INSIGHTS: DTG & DTFilm Printing Made Simple: Everything You Need to Know with Epson Technology
DTG vs. DTFilm: Why choose one when you can have both?
DTG and DTFilm each have their strengths, but the best part? You don’t have to choose between them. Epson’s SureColor F1000 and F2200 printers let you seamlessly switch between DTG and DTFilm, so you can take on a wider range of jobs and expand your product offerings without extra equipment or complicated setups.
Custom printing has come a long way. Whether you’re making t-shirts, tote bags, or hoodies, today’s technology makes it easier than ever to bring your designs to life with vibrant color and incredible detail.
Two of the most powerful methods? Direct-to-garment (DTG) and direct-to-film (DTFilm) printing. They give businesses and creators the flexibility to print high-quality designs on demand, with no need for bulky screens, complicated setups, or massive production runs.
If you’re looking for high-quality, speedy printing on more materials, DTG and DTFilm open up endless opportunities. Here’s what makes them so exciting.
DTG: Colourful Prints with a soft feel
DTG printing works just like an inkjet printer — but for fabric. Your design is printed directly onto the garment, with water-based inks that sink into the fibers instead of sitting on top. The result? A soft, breathable print that moves with the fabric and is less likely to crack or peel over time.
If you’re printing t-shirts, hoodies, baby onesies, or other cotton apparel, DTG makes it easy to create detailed, colourful designs that feel as good as they look. No stiff layers or heavy textures — just smooth, high-quality prints.
Why People Love DTG:
Super comfortable: The ink becomes part of the fabric, so there’s no thick layer on top.
Unlimited colours: Print intricate designs with rich colours, fine details, and smooth gradients.
Easy, on-demand printing: No more worrying about extra inventory or wasted stock.
For custom brands, online shops, and creators, DTG is a go-to choice for high-quality cotton prints that customers love to wear.
DTFilm: More fabrics, more possibilities
DTFilm printing takes flexibility to the next level, letting you print on a wide variety of materials — not just cotton. Instead of printing directly onto fabric, the design is printed onto a special film, coated with adhesive powder, and then heat-pressed onto the final product.
This method opens up new creative options. You can print on polyester, blends, hats, socks — even non-traditional surfaces like canvas shoes. The result? Bold, durable designs that stay vibrant through stretching, washing, and daily wear.
Why People Love DTFilm:
Works on almost any fabric: Print on polyester, nylon, blends, and more.
No prep required: Skip pre-treatment for white grounds and get straight to printing.Pre-treatment required for coloured fabrics.
Built to last: Prints hold up through washing, movement, and everyday use.
More product options: Customize hats, tote bags, performance wear, and more.
If you want more versatility and fewer material restrictions, DTFilm is an easy way to expand your printing potential.
DTG vs. DTFilm: Why choose one when you can have both?
DTG and DTFilm each have their strengths, but the best part? You don’t have to choose between them. Epson’s SureColor F1000 and F2200 printers let you seamlessly switch between DTG and DTFilm, so you can take on a wider range of jobs and expand your product offerings without extra equipment or complicated setups.
Who’s using DTG and DTFilm printing?
From small startups to well-known brands, businesses and organizations of all sizes are using DTG and DTFilm printing to create custom products without the hassle of big upfront costs or excess inventory. Whether you’re printing one piece at a time or scaling up production, these technologies make it easy to bring designs to life with incredible quality and hybrid flexibility.
Independent creators and artists: Sell original, made-to-order designs without worrying about bulk inventory.
E-commerce and print-on-demand teams: Print exactly what’s needed, when it’s needed without stockpiles or waste.
Sports teams and corporations: Customize jerseys, hoodies, and merchandise with durable, high-quality prints.
Businesses and event organizers: Brand everything from tote bags to hats for promotions, giveaways, and corporate events.
Schools: Create high-quality, branded apparel to meet the moment – from Leavers hoodies and T-shirts to fundraisers.
Big opportunities for growing businesses
No matter your business size or focus, DTG and DTFilm put you in control, giving you more creative freedom. They also make starting and growing a business more accessible than ever. Whether you’re an independent artist selling one-of-a-kind designs, an entrepreneur launching a t-shirt brand, or a print shop looking to expand, these technologies let you:
Start a business with low overhead: Print on demand with no need for bulk inventory.
Sell on Etsy, Shopify, and Amazon: Offer unique, made-to-order apparel without warehousing costs.
Expand your product line: Add tote bags, hats, and performance wear with DTFilm flexibility.
