{"id":30801,"date":"2026-10-14T12:28:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T12:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/?p=30801"},"modified":"2026-10-14T12:31:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T12:31:24","slug":"is-dtf-replacing-dtg-jsuh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/is-dtf-replacing-dtg-jsuh\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Companies Replacing Industrial DTG Printers with DTF?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/glossary\/direct-to-film-printing-definition\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct-to-film (DTF) printing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has grown rapidly in the apparel decoration market. As adoption increases, so have claims that print businesses are replacing industrial direct-to-garment (DTG) systems with DTF printers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But is DTF actually replacing<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/glossary\/dtg-direct-to-garment-definition\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> industrial DTG<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The short answer is no, not across the board.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTF and industrial DTG address different production requirements. In fact, newer technology is making the choice less binary. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/printer\/kornit-atlas-matrix-printer\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit Atlas MATRIX<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, for example, combines direct printing on cotton, polyester, and blends with advanced Direct-to-Film capabilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The more useful question for high-volume producers is:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which production method delivers the required finished garments at the right quality, speed, and total cost?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Key Takeaways<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Growth in DTF doesn\u2019t mean industrial DTG is being replaced.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTF and industrial DTG address different applications and can coexist in the same production environment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer output and finished-garment output are not the same measurement.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The right comparison should consider total workflow, labor, cost, quality, and finished-garment output.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>DTF Is Growing<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are good <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/direct-to-film-printing-new-develiopments-jsuh\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reasons for DTF&#8217;s growth<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTF allows designs to be printed onto transfer film and later applied to garments using heat. Transfers can be produced independently of the final garment, stored until needed, and used across different products.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But growth in one technology doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean another is becoming obsolete.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a broader explanation of how the technologies differ, see our guide to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/dtg-print-vs-dtf-print-what-is-the-difference-kornit\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTG vs. DTF printing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For industrial producers, the important difference is the complete production workflow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A simplified DTF process can include:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Print transfer \u2192 apply adhesive \u2192 cure \u2192 prepare transfer \u2192 position on garment \u2192 heat press \u2192 finish<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industrial DTG prints directly onto the garment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit systems also integrate pretreatment into the printing process. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kornit.com\/lp2\/hq\/kornit-apollo-printer\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit Apollo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> takes automation further with automatic loading and unloading, pallet adjustment, printing, and integrated curing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This creates an important distinction:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Transfer production speed is not the same as finished-garment production speed.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><b>Is DTF Faster Than Industrial DTG?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTF systems can continuously produce transfers, with multiple designs arranged across a roll. But those transfers still need to be applied to garments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industrial DTG measures production differently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit Apollo is designed for mass-production DTG and can produce up to 400 impressions per hour with a single operator.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/printer\/atlas-max-plus\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can produce up to 150 impressions per hour with a single operator.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rather than comparing how many transfers or prints a machine produces, businesses should ask:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many finished garments can the complete workflow produce per hour, using how many people?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Does It Really Have to Be DTF or DTG?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, and this may be the biggest problem with the idea that DTF is simply &#8220;replacing&#8221; industrial DTG.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Kornit Atlas MATRIX combines multiple capabilities within one industrial platform. It can produce up to 150 impressions per hour on cotton and up to 98 impressions per hour on polyester.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of replacing one technology with another, producers can use different methods for different jobs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This changes the question from:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>&#8220;Will DTF replace DTG?&#8221;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>&#8220;Which decoration method is right for this job?&#8221;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-30778\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/dtf.png\" alt=\"an abstract DTF print\" width=\"1435\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/dtf.png 1435w, https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/dtf-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/dtf-1024x571.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1435px) 100vw, 1435px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>What About Labor, Space, and Cost?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These factors are difficult to compare by looking at printer specifications.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A DTF printer may cost less or occupy less space than an industrial DTG system. But a full production comparison also needs to account for the equipment, people, and processes required after the transfer is printed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same applies to cost.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A true cost-per-garment calculation can include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equipment and financing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ink and consumables<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Film and adhesive<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Labor<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finishing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Energy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintenance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Production space<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waste and downtime<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This doesn&#8217;t mean that DTG will always be less expensive than DTF. It shows why comparing equipment purchase prices alone can be misleading.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At high volumes, automation, labor, utilization, and throughput can significantly change the economics.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>When Does DTF Make More Sense?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTF can make more sense for businesses that:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to decorate a wide variety of products or print locations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benefit from producing transfers separately from garments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to store or distribute transfers for later use<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Produce volumes that don&#8217;t justify dedicated industrial DTG capacity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need applications particularly well suited to transfer printing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For these jobs, there&#8217;s no reason to force DTG into a workflow where DTF works better.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>When Does Industrial DTG Make More Sense?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industrial DTG can be particularly valuable when production requires:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High-volume on-demand printing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large numbers of unique or personalized garments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fewer separate production stages<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automation at industrial scale<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consistent output across recurring jobs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fast movement from a digital file to a decorated garment<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Different Kornit systems address different requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit Apollo focuses on automated mass production at up to 400 impressions per hour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS focuses on high-volume on-demand DTG at up to 150 impressions per hour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And Kornit Atlas MATRIX creates a broader production environment by combining direct printing across different fabric types with advanced DTF capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>So, Are Companies Replacing Industrial DTG Printers with DTF?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While DTF adoption is growing, DTF is definitely not replacing industrial DTG across the apparel industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some producers may move individual jobs to DTF because a transfer-based workflow makes more sense. Others continue to invest in automated industrial DTG. And newer platforms such as Kornit Atlas MATRIX show that DTF and direct printing don&#8217;t necessarily have to compete at all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Would you like to see how Kornit printers can improve your production process? <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/#contact\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s talk.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Direct-to-film (DTF) printing has grown rapidly in the apparel decoration market. As adoption increases, so have claims that print businesses are replacing industrial direct-to-garment (DTG) systems with DTF printers. But is DTF actually replacing industrial DTG? The short answer is no, not across the board. DTF and industrial DTG address different production requirements. In fact, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[276],"tags":[305,32,196],"class_list":["post-30801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-insights","tag-dtfilm","tag-dtg","tag-technology"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Angora Media","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30801"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30809,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30801\/revisions\/30809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}