Is DTF better than HTV?

For full-color or detailed designs, usually yes: no weeding, any number of colors. For simple one- or two-color names and numbers, HTV is often quicker and cheaper.

Does DTF work on polyester?

Yes. DTF transfers work on cotton, polyester and blends.

When is screen printing cheaper than DTF?

When the same design runs on enough pieces that the screen setup is paid off by the lower cost per print. Where that lands depends on your costs; the DTF vs screen printing calculator works it out.

DTF vs HTV: which heat transfer fits the job

DTF (direct to film) and HTV (heat transfer vinyl) both end up on a heat press, so they get compared a lot. They're very different to make, though, and each is the right call for different jobs. Our shop runs screens, so this is the straight comparison rather than a pitch for either.

How HTV works

HTV is a sheet of colored vinyl with heat-activated adhesive on the back. A cutting plotter cuts the design, you weed away the vinyl you don't want, and press what's left onto the garment. Each color is its own sheet and its own layer, so it's best for one or two solid colors: names, numbers, simple logos.

How DTF works

DTF prints the full design in color onto a film, covers the wet ink with an adhesive powder, cures it, and then the transfer is pressed onto the garment. There's no cutting or weeding, it handles full color and gradients, and it works on cotton, polyester and blends.

Where each one wins

HTV: names and numbers on team jerseys, one-color text, small runs where each piece is different. Low equipment cost.
DTF: full-color or detailed art on short runs, mixed fabrics, and one-offs where screen setup would never pay off.
Neither: once a design runs into a few dozen pieces of the same art, screen printing usually costs less per piece, because the setup is spread over the run.

When to switch to screen printing

The break-even depends on your setup cost per screen and what each transfer costs you. Our free DTF vs screen printing calculator shows the run size where screens take over, using your own numbers.

Common questions

Is DTF better than HTV?: For full-color or detailed designs, usually yes: no weeding, any number of colors. For simple one- or two-color names and numbers, HTV is often quicker and cheaper.
Does DTF work on polyester?: Yes. DTF transfers work on cotton, polyester and blends.
When is screen printing cheaper than DTF?: When the same design runs on enough pieces that the screen setup is paid off by the lower cost per print. Where that lands depends on your costs; the DTF vs screen printing calculator works it out.