A holistic take on digital printing
Wait doesn’t Digital printing (dtf) suck?
With custom garm printing, DTF (Direct-to-Film) has quickly emerged as a pretty handy option for detailed, vibrant, and versatile designs. Whether you’re after flexibility in design or cost-effectiveness for small batches, DTF has changed what’s possible.
Screenprinting is always going to be there, it’s been around forever for a reason. Especially when it comes to speciality prints & bulk orders.
But with the rate DTF is improving & the results we’ve seen. We think there’s a heap of upside to this method. Especially if you get the artwork right & utilise the flexibility that it allows you.
DTF prints for retail
DTF printing is a huge advantage for retail because it keeps costs fixed with low MOQs, so you can trial different designs or garment colours without committing to high levels of stock. If you’re selling online or in-store, DTF lets you experiment with new looks, suss what resonates, and stay responsive to demand—without the risk of overstock (which we all know in retail is a killer.. It’s a simple way to keep things flexible and lean, especially for limited drops, testing market interest or building out new vertical ranges.
An advantage for pre-sale
DTF printing is ideal for pre-sales since it eliminates setup fees, letting you price your products more accurately from the start. With no upfront setup costs, you can run pre-sale campaigns to gauge demand, fine-tune your pricing, and only produce what’s ordered. This approach cuts down on waste, lowers financial risk, and keeps inventory lean. DTF’s flexibility makes it easy to scale up or down based on interest, so you can keep costs transparent and adapt quickly without overcommitting. Perfect for pre-sale strategies where customer insights drive production.
Understand the process & get the best results from the DTF printing method
To get the best results with DTF printing, understanding the process and tweaking artwork to use negative space and halftoning can make a big difference. DTF prints sit on top of the fabric, so managing ink density is key to a comfortable, high-quality finish. Using negative space in the design helps reduce the amount of ink applied, creating a lighter, softer feel. Halftoning—where solid areas are converted into small dots—achieves a similar effect, giving depth without adding bulk. Adjusting your artwork this way not only improves the print’s comfort and durability but also keeps colours vibrant and the handfeel that you’ll be after.
To sum it all up
With printing & merchandise, using the technique to your advantage can be mad helpful. It’s important to think about how you can use the benefits of the service to your advantage. DTF gives you a heap of flexibility & if you can find a way to use that to your advantage there’s a heap of wins in there.
If you have any questions on this, wanna see how any of this can work for you, or there’s something you do (or don’t agree with) please just hollah. Email us at anytime hello@fullcowboy.com
All gas no brakes.
Geremy