Scale at your own pace: Whether printing a single shirt or fulfilling large orders, DTG and DTFilm grow with your business.
Purpose-built for high-quality direct-to-garment printing, the SureColor F1000 printer features advanced ink technology for remarkable image quality and a compact, front-loading design for remarkable ease of use.
More flexibility, more possibilities
DTG and DTFilm aren’t just about printing shirts — they’re about turning ideas into products and building brands that stand out. With Epson’s hybrid DTG/DTFilm printers, you can print what you want, when you want, with endless possibilities.
Learn more about how Epson’s DTFilm and DTG solutions can help you create, customize, and grow at Epson.com/dtg
Explore Epson’s technologies and discover how they can fuel your business's growth and sustainability goals.
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Is the Textile Market Finally Recovering?
After a difficult few years, there are genuine reasons for optimism. Duncan was candid about the challenges: "The market for textiles has been very difficult over the last three years. I'm not going to hide the truth there. But the tide is turning.“
A profound shift is currently reshaping the sector
Changing consumer expectations demand greater design diversity, faster turnaround times, and sustainable manufacturing practices.
To thrive, interior brands must adapt their supply chains, bringing production closer to the end consumer and moving away from bulk manufacturing.
Digital textile printing offers a definitive solution to these operational bottlenecks.
Digital transformation doesn't announce itself.
It accumulates - one innovation at a time - until an entire industry looks back and realises the ground has shifted beneath its feet. That's precisely where textiles stands today.
The conversations happening now about AI, automation, sustainability, and digital product passports are not theoretical. They are shaping decisions being made on factory floors and in boardrooms right now.
“By leveraging advanced digital textile printing, Marylene Madou has successfully merged traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. Her approach offers a blueprint for how independent designers can scale their brands globally while maintaining a minimal environmental footprint.”
From Helsinki's printing mill to Paris's Le Marais, discover how Marimekko is scaling a design-led brand with purpose, craft, and bold innovation.
But what makes Marimekko's story compelling is not just its aesthetic legacy?
The textile industry is undergoing a vital transformation. As the insights from Techtextil and Texprocess reveal, the path forward relies on a combination of sustainable hardware, intelligent chemistry, and seamless digital workflows.
From Zimmer's industrial-scale energy reductions and Stratasys's on-demand 3D embellishments, to Kornit's single-step technical printing and the unified digital ecosystems of NedGraphics and Optitex, the tools for change are here. To stay competitive, brands and manufacturers must adopt these innovations, moving away from fragmented, wasteful processes towards a truly connected, circular economy.
Friedmans stands as a testament to the power of combining traditional textile knowledge with forward-thinking innovation.
“Operating from their UK headquarters, Friedmans now serves a diverse array of sectors, including swimwear, dance, entertainment, sportswear, interior decor, prosthetics, and even pet apparel. With a strategic supply chain that reliably serves clients worldwide”
The apparel decoration industry is decisively moving away from isolated, analogue production tools toward connected digital manufacturing environments.
"Kornit’s unwavering commitment to transformative technology continues to disrupt the status quo. For business leaders and innovators ready to capture the future of apparel manufacturing, the path forward is clear”
The Urgent Need for Sustainability at Scale
The transformation at Coats provides a vital blueprint for the wider textile and apparel sector. True sustainability cannot be achieved in silos. As Dearing emphasised:
“Cross-industry collaboration is the engine of meaningful change. Brands, machinery suppliers, chemical providers, and fibre producers must act as an interconnected ecosystem”
Today’s customers demand superior product quality, real-time data visibility, and lightning-fast turnaround times.
For large-scale garment decorators, managing these expectations while balancing seasonal demand fluctuations - such as the massive surges seen during Black Friday - presents a monumental challenge.
"Relying on transactional vendor relationships and outdated legacy equipment is no longer sufficient to secure long-term stability and growth.”
Printing method is never a secondary detail. It shapes the entire life cycle of a product, from concept to customer. In today’s fashion industry, where margins are tighter and speed matters more than ever, technical knowledge has become a competitive advantage.
“The future of textile design belongs to professionals who can combine creativity with execution, aesthetics with practicality, and vision with production reality”.
Are we witnessing the reinvention of Merch driven by adaptive, digital technologies?
The commercial opportunity presented by printed, personalised merchandise is already a lucrative revenue stream; it is the core driver of growth in a multi-billion-pound industry. And the mandate for print businesses is clear: automate, adapt, and offer undeniable added value, or choose to gradually lose market share.
Powderless DTF is an important area of innovation. It deserves research, investment, and thoughtful development.
