DTF Printing
DTF prints your design onto a special film, then heat-presses it onto the garment — full color, no setup fee, and it works on nearly any fabric or color.
Indy Custom Apparel connects Indianapolis-area customers with independent custom apparel providers. We don't own or operate a print shop — pricing, production and turnaround are set by the provider handling your order. See how it works →
Built for small runs and full-color art.
- • Small businesses ordering their first branded run
- • Anyone with a multi-color or gradient design
- • Resellers and print-on-demand sellers
- • Orders needing a mix of fabric types or colors
Best use cases — and real limitations.
We'd rather tell you upfront where this method doesn't make sense than match you to the wrong provider.
✓ Orders under 24-50 pieces
✓ Full-color, gradient or photo-based designs
✓ Dark garments (white underbase built in automatically)
✓ Poly-blend and performance fabrics
✕ Per-piece cost doesn't drop as sharply at high volume as screen printing does
✕ Transfer film has a slight hand-feel compared to screen ink
✕ Quality varies more by provider than with screen printing
✕ Very large full-back designs can take longer to press correctly
What this method works best on.
Why DTF handles complex art so well
Because DTF doesn't require separate screens per color, a gradient photo costs the same to produce as a single-color logo. This makes it the default choice for anyone whose design isn't a simple 1-2 color graphic.
DTF vs. DTG: fabric type is the deciding factor.
DTF works reliably on cotton, poly-blends and performance fabric alike. DTG is best reserved for cotton or cotton-heavy blends, where it produces a slightly softer finish. If your order mixes fabric types, DTF is the safer default.
Tell us the project
Garment type, quantity and design.
We match the method
Your project matched to a provider suited to dtf printing.
Get connected
An independent provider reaches out with pricing.
Approve and produce
Proofs and production handled directly by that provider.
Explore related services, industries and guides.
Questions about dtf printing.
No — Indy Custom Apparel is a matching service. We connect you with an independent Indianapolis-area provider whose equipment fits your project. Production, pricing and turnaround are handled by that provider.
When applied correctly, DTF holds up well through regular washing — comparable to good screen printing. Provider quality matters more here than with screen printing, which is part of why matching helps.
Yes — unlike DTG, DTF performs reliably on poly-blend and performance fabric, not just cotton.
Get matched with a DTF printer in Indianapolis.
Free to submit. No obligation until you approve a quote from a matched provider.