“They actually answer the phone. We tried 3 other wholesalers; this is the only one where you get a human in under a minute.”
“They actually answer the phone. We tried 3 other wholesalers; this is the only one where you get a human in under a minute.”
“Stock counts per warehouse are accurate. We can split-ship from TX + WA when one runs low without calling.”
“Apparel Globe ships faster than SanMar and S&S for us. We can promise our customers a 5-day turnaround and actually hit it.”
“Tax-exempt status got applied the same day we uploaded the cert. Old vendor took us 3 weeks. Night and day.”
“Pricing tier kicks in at qty automatically. No more emailing for quotes on 144+ pieces.”
“Free shipping at $200 is way more generous than the competition. We hit it on basically every order.”
DTF and DTG are two of the most popular ways to print full-color custom designs on shirts. DTG (direct-to-garment) prints ink directly into the fabric like an inkjet printer, while DTF (direct-to-film) prints your design onto a film that is heat-pressed onto the garment. Both produce vibrant, detailed, full-color prints with no minimums — but they behave differently on different fabrics and budgets.
This guide explains what DTF and DTG mean, how each process works, the real differences between DTF vs DTG, and which one to choose for your custom shirts.
DTG stands for direct-to-garment. A specialized inkjet printer sprays water-based ink directly onto the shirt, soaking into the fibers. Because the ink becomes part of the fabric, DTG prints feel very soft — almost like the design is part of the shirt — and reproduce fine detail and photographic artwork beautifully.
DTG works best on 100% cotton (and high-cotton blends) and is ideal for detailed, full-color designs in small quantities. On dark shirts it requires a white under-base, which adds a step and a little cost.
DTF stands for direct-to-film. Your design is printed onto a special PET film, coated with a hot-melt adhesive powder, and then heat-pressed onto the garment. The result is a bright, durable, full-color transfer that sits on top of the fabric.
DTF's biggest advantage is versatility: it bonds to almost anything — cotton, polyester, blends, nylon, canvas and more — including dark colors, without needing a separate white under-base step. That makes it a great all-rounder for mixed orders and performance fabrics.
| Feature | DTG (direct-to-garment) | DTF (direct-to-film) |
|---|---|---|
| How it works |
| Ink printed directly into the fabric |
| Design printed on film, heat-pressed on |
| Best fabrics | 100% cotton / high-cotton | Almost any fabric incl. polyester & blends |
| Feel | Very soft — prints into the shirt | Slight raised layer on top of the fabric |
| Color & detail | Excellent for photos & fine detail | Excellent — very vibrant on any color |
| Dark shirts | Needs a white under-base | Handles dark shirts easily |
| Durability | Great with proper curing | Very durable; strong stretch & wash resistance |
| Minimums | None — great for one-offs | None — great for small runs & mixed orders |
Choose DTG when you are printing detailed or photographic art on 100% cotton shirts and want the softest possible hand — the design essentially becomes part of the fabric.
Choose DTF when you need bright, durable prints on a mix of fabrics (especially polyester, blends or dark garments), or when you want one method that works across an entire order without fabric restrictions.
For most business and team orders on mixed apparel — tees, hoodies, polos and performance wear — DTF is the flexible, cost-effective choice, which is why it is Apparel Globe's go-to method for full-color custom work.
Screen printing is the most economical method for large runs of the same 1–4 color design, but setup makes it costly for small or full-color jobs. DTF and DTG shine for full-color art and small quantities with no setup fees.
Embroidery stitches the design into the garment for a premium, textured look — ideal for polos, hats and jackets — but it is not suited to large or photographic art. Many businesses use embroidery for logos on uniforms and DTF for full-color designs on tees.
DTF stands for direct-to-film. Your design is printed on a special film, coated with adhesive powder, and heat-pressed onto the garment as a durable, full-color transfer.
DTG stands for direct-to-garment. A specialized inkjet printer prints water-based ink directly into the fabric of the shirt for a soft, detailed, full-color print.
DTG prints ink directly into the fabric (softest feel, best on cotton), while DTF prints onto a film that is heat-pressed on (works on almost any fabric, including polyester and dark shirts, with a slightly raised feel).
Neither is universally better. DTG is best for soft, detailed prints on cotton; DTF is more versatile across fabrics and colors and very durable. DTF is often the better all-rounder for mixed business orders.
Quality DTF transfers are very durable and resist cracking, peeling and fading through many washes when applied and cared for correctly — wash inside-out in cold water and avoid harsh drying.
Yes. DTF handles dark shirts and polyester easily without a separate white under-base. DTG can print dark shirts too but needs a white under-base and works best on cotton.
No. Both DTF and DTG have no minimums, so they are perfect for single custom shirts or small runs. At Apparel Globe you can order one shirt or thousands.
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