Home › DTF › DTF vs Sublimation: Differences, Fabrics and Costs
| DTF | Sublimation | |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Yes | No |
| Polyester | Yes | Yes — 100% or high-poly |
| Dark garments | Yes (white underbase) | No — no white ink |
| Hard goods (mugs, tiles) | Limited | Yes (poly-coated blanks) |
| Feel | Thin film layer | None — dye in fiber |
| Consumables | Film, CMYK+W ink, powder | Sublimation paper + ink |
| Start-up cost | Higher (printer + shaker) | Lower |
Decorators who sell apparel usually earn more with DTF because they can say yes to every shirt a customer brings in — cotton, blends, black, heather. Sublimation is excellent for all-over prints on white polyester and for drinkware and signs.
Yes. Many of our Arizona customers run sublimation for hard goods and DTF for apparel, using the same heat press (settings differ — DTF cotton 310–325°F for 10–15 seconds as a starting point).
Not directly. Sublimation dye only bonds with polyester. For cotton use DTF.
The printer and shaker cost more up front, but DTF opens up cotton and dark garments, which is most apparel orders.
Usually yes, if it holds an even temperature and firm pressure across the platen. See our DTF heat press settings.
Sublimation never cracks because it is dye. DTF pressed correctly lasts 50+ washes.
Related guides: DTF vs DTG · DTF vs HTV · DTF printers · DTF film
