DIRECT-TO-FILM PRINTING

DTF starts with your design getting printed—but not onto fabric just yet. Instead, it’s printed onto a special clear film using a high-quality printer.

This is where DTF really shines—you can print just about anything. Full-color designs, fine details, and even photo-quality images all come out looking sharp and vibrant.

First, the colors are laid down, and then a layer of white ink goes on top. That white layer is what makes your design pop on any color fabric later on.

While the ink is still wet, a fine adhesive powder is applied to the back of the printed film. This powder sticks only to the inked areas, basically “coating” what will be the base layer of your design.

Once it’s evenly covered, the excess powder is shaken off, so only the design is left with a perfect adhesive layer.

Now the film goes through a heat process to melt and set the adhesive powder into the ink.

This step locks everything in place so the design is ready to bond to a shirt, hoodie or basically any fabric later. After curing, you’ve got a ready-to-press DTF transfer.

Time to bring it to life. The film is placed on the garment, and a heat press is used to transfer the design.

Heat and pressure activate the adhesive, bonding the design directly to the fabric. The film is then peeled away—leaving a vibrant, durable print ready to wear.