DTF — Direct to Film — for mid-volume runs with full-colour artwork
DTF prints the design on a polyester film with pigment ink, applies hot-melt adhesive powder over the wet ink, and transfers the whole thing to the garment with a heat press. It is the technique that best balances volume and artwork complexity for runs of 25 to 500 pieces: gradients, photography and vectors are accepted without a per-colour setup cost, and it works on cotton, cotton-polyester blends and 100% polyester with the same quality.
Where DTF sits in the decoration landscape
DTF does not replace screen printing or DTG; it occupies the space between them. Against screen printing, DTF wins when the artwork carries many colours, gradients, photography or hairline strokes — screen printing would charge a setup per ink, DTF does not. Against DTG, DTF wins when the substrate is not 100% cotton — the hot-melt adhesive bonds to synthetic and blended fibres where DTG pigment ink does not fix as well. Against both, DTF wins when the garment needs stretch (hoodies, stretch tees) because the hot-melt layer remains flexible.
DTF's main limitation is the per-piece cost when the run grows very large — past 1,000 pieces in flat colour, traditional screen printing is still more competitive. And past one piece with complex artwork on white cotton, DTG still wins. DTF is the mid-range technique where artwork complexity justifies a higher unit cost without crossing into screen-printing setup economics.
Applications that benefit from DTF
Event tees with full-colour artwork
When the logo carries multiple colours, gradients or a brand illustration, DTF reproduces the visual richness without each colour adding a screen. Ideal for staff apparel at events with extended brand identity.
Hoodies and printed jackets
On 320 GSM hoodies or polar fleece jackets, DTF stays flexible thanks to the hot-melt adhesive. The garment does not feel stiff and it survives the wash cycle without the print cracking.
Bags and backpacks with colour design
On canvas, non-woven PP or 600D polyester, DTF reproduces full-colour illustrations that screen printing could not match without a six- or eight-ink setup. Useful for congress bags with complex corporate artwork.
Mid-volume runs on polyester
On dry-fit tees and high-polyester blends, DTF is the right call — the hot-melt adhesive bonds to the synthetic fibre where DTG ink does not penetrate as well. Common in corporate sports and fitness apparel.
The DTF production flow
The flow starts by printing the artwork on PET film using CMYK + white pigment inks. The white layer goes down first and the CMYK colours on top — this lets the print read vivid on any fabric colour. Immediately after printing, hot-melt adhesive powder is applied to the wet ink; the powder fuses with dry heat in a curing tunnel and becomes integrated with the design.
The transfer to the garment is done with a heat press at 160 °C for 15 seconds, peeled cold or hot depending on the adhesive. The result is a flexible, durable print layer with vivid colours. The transfer does not need a pneumatic press — a flat heat press with even pressure is enough, which lowers the equipment cost and lets the production scale.
MOQ, pricing and logistics
The cost-effective MOQ for DTF starts at 25 pieces — below that the film and powder setup cost does not dilute and DTG is the better call. For runs of 25 to 500 pieces, DTF is competitive on unit cost and superior on quality over any fabric colour. We quote by print size (width × height in cm) and volume; the cost of the film and hot-melt adhesive is prorated across the pieces in the run.
Lead time: 5 to 7 business days standard from artwork sign-off and deposit. Express line 3 to 4 days with a +30% surcharge. We deliver to CDMX and the metropolitan area inside 24 hours if the order closes before 14:00; the rest of the country goes via Estafeta, Paquetexpress or FedEx with a trackable waybill. Quotes are in MXN ex-IVA; the 16% IVA is itemised on a CFDI 4.0 stamped by SAT against your RFC. For cross-border shipments under an IMMEX programme we issue the invoice with the comercio exterior complemento.
FAQ — DTF printing in Mexico
What is the MOQ for DTF?
25 cost-effective pieces. Below that DTG is the better fit. Past 1,000 pieces in flat colour, it pays to evaluate traditional screen printing.
Does it work on any fabric colour?
Yes — the white underbase layer neutralises the background colour. On black, navy, red and burgundy the result is excellent; on pastel colours it works too with lower ink consumption.
Does the print feel stiff on the garment?
No — the hot-melt adhesive stays flexible and elastic. On cotton-polyester hoodies it moves with the fabric without cracking. On very lightweight tees (150 GSM) it can feel slightly more present than on 200+ GSM.
How many washes does it survive?
Properly transferred, it survives more than 40 home wash cycles at 40 °C. The recommendation is to wash inside-out, no bleach, tumble-dry at medium heat.
Can you run DTF with variable data?
Yes, on short runs where each piece carries a different name or number. The additional artwork setup per design is quoted separately because it adds print time.
Request a DTF quote
Send us quantity, garment type, fabric colour and an artwork description. If you have a PNG or TIFF at 200 DPI or higher, attach it; if not, we will talk through the desired result and walk you through pre-press at no cost.
Corp-Merch.MX is an independent apparel printing and corporate merch workshop. We are not a partner, sponsor or official supplier of the textile brands, trade shows, venues or events referenced on this page. Trademarks and brand names belong to their respective owners and are mentioned solely for descriptive purposes to identify the production context.