DTF vs Sublimation vs DTG: Which Should You Choose?

Three digital methods dominate custom apparel. Each prints well, on different things. The quickest way to choose is to start with what you print on.

The one-table answer

	DTF	Sublimation	DTG
Fabrics	Cotton, polyester, blends, nylon	Polyester and polymer-coated items	Mainly cotton
Dark garments	Yes	No, light colours only	Yes, with pretreatment
Hard goods	No (UV DTF does those)	Coated mugs, tiles, metal panels	No
Feel	Thin, flexible layer	None, the dye is in the fibre	Soft, in the fabric
Pretreatment	None	None	Needed on dark garments
Best for	Print shops, brands, transfers for resale	Sportswear, swimwear, soft signage, home textiles	Cotton-only shops printing one-offs

DTF: the all-rounder

DTF prints colour and a white layer onto film, powders and cures it, and a heat press moves the print onto the garment. Because the white is printed, the same transfer works on black cotton, polyester and blends. You can also print gang sheets and sell them to other shops. A 24-inch DTF line is where most shops start.

Sublimation: for polyester and sportswear

Sublimation prints dye onto paper; heat turns it into a gas that bonds with polyester. The print has no feel at all and cannot crack, which is why team kits, swimwear, curtains and flags are sublimated. It needs light-coloured polyester. Wide-format machines such as the PH-SB194 feed a calender or rotary press for fabric by the roll.

DTG: cotton one-offs

DTG prints straight onto the garment. It feels soft on cotton but needs pretreatment for dark shirts and handles polyester poorly. Many shops that start with DTG add DTF for everything else.

Which one to choose

Mostly cotton and dark garments, many fabrics, or transfers for resale: DTF.
Polyester sportswear, all-over prints, home textiles: sublimation.
Both: many shops run DTF and sublimation side by side, because together they cover nearly every garment.

Common questions

Can sublimation print on cotton?

Not well. Sublimation dye bonds with polyester fibres, so it needs polyester or a polymer coating. On cotton the print washes out. For cotton, DTF or DTG is the right method.

Can DTF print on black shirts?

Yes. DTF prints a white layer behind the colour, so full colour sits on black and dark garments of any fibre.

Which lasts longer, DTF or sublimation?

Both are durable. Sublimation becomes part of the fibre and cannot crack or peel. A good DTF transfer, pressed correctly, survives many washes and stays flexible, but it is a layer on top of the fabric.

Is DTF cheaper than DTG?

Usually, for most shops. DTF needs no pretreatment, works on more fabrics and wastes less ink cleaning, and DTF printers generally cost less than comparable DTG machines.

Keep reading

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DTF vs sublimation vs DTG: which printing method is right for your business?