Same-Day DTF Printing

DTF (direct-to-film) printing prints your design in CMYK plus a white layer onto PET film, coats it with adhesive powder, cures it and heat-presses it onto the garment. It is for anyone who wants full-colour, detailed branding on cotton, polyester or blends without the screens and setup of screen printing.

Specifications

Process	CMYK plus white ink on PET film, hot-melt adhesive powder, cured, then heat-pressed
Suitable fabrics	Cotton, polyester, poly-cotton, canvas, denim and many nylon blends; we test unusual fabrics first
Garment types	T-shirts, golf shirts, hoodies, sweaters, tote bags, aprons and workwear
Colour	Unlimited colours, gradients and photographic detail on light and dark garments
Finish	Soft, flexible print with a slight sheen or matt finish depending on film and peel
Print size	From small left-chest logos up to full front or back prints, limited by garment size
Minimum order	Set per product - see shop/quote

Artwork requirements

Send a transparent-background PNG at 300 dpi at the final print size, or vector PDF, AI, EPS or SVG.
Anything that is not transparent will print, including faint shadows, glows and off-white backgrounds.
Avoid semi-transparent edges and soft drop shadows; DTF prints them as a solid white base that can look like a halo.
Keep isolated details and thin outlines at 0.5 mm or more so they bond properly to the fabric.
Design in RGB or CMYK; neon and exact Pantone matches are approximated, not guaranteed.
Tell us the finished width of each print in mm so we can scale it correctly.

Full artwork guidelines · Upload artwork

Turnaround options

Standard turnaround is confirmed on your quote and suits most planned orders. Express prioritises your film printing and pressing when you need it sooner. DTF is well suited to fast work because there are no screens to make, so same-day production may be possible when the garments are in stock and artwork is ready, subject to capacity and approval and payment before the configured cutoff. What pushes a DTF job off same-day is usually garment sourcing, large quantities that need many pressing cycles, mixed positions per garment, or artwork that needs background removal or redrawing. Finished production and delivery arrival are separate commitments.

Pricing

This service is priced by quotation so we can match the exact specification, quantity and finishing. Request a quote. Same-day orders add the 40% Same-Day Priority Production surcharge on the eligible production subtotal.

Same-day conditions

Artwork must be supplied with a clean transparent background and approved before the configured cutoff.
Blank garments must be in stock in the required sizes and colours, or supplied by you and checked as suitable.
Quantity and the number of print positions per garment must fit capacity on the day.
Full payment must be received before same-day production starts.
Heat-sensitive fabrics may need testing, which can move the job to express or standard.

Popular uses

Full-colour company logos on staff shirts
Photo prints and detailed illustrations on tees
Branded tote bags and aprons for markets and expos
Small runs of merchandise for bands, creators and clubs
Prints on dark garments where vinyl would need several layers

FAQs

How is DTF different from DTF transfers?

With DTF printing we print and press the design onto the garment for you. With DTF transfers we print the film and you, or your own press operator, apply it later with a heat press.

How long does a DTF print last?

A properly pressed DTF print on suitable fabric withstands many washes when washed inside out in cool water and not ironed directly. Durability varies with fabric and care.

Does DTF feel heavy on the shirt?

Large solid areas feel more like a flexible film than ink soaked into the fibres. Breaking up big solid blocks in your design, or using distressed areas, makes the print lighter and more breathable.

Can DTF match my brand colour exactly?

DTF prints in CMYK plus white, so colours are matched as closely as the process allows. Exact Pantone matching is not guaranteed, and colour can look slightly different on different fabric colours.