DTF printers make great digital transfer sheets. They can do all sorts of prints - from simple one-color shirt labels to small chest logos to big full-shirt designs. These printers use a special PET film that's 0.75mm thick. This film works better for transfers, comes on a roll, and is meant for cold peel. Plus, it's see-through, which makes it easier to line up when using a heat press.
''he Bigfoot team has been incredible in helping me choose the right printer for my small business. They answered all my questions quickly and their customer support is top-notch. I'd definitely recommend them to anyone looking for DTF printing equipment or advice. They really know their stuff and care about their customers."
Proof DTF Printing Can Work For You!
DTF printers are an efficient way to produce products that have a positive return on investment for your business. Here is an example of a quick t-shirt job compared to an online quote as to show you how profitable DTF printing can be
Cost to produce:
Ink, powder & film:
$1.22 per shirt (front and back)
Blank shirt:
$5.19
Total cost per shirt:
$5.19
Number of shirts needed:
54
Print Time:
25 min. for 113 transfers + 6 min (through dryer)
Total Job Cost:
$346.14
Job retail value:
$1,200
Job profits:
$853.86
What Makes Bigfoot DG Better Than Our Competitors?
Your business deserves extraordinary support—we deliver it.
Expert Consultation & Printer Matching
Our DTF specialists analyze your production needs (volume, ink types, fabric compatibility) to recommend the perfect printer model, accessories (e.g., ink, film, powder), and workflow setup—ensuring optimal performance from day one.
Turnkey Deployment & Training
Your printer arrives pre-calibrated and ready for immediate use, complete with free online training sessions and a starter kit (including sample films and inks) to ensure fast, successful implementation.
Comprehensive Technical Support
Our team provides reliable assistance for operational issues—including printhead maintenance, adhesion troubleshooting, and software optimization—paired with regular firmware updates and performance tuning to ensure consistent print quality.
Future-Proof Upgrades
As your business grows, we offer tailored upgrade recommendations (such as high-resolution printheads or advanced drying systems) to expand your capabilities and maximize your long-term investment.
What is Difference Between DTF and Screen Printing?
Screen printing’s core operational challenges revolve around labor and process complexity. It demands extensive, multi-month staff training to master screen prep and ink application, directly impacting hiring efficiency and labor costs. The method is inherently messy, involving significant chemical use and waste disposal, posing environmental and financial burdens.
Conversely, DTF printing directly addresses these pain points. DTF offers minimal setup times and a sharply reduced learning curve, enabling rapid staff integration and production scaling. It entirely bypasses screen exposure, cleaning, and reclamation, yielding a cleaner process with drastically less material waste. This operational simplicity translates to faster turnaround and a more sustainable production model.
Advantages of DTF vs. Screen Printing
Fast Setup & Learning: Quick to get started and easy to learn.
No Screens: Eliminates exposing, cleaning, and reusing screens.
Reduced Waste: More environmentally friendly process.
Single-Pass Full Color: Prints all colors and complex digital images in one go.
Durable & Flexible: Excellent wash resistance and stretch.
What's the Difference Between DTF and DTG Printing?
DTG printing's primary operational bottleneck is its sequential, integrated print-to-garment process. Operators are tethered to the machine, ensuring precise garment placement for each print, leading to significant idle time awaiting completion of individual prints.
DTF printing fundamentally separates the print and application functions. This distinction enables parallel production, where images are printed onto film independently, then applied to garments at a separate station. This workflow eliminates the need to bring each garment to the printer, allowing for scalable application across numerous items concurrently. Furthermore, DTF transfers excel in application versatility, readily adhering to challenging areas such as garment tags, sleeves, and irregularly shaped apparel, often problematic for direct-to-garment methods.
Advantages of DTF vs. DTG Printing
Faster Press Times
Reliable Print Heads
No Pre-Treatment or Wetting:
No Shirt Drying
Lower Consumable Costs
No Pre-Pressing
Parallel Processing and Assembly
What is the Difference between DTF and Vinyl Cutting?
Vinyl cutting, including Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) and Print & Cut systems, is primarily hampered by post-production manual labor and multi-color complexity. Any design processed via a plotter necessitates manual weeding – the painstaking removal of unwanted material – before application. For multi-color designs, this weeding process must be repeated for each individual color, directly escalating labor exponentially and drastically increasing per-product work. Print & Cut systems, while adding digital print capabilities, crucially do not eliminate this weeding requirement, rendering them slow and inefficient for high-volume or intricate jobs.
DTF printing fundamentally bypasses these issues. The process generates a complete image on film, eliminating any weeding or post-print material removal. This drastically reduces manual labor and streamlines production, particularly for multi-color or complex designs. DTF's efficiency offers a direct solution to the production bottlenecks inherent in vinyl cutting methods, providing a faster, less labor-intensive, and more scalable alternative for apparel customization.
Advantages of DTF Printing vs. Vinyl Cutting
All Colors in a Single Print
Ready-to-Transfer Prints
No Weeding at All
Improved Hand and Washability
Significantly Faster Production Time
Reduced Waste and Lower Production Costs
See It in Action: Watch Our Demo
Witness the power and simplicity of our UV DTF printers firsthand.
Ready to Elevate Your Custom Printing Game?
Contact us to get help determining the right DTF printer for your business needs.