Short answer: we chose DTF (direct-to-film) printing at LuxPort Print Co because it fits the shirts our customers actually ask for: small orders and one-offs, full-color designs with gradients and fine detail, and shirts where every person gets their own name. There are no screens to set up for each design, it works on cotton, polyester, and blends, and we print it all in-house in San Antonio. Screen printing is a great process, and below we are honest about when we would still point you toward it.
We are a full-service San Antonio print team, and people ask us all the time why we print DTF instead of running screens. We have already written a general guide to the difference between DTF and screen printing. This post is different. It is our reasoning, in our own words, with real photos from our shop.
Reason 1: No screens to set up for every design
Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh screen, and each color in a design normally needs its own screen. That setup makes sense when the same design is printed hundreds of times. It is a lot of work for a birthday shirt, a family reunion set, or a small team with a detailed logo.
With DTF, we print your design from a digital file onto a clear film, apply an adhesive powder, cure it, and heat press it onto the garment. The number of colors in the art does not change the setup. That is the main reason we went with DTF: it lets us say yes to small orders and one-of-a-kind shirts without asking customers to simplify their designs or order more than they need. If you are weighing this for a small group, our post on whether DTF is better for small orders goes deeper.
Reason 2: Every shirt can carry a different name
This photo shows a transfer as it fed out of our printer. The mascot is in full color, with shading on the wings and a highlight on the nose, and the sign it is holding carries one family name.
With screen printing, a shared design is usually printed once for everyone, and names are added later with a separate method. With DTF, the name is simply part of the file. The transfer next to this one can say a different name, and the one after that another, with the full-color mascot on every single one.
Where this matters most
- School and classroom shirts with each student's or teacher's name.
- Sports teams with names and numbers on the back.
- Family reunions and cruise groups with a nickname or role on each shirt.
- Work shirts with each employee's name under the logo.
Reason 3: Full color, gradients, and fine detail
This close-up is a school spirit design we printed with DTF. Count the colors: dark green, bright green, several shades of gold and orange, white outlines, and black. On a screen press, each of those would usually need its own screen, lined up carefully so the outlines stay in place.
- The flame blends from yellow to orange with small speckled highlights, printed just as it looks in the artwork.
- The lettering has a thin white keyline inside a gold outline, and the layers sit cleanly side by side.
- The small text near the edge, “EST.” and “2008,” stays crisp and readable.
We love detailed artwork, and DTF lets us print it without asking anyone to cut colors to make the job work.
Got detailed, full-color art or a list of names? Send it our way.
Request a QuoteCall Now: (844) 589-7678Reason 4: The white layer makes color pop on any shirt color
This shot catches our printer in the middle of a pass. The printhead is a blur because it is moving, and on the film you can see the bright white layer that DTF prints behind the color. That white layer works like a primer, so gold stays gold on a black shirt instead of sinking into the fabric. Screen printers use a similar idea called an underbase, which takes its own screen and print step. In DTF it prints automatically in the same run.
Colors on fabric can still look a little different from a phone screen, and our post on why print colors look different from your screen explains why.
Reason 5: It works on cotton, polyester, and blends
DTF bonds well to cotton, polyester, and cotton-poly blends, along with fleece, canvas, and denim. That means we can print the same design on a cotton tee, a polyester jersey, and a blended hoodie and keep the look consistent across a group. We adjust heat and pressure for each fabric, because polyester needs lower temperatures than cotton. Very stretchy, coated, or waterproof items are harder for DTF, and we will tell you up front if your garment is one of them. For the full list, see what DTF transfers can be put on.
Reason 6: We print it in-house
We print our DTF transfers in-house at our San Antonio shop, on our own printer. Because the whole process stays with us, we see every design come off the film, and we check it before it goes on your shirt. If something needs adjusting, we can see it and fix it ourselves. If you like to lay out your own designs, our walkthrough on making a DTF gang sheet in Canva shows how.
When we would still send you to a screen printer
We chose DTF because it fits most of what our customers need, not because screen printing is bad. Screen printing is a proven process, and for some jobs it is the better choice.
Very large runs of one simple design
If you need several hundred or more shirts with the same one- or two-color logo, screen printing can be very efficient, because the screens are set up once and reused for every shirt. Our post on whether DTF is cheaper than screen printing for 12, 24, or 50 shirts walks through how order size changes the math.
A soft feel on big, simple areas of ink
A well-cured screen print with one or two colors can feel almost like part of the fabric. DTF is thin and flexible, but it sits on top of the fibers. If feel on a large solid print matters most to you, screen printing may have the edge.
Specialty inks
Puff ink and some other specialty effects are traditionally screen printed. If your design depends on one of those, a screen printer is the right call, and we will tell you so.
Frequently asked questions
Why does LuxPort Print Co use DTF instead of screen printing?
Because most of the shirts we make are small runs, one-offs, and personalized designs. DTF prints from a digital file with no screens to set up per design, handles full color and fine detail, and lets every shirt carry a different name, which fits the way our customers actually order.
Does DTF print gradients and detailed artwork well?
Yes. DTF prints with a full set of colors plus a white layer, so blends, shading, and thin outlines come through as they look in your artwork. Screen printing can simulate gradients with halftone dots, but it takes more setup.
Can every shirt in my order have a different name?
Yes. Names, numbers, and roles are just part of the digital file, so each transfer can be different with no extra screens. That works well for teams, classrooms, family reunions, and staff shirts.
What fabrics does DTF work on?
DTF bonds well to cotton, polyester, and cotton-poly blends, as well as fleece, canvas, and denim. Very stretchy, coated, or waterproof fabrics are harder, so tell us what you have in mind and we will let you know.
When should I use a screen printer instead?
If you need a very large run of one simple design in one to three solid colors, or a specialty ink like puff, screen printing is often the better fit. We will tell you honestly if that is your project.
How do I find out if DTF is right for my design?
Send us your artwork, the shirt color and fabric you want, and how many shirts you need. We will look at the colors, the fine details, and any names or numbers and recommend the best way to print it.
Let us show you what DTF can do with your design
That is why we chose DTF: no screens per design, a different name on every shirt if you want it, full color and fine detail, and one process for cotton, polyester, and blends, all printed in-house. Send us your artwork and tell us what you are planning, and we will help you get it right.
— Pablo, LuxPort Print Co
LuxPort Print Co, 10730 Potranco Rd Suite 122-507, San Antonio TX 78251 · (844) 589-7678
