the same logo on a single garment typically runs $5–$12 depending on the print shop. For decoration at scale, DTF isn't close — it's a fraction of the cost per piece.
If you're decorating garments and want flexibility, low cost, and zero fabric restrictions — DTF. If you're printing photo-quality full-chest graphics on premium white cotton blanks and softness of hand is critical — DTG might be worth the premium. For most use cases in 2026, DTF wins.
