We’ve added DTF printing to our in-house capabilities at NoDak Threads, giving us another way to create custom apparel right here in our Jamestown shop.
We’ve offered DTF-decorated apparel before. Bringing the printing in-house gives us more control over the job, from preparing your artwork to printing the transfer and pressing the finished garment.
What is DTF printing?
DTF stands for Direct to Film. Your design is printed in full color onto a special transfer film, with a white ink layer as the design requires. The transfer is prepared with adhesive, cured, and then applied to a suitable garment using heat and pressure.
It gives us a way to reproduce colorful, detailed artwork on apparel. We check the design and fabric together and provide care guidance to help you look after the finished print.
Why bring DTF in-house?
For us, the biggest advantage is control.
Instead of relying on ordered transfers for every job, we can print them ourselves. That gives us more flexibility with scheduling, lets us inspect the transfer before it reaches your garment, and helps us handle smaller or custom projects.
It means more of your project stays in our hands. We’ll still confirm timing for your particular order rather than promise a turnaround before we know the details.
Where DTF really shines
It’s a useful option for:
- Full-color business logos and illustrations
- Gradients and artwork with several colors
- Larger front or back designs
- Small runs for an event, club, family, or business
- Designs that aren’t a practical fit for embroidery
Fine details and small lettering still need a size and readability check. T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and other suitable garments can be good candidates, but fabric and construction matter. We’ll help choose a combination that works.
DTF or embroidery?
This is where having both capabilities gets useful.
Embroidery gives you the texture and dimension of actual stitching. It’s a familiar choice for suitable polos, jackets, caps, and workwear when that stitched appearance is part of the look you want.
DTF gives us another approach for colorful artwork, gradients, and larger graphics. One isn’t automatically better than the other—the garment, design, quantity, and finished look guide the choice.
You don’t have to sort that out yourself. Show us your design and what you want to put it on. We’ll talk through the options together.
Another capability, right here in our shop
From artwork preparation to printing, pressing, and final inspection, in-house DTF gives us more control over how your apparel comes together.
Whether it’s a few event shirts, apparel for your business, or something personal, we have another way to help. Tell us what you’re working on, or explore printed apparel.
NoDak Threads
We don’t make the apparel. We decorate it.