“But at its current stage, it often feels like the industry is attempting to commercialize the concept ahead of the underlying chemistry and system readiness”.
All Apparel Manufacturers face an Urgent Mandate: “Automate or be Left Behind”.
Industry leaders like Super Nova Sports and Ryozo International were struggling with severe pre-press bottlenecks and unsustainable fabric waste. By integrating AI Sublimation Software into their workflows, these forward-thinking businesses eliminated manual variable data entry, boosted fabric efficiency to over 80%, and reduced delivery times by more than half, establishing a highly profitable, agile, and environmentally responsible production model.
The Future of Manufacturing belongs to those who Embrace Connected Digital Ecosystems
“Whether you produce garments, car interiors, or home furnishings, the transition from creative concept to production-ready product often remains fragmented. Design teams work tirelessly to develop compelling materials, yet technical teams struggle to interpret these visions without losing data along the way.”
The European digital wallcovering marketplace is expanding at an impressive rate.
“For print professionals and interior designers, this transition presents a distinct set of challenges. Achieving flawless colour consistency, managing complex substrates, and meeting stringent environmental standards are no longer optional extras; they are fundamental requirements for commercial success.”
If you're looking to optimize your website for AI search, hang onto your cowboy hat. It's the Wild West out there. Former (and current) SEO companies see the handwriting on the wall as more search moves from traditional SEO to AEO (answer engine optimisation). Opportunists are popping out of the woodwork.
(There are good options out there, but vet them carefully.)
A swimsuit might start life as a sketch. By the time it reaches the shop floor, dozens of hands have touched it - designers, dye houses, printers, trim manufacturers, quality controllers. Each one interprets colour in their own way, under their own conditions, with their own tools. The result is often a product that looks nothing like the original vision.
Regensburg, Germany – August 2026 – OneVision has announced the release of software version 26.2, marking a significant step forward in intelligent print automation.
The update introduces new artificial intelligence capabilities, expanded Variable Data Printing (VDP) functionality, and enhanced production monitoring tools designed to help print service providers increase efficiency and output quality.
Version 26.2 introduces a suite of AI Services that seamlessly integrate GPU-accelerated artificial intelligence into existing print production workflows.
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – August 2026 – Sun Chemical has announced that its Xennia Sapphire pigment inks for digital textile printing have received three of the industry's most sought-after regulatory certifications: GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), ECO-PASSPORT, and ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals).
The achievement positions Sun Chemical as a frontrunner in sustainable and compliant digital textile printing solutions.
London UK – July – 2026 – British digital fabric printing company Prinfab has been commissioned to produce a commemorative tea towel to celebrate the landmark birthday of iconic English fashion designer Sir Paul Smith.
The bespoke piece features hand-drawn self-portraits of nearly 800 members of his team, making it a truly unique tribute to one of Britain's most celebrated designers.
The tea towel, gifted to Sir Paul Smith by his team, showcases the creative spirit that has long defined the Paul Smith brand.
Manchester – August 2026 – Premier Digital Textiles today highlights its 2555 Dimout, a versatile, dual-purpose fabric designed to bridge the worlds of fashion and interior design.
With its distinctive silver finish and subtle sheen, the fabric is positioned as a premium material for designers and makers operating across both industries.
2555 Dimout features a smooth silver surface that lends itself naturally to elegant occasionwear, flowing garments, and bold statement pieces.
Its fluid drape and refined aesthetic make it particularly well-suited to summer collections, where lightness and visual impact are equally valued.
Oswestry – Shropshire – August 2026 - Fujifilm Ink, the UK-based global supplier of UV inkjet technology, has strengthened its partnership with China Print Supplies UK Ltd (CPS), becoming the recognised ink supplier for the company's range of Dlican UV printing systems.
The partnership follows the successful rollout of Fujifilm Ink's thermoforming flexible ink technology, reinforcing the company's commitment to delivering high-performance, application-specific ink solutions for the wide-format print market.
Birmingham, UK – July 2026 – swissQprint UK is set to exhibit at The Print Show 2026, taking place from 29 September to 1 October at the NEC in Birmingham, Great Britain.
Visitors can find the swissQprint UK team at Stand P420, where they will have the opportunity to experience the company's latest flatbed printing technology firsthand.
Paris, France – August 2026 – Optitex and NedGraphics will present their integrated design and manufacturing solutions at Première Vision Paris, taking place from 1st to 3rd September 2026 at Parc des Expositions, Paris Nord Villepinte, France.
Visitors can find the companies at Booth 3L11 in Hall 3, Smart Creation Area.
