DIRECT TO GARMENT PRINTING VS. DIRECT TO FILM (Pros & Cons)

Can’t decide which printing method is right for your business? Then join us as we compare Direct-to-Garment (DTG) and Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing. We will take you step-by-step through how to decorate a garment using each method, as well as explain the pros and cons so that you can decide which one best suits your needs.
Watch an in-depth tutorial of the DTG process: • Printing My First DTG ...
Find out how to do the DTF process on a DTG printer: • First time printing di...
Learn more about the RICOH Ri 1000 and Ri 2000 DTG Printers: • Ricoh DTG Printer Ri 1...
Check out this video to learn more about pricing your printing services: • Pricing DTG Printing O...
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01:34 - DTG Printing Process
02:32 - DTF Printing Process
03:49 - DTG Printing Pros and Cons
06:27 - DTF Printing Pros and Cons
09:24 - Profitability of DTG and DTF Printing
First, we’ll look at DTG printing. DTG printing is the process by which a custom design is printed directly onto a garment without the use of a special transfer sheet.
Now let’s examine the pros and cons each method offers.
DTG printing gives you the freedom to print garments without the need for special transfer film. Not only does this save you in time and material costs, but it also allows you to print larger or awkwardly shaped designs. Since the ink also binds directly to your fabric, DTG printed designs have a much smoother finish and will last much longer than designs that are heat transferred. Lastly, DTG printing’s speed and efficiency make it an ideal choice for completing large bulk orders.
While DTG printing doesn’t require transfer sheets, it does require you to pretreat your garment before printing your design. While this process is cumbersome, it is essential to the DTG process and it is easy to learn. DTG printing also can only be done on a flat surface that fits inside your DTG printer. This means that DTG can’t be used to customize materials like ceramic tiles or mugs.
DTF printing, on the other hand, doesn’t require you to pretreat your garment before customizing. Also, since you are printing your design onto a piece of transfer film instead of directly onto your substrate, DTF printing gives you the freedom to customize a wider array of materials and substrates. Finally, DTF printing allows you to stock up in bulk on pre-printed designs.
However, DTF printing requires more materials than DTG printing. And since DTF film is not reusable once a project is complete, DTF produces a lot more waste than DTG does. Compared to DTG, DTF also takes a little bit longer to customize a garment and requires a little bit more hands-on labor, making it not as conducive for bulk orders.
In terms of profitability, both DTG and DTF printing offers high-profit margins due to the relatively low material costs. While the upfront costs for a DTG printer are high, the costs to customize a t-shirt using DTG will be around $4.00 - $7.00. And because of the high demand for quality printed T-shirts, you can easily sell your t-shirts for anywhere from $25 - $40.
For DTF, the upfront cost is going to be lower than DTG. However, the cost per print is going to be relatively the same. You can also reasonably expect to charge around the same amount for a DTF printed t-shirt as a DTG printed t-shirt. However, because DTG produces a smoother finish, DTG printing might allow you to charge a bit more of a premium price than DTF.