DTF Transfers
Full colourAny fabric
Your design is printed onto film with a white layer behind it, then heat pressed onto the garment. Full colour on cotton, polyester and nylon, light or dark, with a smooth finish that flexes with the fabric.
DTF and transfer printing
DTF Printing London
Full-colour transfers on cotton, polyester, nylon and blends, light or dark, from 10 units. Check DTF is right for your job, compare it with other print methods and see what it costs, all on this page.
Rather talk? Call 0207 231 0866 →
- From 10 units
- Unlimited colours
- Cotton, polyester and nylon
- Light and dark garments
- Sampling for £30
Direct to Film and Transfer Printing
DTF printing from 10 units, with unlimited colours on almost any fabric, light or dark.
We offer DTF printing in London for brands, teams and event merch that need full colour on fabrics other methods struggle with. Direct to film (DTF) printing prints your artwork onto a special film, which is then heat pressed onto the garment. It gives vibrant, high-resolution prints on cotton, polyester, nylon and blends, on light and dark garments alike.
DTF is cost-effective for small and large orders, with no screens and no colour limits. We use it a lot on custom gym wear, outerwear, bags and custom caps, and for awkward spots such as sleeves and inside necks. Alongside DTF we produce plastisol and specialist transfers, and heat transfer printing in vinyl for names and numbers. Our guide to heat transfers compares them.
Is it right for my job?
When to Use DTF Printing
Answer five quick questions to see if DTF suits your job, or which method would suit it better.
Great fit
DTF suits this job
Who DTF printing suits
DTF printing suits brands, sports teams and event merch that need full colour on mixed fabrics. Because the design is printed onto film first and then heat pressed, it works on cotton, polyester, nylon and blends, on light or dark garments. It is a strong choice for sportswear, jackets, bags and caps, for short runs of colourful designs, and for prints in awkward places such as sleeves. It’s also the answer when the fabric or print position rules out DTG, or when the number of colours or the fabric rules out screen printing.
Compare methods
DTF Transfers Compared to Other Methods
Pros & cons
What Are the Advantages of DTF Printing?
Pros
- ✓Unlimited colours, photos and gradients at no extra cost
- ✓Works on cotton, polyester, nylon and blends
- ✓Bright colour on light and dark garments
- ✓No screens or set-up, from 10 units
- ✓Great for sleeves, bags, caps and other awkward places
Cons
- ✕Minimum of 10 units
- ✕The print sits on top of the fabric, so it feels firmer than DTG or screen printing
- ✕Printed in CMYK, so no exact Pantone match
- ✕Screen printing is cheaper on larger runs of simple designs
- ✕Less breathable than a print that soaks into the fabric
DTF, DTG or screen printing?
DTF, DTG and screen printing each suit different jobs. DTF is the most flexible: full colour on almost any fabric, light or dark. DTG gives a softer print on cotton, and screen printing gives the lowest price and exact Pantone colours on larger runs. We will recommend the right one for your garments and quantity.
Specs
Colours, Print Sizes and Positions
Colours
UnlimitedFull colour CMYK plus a white layer, so photos and gradients cost the same as a one-colour logo.
Print size
Up to A3, larger on requestFrom A6 chest logos up to A3 front and back prints. Larger sizes on request.
Minimum order
10 unitsPer design, across mixed sizes. A printed sample is £30.
Fabrics
Almost anyCotton, polyester, nylon and blends, including sportswear, jackets and bags.
Colour matching
Close matchPrinted in CMYK, so colours are close in most cases, but some shades need a small compromise. For exact brand colours, see screen printing.
Light and dark
BothA white layer under your colours keeps them bright on black and dark garments.
Print positions
Each position is priced as a separate print. DTF also works on caps, bags and accessories.
Price guide
What DTF Printing Costs
See how print size and quantity change the print price.
A6 suits chest logos and sleeves. A4 and A3 suit front and back prints. Larger sizes on request.
Your price
Print price per garment, one position
£–
A guide only. Garments, extra positions and finishing are priced on your quote.
Get an exact quoteWhat affects the price
- No set-up costs: there are no screens, so you only pay for the print
- Colours: full colour costs the same as one colour
- Print size: A6, A4 and A3 are priced separately
- Quantity: the price per garment drops as the run grows
- Print positions: front, back, chest and sleeve are each a separate print
- The garment and extras: blanks and finishing are priced on your quote
Short runs on any fabric
DTF printing keeps short runs affordable on fabrics that other methods struggle with. There are no screens to make, so a run of 10 costs no more to set up than a run of 100. For bigger runs of simpler designs on cotton, screen printing usually brings the price down further.
Transfer types
DTF, Plastisol and Specialist Transfers
Plastisol Transfers
Pantone matchedCaps and necks
Much like a screen print, your design is printed onto special transfer paper, then heat pressed onto your chosen garment. That makes it a good fit for awkward print areas such as the front of caps or inside necks of t-shirts.
Specialist Transfers
High buildPuffReflectiveDye blocker
Screen printed specialist transfers for effects digital printing can’t match: high build for a raised, rubbery finish, puff for a soft 3D texture, reflective for night-time visibility, and dye blocker transfers that stop polyester dye bleeding into the print. We also produce foil transfers for a metallic shine.
Vinyl Transfers
Names and numbersSpecial finishes
CAD cut heat transfer vinyl for names, numbers and simple graphics, in finishes including reflective, fluorescent and velvet. See our vinyl printing page.
Not sure which transfer suits your job? Read our guide to heat transfers.
Get in Touch
Send us your garment choices, quantities and artwork and we’ll come back with a full quote.
Before you order
Sampling and Artwork
Sampling
See and feel your result before the full run. Sampling is available on every method.
