Printing Service
DTF Digital Transfer Printing
Full-colour, photographic logos printed onto almost any garment — no colour limits, no screens, and viable from a single piece. Doree runs DTF alongside embroidery and screen printing under one Brisbane roof. Trading since 1934.
The basics
What DTF is and when to choose it
DTF — direct-to-film — prints your artwork onto a special film, bonds it with a fine adhesive powder, then heat-presses it onto the garment. The result is a full-colour, durable print with no limit on the number of colours.
Because there are no screens to burn or set up, DTF is the method to reach for when artwork is complex or quantities are small. It reproduces photographic images, gradients, fine detail and small text cleanly, and it's just as viable for a single garment as for a run of hundreds. If your logo has many colours, subtle shading or intricate linework — or you simply need a handful of pieces quickly — DTF usually makes more sense than screen printing or embroidery. It's also ideal for mixed orders where different designs go onto different garments in the same job.
Choosing a method
DTF vs screen printing vs embroidery
All three run under one roof at Doree, so our advice isn't tied to a single method — we'll point you to whichever suits the artwork, garment and quantity. Here's how they compare.
Full colour, low minimums
Best for detailed, multi-colour or photographic artwork, mixed garments, and small runs — right down to a single piece. No per-colour cost and no screen setup, with a light, flexible finish.
Best value at volume
The most cost-effective choice for large runs of a simple, few-colour design. Bright, hard-wearing prints on cotton — but setup per colour makes it less suited to small or highly detailed jobs.
Premium and hard-wearing
A textured, high-end finish that outlasts the garment — ideal for logos, badges and names on polos, jackets and caps. Less suited to large photographic fills or fine gradients.
Not sure which to use? Send us your artwork and the garments you have in mind and we'll recommend the method that gives the best result for your budget and quantity.
What it works on
Fabrics and garments suited to DTF
One of DTF's biggest strengths is versatility. The same transfer bonds cleanly to a wide range of fabrics, so you can run one design across a mixed order without changing method.
DTF sits well on cottons, polyesters, blends and many synthetics, with a soft, flexible finish that moves with the fabric. Common uses include:
- T-shirts & polos — cotton, poly and blends alike.
- Hoodies & fleeces — full-colour front or back prints.
- Sportswear — stretchy performance fabrics.
- Tote bags & aprons — heavier cotton and canvas.
- Workwear & hi-vis — large, high-visibility logos.
- Mixed orders — one artwork across different garments.
A few technical or water-repellent fabrics can behave differently under heat, so for unusual materials we test first and advise before running the full job.
Volume & timing
Turnaround and minimum order
Because DTF skips screen setup, it's fast to produce and there's no large minimum to make a job worthwhile — a single garment is fine, and so is a run of hundreds.
That makes it a practical choice for one-off pieces, samples, event shirts and top-ups, as well as bulk orders. Reorders are simple too: your artwork stays on file, so repeat runs come back the same. Larger quantities and complex jobs take a little longer, but we'll always confirm a realistic turnaround when we quote. As with all our work, DTF runs alongside embroidery and screen printing in our Brisbane facility, so combined orders are handled in one place rather than split across suppliers.
Ready to price a job? Send us your artwork, the garments and how many you need, and we'll come back with a quote and a turnaround.
Common questions
DTF printing FAQs
What is DTF and how is it different from screen printing?
DTF (direct-to-film) prints your design onto a film, bonds it with adhesive powder and heat-presses it onto the garment. Unlike screen printing, there are no screens to set up and no per-colour cost, so it handles full-colour and photographic artwork easily and stays economical on small runs. Screen printing still wins on price for large quantities of a simple, few-colour design.
Is DTF suitable for small runs or single garments?
Yes — it's one of DTF's main advantages. With no screen setup, there's no large minimum, so a single garment, a sample or a small batch is entirely viable, and the same artwork scales up to bulk without changing method. It's ideal for one-offs, event shirts and top-ups as well as larger orders.
How durable is DTF printing after repeated washing?
DTF prints are hard-wearing and hold up well to regular washing when cared for correctly — washed inside out in cold or warm water and not ironed directly over the print. The finish stays flexible and resists cracking and fading, making it a reliable choice for everyday workwear and uniforms as well as one-off pieces.
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Need full-colour prints, fast?
Send us your artwork, garments and quantity and we'll come back with a quote and turnaround.