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DTG / DTF Printing Information

DTG vs. DTF Printing: What’s Best for Custom T-Shirts

If you’re shopping around for custom t-shirt printing in Toronto, you’ve probably come across two popular methods: Direct-to-Garment (DTG) and Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing. Both have their unique strengths and are ideal for different types of orders. Whether you're a small business, a band getting merch made, a school ordering spirit wear, or planning custom tees for an event, knowing the difference between DTG and DTF can help you make the right choice.

Let’s break it down in a casual, easy-to-understand way.

What is DTG (Direct-to-Garment) Printing?

DTG is like using an inkjet printer — but for t-shirts. The design is printed directly onto the fabric using water-based inks. It works best on cotton and natural fiber garments.

Perfect for:

Detailed, full-color artwork
Small runs or one-offs
Soft-feel prints

Pros of DTG Printing:

Photo-quality prints: Great for detailed designs and gradients.

Soft finish: The ink soaks into the fabric, making the print feel like part of the shirt.

Low minimum order: Ideal for small batches

Cons of DTG Printing:

Limited fabric types: Works best on 100% cotton or cotton blends.

Not as vibrant on dark garments: Especially polyester or synthetic blends.

Slower for large runs: Compared to other methods like screen or DTF.

What is DTF (Direct-to-Film) Printing?

DTF is a newer technology that prints your design onto a special film, which is then heat-pressed onto the garment. It works well on a wider variety of fabrics and colours.

Perfect for:

Polyester, nylon, and synthetic fabrics
Dark-coloured shirts
Bulk orders

Pros of DTF Printing:

Versatile: Works on cotton, polyester, blends, nylon — pretty much anything.

Great for dark garments: The transfer layer makes colours pop.

Faster for large runs: Ideal for events or team apparel.

Cons of DTF Printing:

Heavier feel: The print sits on top of the fabric, which can feel thicker.

Less ideal for fading gradients: DTG might win out for images with transparencies.

DTG DTF Comparison on Black T-Shirt

DTG

DTF

DTG vs. DTF: How to Choose

Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

Choose DTG if you want soft prints with fine detail on light-colored cotton shirts.

Choose DTF if you need bold designs on darker or synthetic garments, especially for bulk.

Both options work great for small businesses, school gear, music merch, and promotional tees in Toronto — it really just depends on your design and fabric choice.

Pricing: DTG vs. DTF

In general:

DTG can be more cost-effective for low-volume or highly detailed orders.

DTF is usually more budget-friendly for bulk orders or when printing on synthetic fabrics.

For both methods, final pricing depends on:

Quantity

Number of print locations

Artwork complexity and size

Garment type (cotton, poly, etc.)

Submitting Your Artwork for DTF and DTG

To get the best results:

Send vector files (.AI, .EPS, .PDF) or high-res PNGs with transparent backgrounds

Make sure your files are at least 300 DPI

Convert fonts to outlines or include the font files

Need help? Our team can assist with setup and optimization for either DTG or DTF printing!

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to custom t-shirt printing in Toronto. Whether you go with DTG for its soft, detailed feel or DTF for vibrant, durable prints on any fabric, you’re in good hands.

Still not sure which to choose? Reach out to us and we’ll guide you based on your design, quantity, and fabric. We're here to help Toronto businesses, bands, schools, and event planners bring their vision to life with custom apparel!

DTG vs. DTF Printing: What’s Best for Custom T-Shirts