- Blank garment samples to check fit and fabric
- A sample of your design before production
- A digital proof showing the size and position of your design
DTF sample prices
- £30 for a printed sample
- No screens, so a sample is quick to turn around
Artwork
Send what you have and we will check it before anything is printed.
- Best: PNG at 300dpi at the size you want it printed, with a transparent background
- Also fine: vector files (AI, PDF, EPS or SVG) with fonts outlined
- Colours: a close match rather than exact Pantone
- Fine detail: very thin lines and tiny text may not transfer cleanly, so we will flag them
Process
How DTF Transfers Work
- Quote and specGarments, sizes, positions and a digital proof
- Artwork checkFiles sized and colour-profiled for print
- Film printingYour design printed onto film with a white layer
- Powder and cureAdhesive powder applied and cured
- Heat pressingPressed onto each garment
- Checks and packingPrints checked and packed
From artwork to finished print
DTF (direct to film) printing prints your artwork onto a special film using CMYK and white inks. An adhesive powder is applied and cured, then each transfer is heat pressed onto the garment and the film peeled away, leaving a bright, flexible print. Because the transfer is made separately, it can be pressed onto fabrics and places that direct printing can’t reach.
Turnaround: allow 7 to 15 working days once everything is approved, depending on quantity and the time of year. If you need it faster, ask, as rush orders are sometimes possible.
Garments
Garments That Print Well
DTF works on almost any garment, from cotton tees to polyester sportswear, jackets and bags. A tee and a hoodie are where most merch ranges begin, and you will find both in our custom t-shirts and custom hoodies.
More than printing
Complementary Garment Customisation Services
DTF transfers go on almost any blank in our blank garments range, and we can add embroidery or garment finishing to the same order.
Garments
We supply blank garments from brands including Stanley/Stella, AS Colour and EarthPositive, and can print, embroider or finish any of them.
Garment Finishing
We can relabel, print inside necks, fold, bag and tag your garments, so they arrive ready to sell.
Embroidery
Add an embroidered logo for a raised, stitched finish. It works best on hoodies, caps, polos and jackets, alongside a DTF print elsewhere on the garment.
Why us
Why Choose 3rd Rail for DTF Printing
We help fashion labels, creative agencies, events and all brands choose the right decoration for every garment. With DTF, DTG, screen printing, vinyl and embroidery all available in London, we can mix methods in one order and keep everything consistent. Every order is checked before it leaves us.
Trusted by the World’s Biggest Brands
"We were really impressed by the communication with 3rd Rail Clothing, and the quality of the t-shirt printing. We used 3rd Rail Clothing to print t-shirts to fundraise for our charity and we couldn't be happier with the result. Thank you."
"3rd Rail's quality, communication, and support throughout the process have been exceptional. Everything was handled smoothly from start to finish, making the whole experience easy and stress-free.
It's clear that you genuinely care about both the product and your customers."
"Working with 3rd Rail is always a lovely experience. They're so friendly and the level of care and details that goes into their printing is unmatched."
"We found 3rd Rail very accommodating and fast to react. Everything looked amazing and the guys were very informative and helpful."
"3rd Rail's enthusiasm was contagious, they shared their knowledge of the printing process with everyone who was curious and they also promoted our typography services every time our team was already chatting to attendees."
"The live print was a massive success and has been called the best Nike Air Max Day celebration so far so thank you. Super slick, organised operation with a lovely crew of people."
Need Professional DTF Printing in London?
Get a quote for your project. Tell us about it and we’ll get back to you with pricing and advice.
Rather talk? Call 0207 231 0866
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
FAQs
DTF Printing FAQs
What is DTF printing?
It stands for direct to film. Your design is printed onto a special film with a white layer behind it, then heat pressed onto the garment. It gives full-colour prints on almost any fabric.
Do you offer DTF printing in London?
Yes. We print for brands, teams and events, from 10 units.
Do you offer DTF printing UK-wide?
Yes. DTF orders go out to customers all over the UK and abroad. Ask us for delivery costs when you quote.
What is the minimum order for DTF printing?
10 units per design, and a printed sample is £30.
What fabrics can you DTF print on?
Cotton, polyester, nylon and blends, including sportswear, jackets, bags and caps. Some coated or waterproof fabrics need a test press first.
DTF or DTG: which is better?
DTG gives a softer print that soaks into cotton. DTF works on more fabrics, including polyester and nylon, and stays bright on dark garments. We can advise on your artwork and garment.
Does DTF work on dark garments?
Yes. A white layer is printed behind your colours, so they stay bright on black and dark garments.
How long does a DTF print last?
With the right care, often for years. Turn the garment inside out, wash at 30°C, skip the tumble dryer and never iron straight onto the print.
Can DTF match Pantone colours?
DTF prints in CMYK, so colours are a close match but not an exact Pantone match. Screen printing or plastisol transfers give exact colours.
What other transfers do you offer?
As well as DTF, we produce plastisol transfers, specialist transfers (high build, puff, reflective, dye blocker and foil) and vinyl transfers. Our guide to heat transfers compares them.
What artwork do you need?
Ideally a 300dpi PNG with a transparent background, sized to print. Vector files (AI, PDF, EPS or SVG) work too, and we check every file before it goes to print.
How long does DTF printing take?
Allow 7 to 15 working days from final approval, depending on order size and the time of year. We can sometimes turn orders round faster, so mention your deadline when you ask for a quote.
How much does DTF printing cost?
From 10 units, an A6 print is £10.00 per garment, an A4 £11.50 and an A3 £13.00, dropping to £2.10, £3.50 and £5.20 at 1,000+. There are no screens or set-up costs. Use the price guide above, or ask us for an exact quote.