If you're starting a clothing brand, printing club merch or running a uniform order in Australia, the choice usually comes down to two methods: DTF (direct-to-film) transfers or screen printing. Both produce great shirts. The right answer depends almost entirely on your order size, your artwork, and how fast you need it.
The short answer
Under ~50 garments, or any full-colour design: DTF wins on cost. Screen printing only pulls ahead on big runs of simple designs, because its setup costs get spread across hundreds of units.
Why screen printing gets expensive for small runs
Screen printing charges you per colour, not per design. Every colour in your artwork needs its own screen, and each screen costs money to make before a single shirt is printed. A 5-colour logo can mean significant setup fees before you start — which is why most screen printers enforce minimum orders of 20–50 units. On a 10-shirt order, setup alone can double your cost per shirt.
How DTF pricing works
DTF has no screens and no setup. Your design — any number of colours, gradients included — is printed at 300 DPI onto film, then heat-pressed onto the garment. You pay for the film area you use. At Gravity Prints, a custom single transfer starts at $12, and a gang sheet from $15 lets you pack multiple designs onto one sheet to drive the per-print cost down further.
Side-by-side comparison
| DTF transfers | Screen printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fees | None | Per colour, per design |
| Minimum order | None — print one shirt | Usually 20–50+ |
| Full-colour artwork / gradients | Included, no extra cost | Each colour adds cost |
| Cost on small runs (1–50) | Lower | Higher |
| Cost on large runs of simple art (200+) | Higher | Lower |
| Turnaround | Fast — transfers can ship same day | Days to weeks |
| Feel on fabric | Thin, flexible layer | Soft ink-in-fabric feel (simple designs) |
| Works on cotton, poly, blends | Yes, all of them | Ink/process varies by fabric |
Durability: the honest version
Modern DTF transfers, pressed correctly, survive 50+ washes without cracking or peeling — comparable to good screen printing. Cheap DTF (low-res printing, poor powder adhesion) is what gave transfers a bad name. This is why we print at 300 DPI on premium hot-peel film, and why we'll happily send you a free sample pack so you can wash-test it yourself before ordering.
When you should still choose screen printing
Ordering 200+ garments with a 1–2 colour design that won't change? Screen printing's economics win. That's the truth, and a good print shop will tell you so.
When DTF is the obvious choice
- Small runs, one-offs, or designs you'll iterate on
- Full-colour artwork, photos, gradients
- Mixed garments and fabrics in one order (tees + hoodies + caps)
- Deadlines — order transfers before 2pm Sydney time and we dispatch the same day
FAQs
Can I press DTF transfers myself?
Yes — a basic heat press is all you need. Application instructions come with every Gravity Prints order.
Does DTF feel thick or plasticky?
Quality DTF feels like a thin, flexible layer that moves with the fabric. Thick, plasticky transfers are a sign of low-quality film or over-inking.
What artwork file do I need?
A transparent-background PNG at 300 DPI gives the best result — no colour separations required, unlike screen printing.