Digital DTF Printing for Custom Clothing

DTF (direct-to-film) printing reproduces full-colour designs — photos, gradients, fine detail and bold logos alike — on the garments you choose from our catalogue. You pick the product, add your design, and we print and apply it for you before it ships.

There are no screens to set up and no minimum order, so it works just as well for a single personalised t-shirt as it does for a batch of team hoodies.

Full colour, photo-ready — Unlimited colours in one print — photographs, gradients and fine linework all reproduce well.
No minimum order — Order one item or a whole batch; the process is the same either way.
Works across fabrics — Prints reliably on cotton, polyester and blends, including dark garments thanks to a white ink base layer.
Detail and small text — Crisp edges hold up at small sizes better than most transfer methods.

Popular products for DTF printing

Every product here is confirmed print-compatible in our live production setup — pick one and start designing, or hand it to our team.

What is DTF printing?

DTF stands for direct-to-film. Your design is digitally printed in full colour onto a special film, backed with a white ink layer and a heat-activated adhesive powder, then permanently bonded to the garment with a commercial heat press. The result is a thin, flexible print that sits on the fabric surface with vivid colour and sharp edges.

Because the design is printed digitally, there are no per-colour setup steps: a one-off photo print costs the same to set up as a single-colour logo. That makes DTF particularly good value for small runs and one-offs.

At teeone, DTF is a finished-garment service — we print your design and apply it to the product you order, so what arrives is ready to wear. You never handle films, presses or transfers yourself.

When to choose DTF printing

DTF is usually the right choice when your design uses many colours, photographic detail, gradients or fine lines — things stitch-based methods can't reproduce. It's also the practical choice for small quantities, since there are no setup screens or digitising fees.

Multi-colour or photographic artwork
Small orders and one-offs — no minimums
Designs with fine detail, small text or gradients
Mixed garment types and colours in one order
A smooth, flexible finish rather than a raised texture

Two ways to order your DTF print

Choose whichever suits you — both end with the same professionally printed garment.

Design it yourself

Use our free online design tool to place your artwork or text on the garment, see it at real printed size, and get an instant price. What you approve on screen is what we print.

Instant preview and pricing
Upload images or add styled text
Built-in background removal and image checks

Let our team prepare it

Prefer a professional to handle the artwork? With the Expert Review route you upload your files and tell us what you want, and the teeone team prepares, checks and positions your design before anything is printed.

It costs £9.50 per order, and nothing goes to print unchecked — we make sure your artwork is suitable before production begins.

It's included free when your qualifying order subtotal reaches £200.00.

Which garments suit DTF best?

DTF bonds well to most everyday garment fabrics: cotton t-shirts, poly-cotton hoodies and sweatshirts, polyester sportswear, tote bags and aprons. Smooth, flat surfaces give the cleanest result.

Heavily textured surfaces (chunky knits, ribbed panels, waffle fabrics) and waterproof coatings are less suitable — the print can't bond evenly to an uneven or coated surface. For structured caps and heavily textured items, embroidery is usually the better-wearing choice.

Every product in our featured list below has been checked as print-compatible in our production setup — if a product appears there, DTF is available on it.

Where can we print?

Available print positions depend on the product — a t-shirt typically offers front, back and sleeve placements, while a tote bag offers a single face. The positions you can choose are the same ones our design tool offers for that product, so what you see while designing is exactly what production supports.

You can print more than one position on the same garment — for example a small left-chest logo with a large back print — and each position is priced by its printed size.

Front
Back
Left sleeve
Right sleeve
Left Side
Right Side
Left Sleeve

Artwork guidance

You don't need print-ready files to order. Our online design tool accepts common image formats (PNG, JPG, SVG and more), and shows you exactly how your design sits on the garment before you buy.

For the sharpest result, upload the largest, cleanest version of your artwork you have. PNG files with transparent backgrounds work best for logos and graphics; photos should be as high-resolution as possible at the size you want them printed.

PNG with a transparent background is ideal for logos
Upload the original file, not a screenshot
Avoid very thin lines under ~1mm at print size — they may not bond cleanly
Text is printed exactly as supplied — check spelling before you order

Transparent backgrounds and white ink

DTF prints include a white ink layer behind your design, which is what keeps colours bright on dark garments. Anything that isn't transparent in your file gets printed — including a white or off-white background box you might not notice on screen.

If your logo sits on a solid background, use a version with a transparent background (a PNG or SVG) so only the logo itself is printed. Our design tool includes a background removal helper, and it warns you when an uploaded image looks like it has a solid background box.

Genuine white elements in your design print as white ink, so white text and details work well on dark garments.

Resolution and print size

Print quality depends on your image's resolution relative to the printed size. A small image stretched to a large back print will look soft or pixelated; the same image at a left-chest size can look perfectly crisp.

The design tool shows your design at its real printed size on the garment, so you can judge sharpness before ordering. If you're unsure whether your file is good enough for the size you want, the Expert Service includes a professional artwork check before anything is printed.

DTF printing vs embroidery

Both methods produce durable, professional results — they simply suit different designs. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose.

Aspect	DTF printing	Embroidery
Colours	Unlimited — photos and gradients reproduce fully	Thread colours only; gradients are approximated
Fine detail & small text	Very good — crisp edges at small sizes	Limited — very small text can't be stitched cleanly
Finish & feel	Smooth, thin, flexible surface print	Raised, textured, premium stitched feel
Best garments	T-shirts, hoodies, sportswear, totes	Polos, caps, knitwear, workwear
Durability	Very good with correct washing care	Excellent — stitches outlast most prints
Large solid areas	Handles big prints well	Large fills add stitch count and stiffness
Setup	None — no per-colour or per-design setup	One-off digitising per new design

Many customers combine both — an embroidered chest logo with a DTF back print, for example. Our design tool prices each decoration separately so you can mix methods on one garment where both are available.

