Direct-to-Film printing delivers full-colour, photographic-quality designs on any garment — with no minimum order and a low £25 per colour setup fee, shared across items using the same artwork. The most versatile printing method available.
DTF (Direct-to-Film) is a modern printing technique where your design is printed onto a special transfer film using CMYK inks, then heat-pressed onto the garment. Unlike screen printing, there are no screens to create and no colour limitations.
The transfers bond permanently to the fabric fibres, producing a soft, flexible print that feels part of the garment rather than sitting on top of it. DTF works on virtually any fabric type — cotton, polyester, blends, dark and light colours.
For orders over 50 identical items with a simple design, screen printing often becomes more cost-effective. DTF wins on versatility and flexibility at any quantity.
Your design is colour-separated and prepared for DTF. We optimise resolution, colour profiles and cut paths to ensure the best possible result.
Your design is printed onto a specialist PET release film using CMYK inks, followed by a white ink layer for opacity. Hot-melt adhesive powder is then applied.
The printed film is heat-pressed onto the garment at precisely controlled temperature and pressure. The adhesive melts and permanently bonds the design to the fabric fibres.
The release film is peeled away — cold peel for the softest finish — leaving only your design. Each item is inspected before despatch.
Compact logo or text over the left breast. The classic corporate placement for a professional look.
Large, impactful print covering the full front chest. Ideal for bold graphics, event shirts and merchandise.
Large back print — great for team names, sponsor lists or statement artwork. Often paired with a chest logo.
Complete coverage — prints on both the front and back of the garment. The most impactful option.
Sleeve print for additional logos, sponsor branding or decorative details on the upper arm.
Garment cost + placement fee + £25/colour setup fee (shared across same-artwork items). All prices ex VAT.
| Garment | 1–11 | 12–24 | 25–49 | 50–99 | 100+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Shirt | £3.99 | £3.49 | £2.99 | £2.49 | £1.99 |
| Hoodie | £9.99 | £8.99 | £7.99 | £6.99 | £5.99 |
| Polo Shirt | £6.99 | £5.99 | £5.49 | £4.99 | £4.49 |
| Sweatshirt | £7.99 | £6.99 | £5.99 | £5.49 | £4.99 |
Placement fee added per print location. £25/colour setup fee applies, shared across items using the same artwork.
No — DTF has no minimum order quantity. You can order a single item or thousands. This makes it ideal for samples, one-off gifts or small personalised runs.
Yes — a setup fee of £25 per colour applies, covering the file preparation and printer setup for your artwork. If you order multiple items using the same artwork, this fee is shared across them rather than charged per item, keeping multi-item and repeat orders cost-effective.
DTF prints are highly durable when cared for correctly. We recommend washing inside out at 30–40°C and avoiding ironing directly on the print. Under normal care, DTF prints will last 40–50 washes without significant fading.
For DTF, a high-resolution PNG with a transparent background is ideal. CMYK or sRGB colour profiles are both accepted. If you have a vector file (AI, EPS, PDF), that's even better. See our Design Guide for full specifications.
Yes — DTF uses a white ink underbase layer, which allows your colours to remain vibrant on any garment colour including black, navy and other dark tones. No additional charge applies.
DTF works on virtually all fabric types — 100% cotton, polyester, cotton-poly blends, nylon and more. It is one of the most versatile print methods available and handles stretchy fabrics particularly well.
No minimum order. Just a low £25/colour setup fee, shared across same-artwork items, for brilliant full-colour prints on any garment.