The joint appearance marks a significant opportunity for textile brands and manufacturers to experience first-hand how NedGraphics and Optitex deliver a unified workflow — one that connects textile design, colour refinement, and end product development within a single, seamless process.
Emmerich am Rhein, Nordrhein-Westfalen – August 2026 – Brother Industrial EMEA has announced the launch of its GTX300, a hybrid direct-to-garment (DTG) and direct-to-film (DTF) garment printer that the company says sets a new benchmark for textile print quality.
To mark the occasion, Brother Industrial EMEA is offering eligible print professionals across the EMEA region a complimentary demo package to experience the printer's capabilities firsthand.
FREMONT, CA. August , 2026 – Fiery, a global leader in digital printing technology, has announced the launch of a new free online course designed to help print professionals master colour management for direct-to-film (DTF), direct-to-garment (DTG), and UV printing workflows.
The course, Fiery Specialty Production 301 v1: Colour Management Basics in Digital Factory, is now available on Fiery's learning platform at no cost.
Geretsried, Bavaria, August 2026 – RUDOLF, a leading textile chemistry company, has announced the launch of its Summer Campaign, a dedicated series exploring advanced finishing technologies designed to enhance the performance, comfort, and protection of swimwear and summer apparel.
The campaign arrives at a time when the demands placed on modern swimwear are greater than ever. Prolonged sun exposure, repeated contact with water, and the physical demands of summer activities require textiles that go beyond attractive design.
RUDOLF's Summer Campaign aims to demonstrate how the right finishing technologies can meet these challenges head-on.
Frankfurt, Germany – August 2026 – Heimtextil, the world's leading trade fair for home and contract textiles, has announced the launch of the Italian Lounge, a dedicated exhibition space celebrating Italian craftsmanship at its 2027 edition.
Taking place from 12 to 15 January in Frankfurt, the Italian Lounge will be located in the heart of Hall 4.1 and will bring together manufacturers of decorative and furniture fabrics, leather, and fibres and yarns under one roof
Pembrokeshire, Wales – August 2026 – National Weaving, a family-owned textile manufacturer with nearly four decades of experience, was honoured to receive a visit from HRH The Princess Royal, President of the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT), at its Pembrokeshire facility.
The visit celebrated the company's longstanding contribution to British textile manufacturing and its commitment to combining traditional craftsmanship with modern, sustainable production methods.
PHILADELPHIA – July 2026 – PRINTING United Alliance, in partnership with The Foundation for Graphic Communication Education (The FGCE), continues to expand its popular Student Day experience at PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place Thursday, September 24, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Designed to introduce students to the limitless career opportunities across the printing industry, this year's program will feature enhanced career development programming, expanded mentorship opportunities, and greater one-on-one engagement with industry professionals throughout the day's activities.
Dublin, Ireland – July 2026 – digitalprint.ie, Ireland's trusted supplier of wide format printing equipment and media, has completed the delivery and installation of two Epson SureColor S9100 printers to long-standing customer iGraphic, based in Newtownards.
The installation, which required careful planning and specialist logistics to position both machines on a first-floor mezzanine, marks another milestone in a valued, ongoing partnership.
Johannesburg – July – 2026 Experience the latest digital printing, vehicle wrapping and paint protection films at the FESPA Africa and Sign Africa Johannesburg Expo, where industry meets opportunity.
The event is taking place from 8-10 September 2026.
Arhus – Denmark – July 2026 – Mikkelsen Innovation ApS has announced that its FASTSEWN™ 3.3M has been named the recipient of the 2026 Pinnacle Award in the Technology category by PRINTING United Alliance.
The recognition highlights the machine's role in automating the final manual step in textile graphics production, combining automated sewing and laser cutting with keder application for silicone edge graphics (SEG).
Barbieri electronics is strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for its next phase of development.
With Viktor Lazzeri, who has played a key leadership role within the company for many years and is well known to customers and partners as Chief Operating Officer, Barbieri has appointed him COO and Co-Managing Director, further strengthening its leadership capacity to support innovation, international growth and even closer customer relationships.
Altrincham – Cheshire – July 2026 - Friedmans Ltd and Funki Fabrics have announced the arrival of new print designs, expanding their existing collection with a fresh range of trend-led prints available across a broad selection of premium fabric bases.
The launch offers fashion designers, production teams, and creative professionals a timely opportunity to explore new possibilities for their upcoming collections.