How DTF printing is priced

Your price is made up of the garment you choose plus the printing. Print cost is driven mainly by the printed size of each design and how many positions you print — a small chest logo costs less than a full back print, and a front-and-back design costs more than front only.

Because DTF has no screens or digitising, there are no per-colour charges and no artwork setup fees: a full-colour photo costs the same to print as a one-colour logo of the same size.

You see the exact price for your design, size and placement in the design tool before you add it to your basket — nothing is added later.

How your order is produced

Once you order, your artwork is prepared for print, digitally printed onto film with a white ink backing, and bonded to your chosen garment with a commercial heat press. Each item is checked before it's packed.

Because every item is made to order, personalised garments are produced specifically for you — which is also why it's worth double-checking spelling and design placement before you confirm.

Delivery

Personalised orders are made to order, so production time is added before dispatch. Your estimated delivery window is shown at checkout for your specific basket — that estimate is always the one to trust, as it reflects current production capacity.

Caring for your DTF print

A DTF print is durable in normal wear and washing when cared for properly. Like any surface print, it will last longest if you treat it kindly:

Wash inside out at 30°C on a gentle cycle
Avoid bleach and harsh stain removers on the print
Air dry where possible; avoid hot tumble drying
Don't iron directly on the print — iron inside out or place a cloth over it

What people use DTF printing for

DTF suits almost any occasion where you want full-colour artwork on clothing:

Stag and hen party t-shirts with photos and nicknames
Small business uniforms and branded workwear
Band, event and club merchandise
Charity and fundraising runs
Birthday, anniversary and personalised gift garments
Sports team leisurewear with full-colour crests

DTF printing FAQs

What does DTF mean?

DTF stands for direct-to-film. Your design is digitally printed onto a film with a white ink backing, then permanently heat-bonded to the garment. It's a modern digital print method that handles full colour and fine detail without any per-colour setup.

How durable is DTF printing?

Very durable in normal wear when washed with care — inside out at 30°C, no bleach, avoid hot tumble drying and never iron directly on the print. Treated this way a DTF print keeps its colour and flexibility for a long life of regular washing.

Can you print on dark garments?

Yes. Every DTF print includes a white ink base layer, so colours stay bright and accurate on black and dark garments — and genuine white elements in your design print as white ink.

Is there a minimum order?

No. DTF has no screens or setup, so you can order a single personalised item at the same quality as a bulk run.

Can you print photographs?

Yes — photographic prints are one of DTF's strengths. Upload the highest-resolution version of the photo you have; the design tool shows it at real printed size so you can check sharpness before ordering.

What file types can I upload?

Common image formats including PNG, JPG and SVG. PNG with a transparent background is ideal for logos. You don't need print-ready files — the design tool handles preparation, and the Expert Service can help if you're unsure.

Why does my logo show a white box around it?

Your image file has a solid background rather than a transparent one, and DTF prints everything that isn't transparent. Use a transparent PNG version, or use the background removal helper built into our design tool.

What does a DTF print feel like?

A thin, smooth, flexible layer on the fabric surface. It's noticeable to the touch like any surface print, but it stretches with the garment rather than cracking when cared for properly.

Should I choose DTF printing or embroidery?

Choose DTF for full-colour artwork, photos, fine detail and small orders. Choose embroidery for a premium raised finish on polos, caps and workwear. Many customers combine both on one garment where the product supports it.

Can I print the front and back of the same garment?

Yes, where the product supports multiple positions. Each position is priced by its printed size, and you'll see the combined price in the design tool before you buy.

How much does DTF printing cost?

It depends on the garment, the printed size of your design and how many positions you print. There are no colour or setup charges. The design tool shows the exact price for your specific design before you add it to your basket.

How long will my order take?

Personalised items are made to order, so production time is added before dispatch. Your estimated delivery window is shown at checkout for your specific basket — that live estimate is always the accurate one.

I'm not a designer — can you do it for me?

Yes. Choose the Expert Service route and the teeone team will prepare, position and professionally check your artwork before printing. You just upload your files and describe what you want.

Which products can be DTF printed?

Any product on our site that offers the Print option in the design tool. The featured products on this page are confirmed print-compatible in our live production setup, and most t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and totes qualify.

Do you sell DTF transfers to press myself?

This service is for finished garments — we print your design and apply it to the product you order, so it arrives ready to wear. We don't currently offer loose transfers to press yourself through this page.

How should I wash my printed garment?

Wash inside out at 30°C on a gentle cycle, avoid bleach, air dry where possible and don't iron directly on the print. This keeps the print flexible and the colours bright for as long as possible.

Ready to create your custom printed clothing?

Pick a garment, add your design and see your price instantly — or let the teeone team prepare it for you.

Other ways to personalise

Embroidery — A raised, stitched finish that suits logos on polos, caps and workwear. Available in the same design tool wherever a product supports it. About our embroidery service
Screen Printing — Classic bold spot-colour prints for larger runs of the same design, ordered through our Expert Service. About our screen-printing service
Design Your Own — The free online design tool behind both methods — upload artwork, add text and preview your garment before you buy. About Design Your Own
Expert Service — Our team prepares and professionally checks your personalisation before production. About the Expert Service

Design Your Own · Browse our products · About the Expert Service · Delivery information · Contact the team