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Vibrant & Versatile Direct To Film (DTF) Printing Services

Unlock stunning, full-color designs on virtually any fabric with Boston's leading DTF printing service.

Get a DTF Printing Quote

Unlock stunning, full-color designs on virtually any fabric with StarsBranding's advanced Direct To Film (DTF) Printing Services. This innovative technology allows us to print vibrant, highly detailed graphics—including gradients and photorealistic images—onto a special film, which is then heat-transferred to your garment. DTF offers incredible versatility, working beautifully on cotton, polyester, blends, nylon, leather, and both light and dark materials, providing a durable and flexible print solution.

What is DTF Printing? A Quick Look

1. Printing the Design

Printing the design (including a white base layer) onto a special PET film.

2. Applying Adhesive

Applying and melting an adhesive powder to the back of the ink.

3. Heat Transfer

Heat pressing the film onto the garment, transferring the ink and adhesive.

Key Advantages of Choosing DTF Printing

Unmatched Fabric Versatility

Prints excellently on cotton, polyester, blends, nylon, treated leather, dark & light fabrics.

Stunning Full-Color & Detail

Reproduces intricate designs, photos, and gradients with high fidelity.

Excellent Durability & Stretch

Prints are flexible, resistant to cracking, and hold up well to washing.

Soft Hand Feel

Often provides a softer feel than traditional transfers or some thick screen prints.

No Pre-treatment Needed

Unlike Direct-to-Garment (DTG), DTF doesn't require fabric pre-treatment, simplifying the process.

Cost-Effective for Small to Medium Runs

Great for custom orders and designs with many colors without high setup fees per color.

Perfect Applications for DTF Printing

Complex, multi-color graphics DTF printing examples

Complex, Multi-Color Graphics

Logos and designs with many colors or gradients.

Photographic prints DTF printing examples

Photographic Prints

Reproducing photos on apparel.

Printing on difficult fabrics DTF printing examples

Printing on Difficult Fabrics

Polyester sportswear, nylon jackets, bags.

Small orders and on-demand printing DTF examples

Small Orders & On-Demand Printing

Ideal when screen printing minimums aren't met.

Tagless neck labels DTF printing examples

Tagless Neck Labels

Creating custom branded labels inside garments.

Full-chest or large back prints DTF examples

Full-Chest or Large Back Prints

Capable of handling larger designs.

Frequently Asked Questions about DTF Printing

DTF is incredibly versatile! It works great on cotton, 100% polyester, cotton/poly blends, tri-blends, nylon, spandex blends, treated leather, canvas, denim, and more, on both light and dark colors.

DTF excels at full-color, detailed graphics and works on more fabric types with lower minimum orders. Screen printing is typically more cost-effective for large runs of simpler designs with fewer colors and can sometimes offer a slightly softer feel on cotton.

DTF works on a much wider range of fabrics (DTG is best on cotton) and doesn't require pre-treatment. DTG can sometimes offer a slightly softer feel as the ink dyes the fibers more directly, but DTF often provides better vibrancy on dark garments and polyester.

High-resolution raster files (like .PNG with a transparent background at 300 dpi) work very well for DTF. Vector files (.AI, .EPS) can also be used. Ensure your artwork is sized correctly for the print. Learn more about our graphic design services.

DTF prints are known for excellent durability and wash fastness when applied correctly. For best results, wash garments inside out in cold water and tumble dry on low or hang dry. Avoid direct ironing on the print.

Experience the vibrant colors and incredible versatility of DTF printing!

Perfect for complex designs on any fabric. Contact StarsBranding today for your custom DTF printing quote!