Leicestershire - July 2026 – Vivid Laminating Technologies is pleased to announce that HG Graphics, a leading provider of building signage and vehicle wraps across Yorkshire and the UK, has invested in a fully integrated print and cutting solution combining the VelobladeNexus with the latest Onyx Graphics software.
The installation, supplied and commissioned by Vivid Laminating Technologies, sees three printers feeding directly into HG Graphics' new VelobladeNexus with auto tool change — all operating under full Onyx Graphics software integration. The solution was delivered and set up on-site as part of a complete, ready-to-run installation
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 - RENNES, France—Pointcarre, the French American textile CAD company known for its jacquard and dobby weaving software, has developed a new module dedicated to wall to wall carpet and carpet tile design.
The launch addresses a gap left when APSO, the longtime CAD platform for the tufting industry, discontinued its software more than two years ago, leaving mills and carpet designers without a clear path forward.
Accrington, UK, July 29, 2026: Soyang Europe has expanded its direct-to-film (DTF) range with the launch of a paper-based transfer media that offers an environmentally conscious alternative to conventional PET transfer film.
Named Soyang DTF Paper, the new product is a single-sided release-coated transfer paper featuring anti-static treatment and a hot-peel release.
Designed for use with digital inkjet DTF printers running water-based pigment inks, the media can be recycled through standard paper waste streams, helping print businesses reduce plastic waste.
London – July 2026 – Perfect Colours, a leader in print management solutions, has highlighted the availability of Print Factory, a unified Raster Image Processor (RIP) designed to deliver consistent, high-quality colour output across multiple printers.
The solution addresses one of the print industry's most persistent challenges: maintaining colour accuracy and consistency across different devices and workflows.
Las Vegas, NV – July 2026 – Caldera, a leading provider of print workflow software solutions, has announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place 23–25 September 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Visitors can find Caldera at Booth C1469, where the company will showcase its latest innovations in print workflow automation, colour management, and apparel decoration.
Ghent – Belgium – July 2026 – Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems (Kongsberg PCS), a leading provider of digital cutting solutions, is calling on print, signage, and packaging businesses to embrace advanced materials as a strategic pathway to new markets, higher-value products, and more sustainable growth.
As competitive pressures intensify across the manufacturing sector, Kongsberg PCS is positioning its versatile, high-performance digital cutting solutions as essential tools for businesses looking to expand their capabilities and future-proof their operations.
The company's message is clear: businesses that invest in advanced material processing today are best placed to lead their industries tomorrow.
Bracknell – Berkshire-July 2026 – UFABRIK’s Soft Blackback Textile, a premium material engineered for tension frames, interiors, retail environments, exhibitions, soft signage, and beyond.
Designed to meet the exacting demands of modern display and signage professionals, the new textile sets a new benchmark for quality, versatility, and performance in the industry
Crewe, UK – July 2026 – Hybrid Services Ltd, the UK's leading Mimaki distributor, has announced two dedicated demonstration weeks at its Crewe showroom this August, giving businesses across the print industry the opportunity to explore the latest Mimaki technology firsthand.
Taking place from 3rd to 7th August and 17th to 21st August 2026, the August Demo Weeks are designed to help businesses make informed investment decisions by experiencing Mimaki's wide format print solutions in a hands-on, pressure-free environment.
Florida – July - 2026 – Agfa Inkjet Solutions has announced its return as a Keynote Sponsor of the 2026 Wide Format Summit, marking the sixth consecutive year the company has supported the industry's premier gathering.
The event is scheduled to take place from 27 to 29 July 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Clay Cross – UK – July 2026 – Resolute highlights its new DTF Pneumatic Twin Platen Heat Press, a professional-grade heat press designed to help print shops increase output, improve consistency, and reduce downtime across high-volume production runs.
The machine's dual-platen design allows operators to prepare the next garment while the current one is being pressed, significantly reducing idle time and increasing throughput.
This makes it particularly well-suited to print shops running large direct-to-film (DTF) and transfer print operations, where speed and consistency are critical.
Mexico City, Mexico – July 2026 – FESPA Mexico, the premier event for the print and signage industry in Latin America, is set to take place from 10–12 September at Centro Citibanamex, Mexico City.
The event will bring together professionals, suppliers, and innovators from across the region to explore the latest technologies and trends shaping the future of print.
TOKYO, Japan, July 27, 2026 - Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, "Epson") is proud to announce that its production facility, PT. Indonesia Epson Industry (IEI), has achieved Platinum recognition under the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Validated Assessment Program (VAP), based on audits conducted by RBA-approved independent third-party firms.
This achievement underscores Epson's commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) within its global supply chain.