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What Is Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing? How It Works and When to Use It
If you’ve ever wanted to print high-quality, full-color images directly onto t-shirts, hoodies, or other garments—without color or size restrictions—...
2 min read
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DTG vs DTF: Which is Better for Your Apparel Business?
When it comes to apparel decoration, two printing methods dominate the conversation today: Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing and Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing. Both offer unique strengths, but deciding which is right for your business depends on your customers, production volume, and design needs. In this guide, we’ll break down DTG vs DTF side by side, so you can make an informed decision.
What is DTG Printing?
A DTG printer (direct to garment printer) sprays ink directly onto fabric, similar to how an inkjet printer applies ink to paper. It’s ideal for high-resolution, full-color artwork on cotton and cotton-blend apparel.
Key Features of DTG Printing:
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Works best on 100% cotton or high-cotton blends
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Produces soft, retail-quality prints with vibrant detail
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Excellent for on-demand, short-run jobs
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Requires pre-treatment for dark garments
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Best suited for flat printing areas (not caps, bags, or unusual fabrics)
Popular DTG printers, like the Brother GTX Pro, are engineered for businesses looking to deliver fast turnaround times with consistent quality.
What is DTF Printing?
DTF printing (direct to film) transfers ink onto a special film, which is then applied onto the garment using DTF supplies such as (pre-applied) adhesive powder and heat presses. This process expands what you can decorate beyond just cotton.
Key Features of DTF Printing:
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Works on cotton, polyester, blends, nylon, and more
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Creates durable prints with strong wash resistance
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Great for hard-to-print surfaces (hats, bags, performance wear)
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Transfers can be printed in advance and applied later
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Slightly different feel (more noticeable than DTG’s soft-hand finish)
Machines like the Mimaki TxF Series are built for professional DTF production with superior color accuracy and reliability.
DTG vs DTF: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | DTG (Direct-to-Garment) | DTF (Direct-to-Film) |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Cotton T-shirts, hoodies, and apparel | Cotton, polyester, blends, nylon, hats, bags |
| Print Quality | Soft, high-detail, photo-quality prints | Vibrant colors, durable, slightly heavier feel |
| Setup | Simple, but requires pre-treatment for darks | Requires film, powder, curing, heat press |
| Scalability | Great for on-demand, single items | Excellent for batch production and transfers |
| Durability | Good wash resistance, especially on cotton | Strong wash resistance across materials |
| Flexibility | Apparel only | Apparel + hard-to-print substrates |
Which One is Better for Your Business?
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Choose DTG if… your business focuses on custom T-shirts, one-off orders, or retail-quality cotton prints with a soft hand feel.
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Choose DTF if… you want versatility across multiple fabric types, need transfers for hats or bags, or want to print now and press later.
Many successful apparel decorators actually use both DTG and DTF in their workflows—DTG for fast, soft-hand cotton jobs and DTF for everything else.
Hirsch Solutions: Your Partner in Printing
At Hirsch Solutions, we provide top-tier DTG and DTF solutions, including: the Brother GTX Pro Series DTG printers, Mimaki TxF DTF printers, STS XPD-924D, and Brother GTX R2R.
Our team offers training, service, and financing options to help you choose the right system and grow your business with confidence.
👉 Ready to explore DTG and DTF for your shop?
Contact Hirsch Solutions today for a demo or quote.
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