Your artwork does not start with a screen charge.
We do not add a separate screen-printing setup fee to get the job moving. You can send the artwork and discuss the practical next step first.
Trap Door Print / Screen printing alternative
DTF printing without the old print-shop rules.
Searching for screen printing? You may actually want DTF printing: a flexible way to put detailed, photo-quality artwork onto apparel without a setup fee, colour-count pricing, minimum orders or a separate screen for every colour.
Start a custom apparel projectThe short version
More artwork freedom. Less production friction.
Screen printing can be excellent for the right job, particularly when a simple design is being repeated across a larger run. But it is not the only way to get a premium printed garment. DTF lets Trap Door Print handle detailed artwork, gradients, illustrations and photo-quality graphics with a simpler digital workflow.
One colour or 1,000 colours.
Our standard DTF print pricing is not calculated by the number of colours in the artwork. That makes complex artwork easier to consider without a new screen for every colour.
Print one. Print a run. Start where you are.
There is no minimum order, so you can test a first sample, make a one-off garment or plan a larger merch project without committing to a large quantity.
DTF vs screen printing
Choose the process that matches the artwork.
The best print method depends on the design, garment, quantity and intended result. This is how the two approaches differ at a practical project level.
Screen printing
- Strong option for repeatable artwork with controlled colours and a production run that suits setup.
- Uses separate screens and setup for the ink colours in the design.
- Can be less flexible when the artwork is photographic, highly detailed or needs frequent variation.
- Often makes most sense when the project is built around a consistent, repeatable print.
DTF printing
- Handles detailed, full-colour and photo-quality artwork in a digital workflow.
- No separate setup fee and no minimum order through Trap Door Print.
- The print price is not based on whether the design uses one colour or many.
- A practical fit for samples, small merch runs, changing graphics and larger projects.
How DTF works
A clear path from artwork to garment.
Choose the garment.
Start with the blank: fit, colour, weight, size range and how you want the finished piece to feel.
Send the artwork.
Vector files and high-resolution transparent artwork are useful, but you can also send a rough file for review.
We check the detail.
We review scale, transparency, edges, colours and the parts of the artwork that may need print preparation.
Ghostboy steps in.
If fine lines need support, our free Ghostline service helps prepare those delicate areas for DTF.
We print the job.
Once the garment and artwork path are confirmed, the project can move forward with a clear brief.
The fine-line answer
Ghostline removes the detail worry.
DTF needs enough printable area for adhesive to hold. When an illustration contains super-fine strokes, Ghostline adds a garment-matched support line so the delicate area can reach a practical minimum of 12 pixels without turning the support treatment into a visible second colour. It is one of the ways Trap Door Print brings careful artwork preparation to a digital print process.
Read the full Ghostline guideFor real projects
When DTF is a smart choice.
DTF can be a strong fit for clothing brands, artists, bands, cafes, teams, events, businesses and individual garments where the artwork needs colour and the order needs flexibility.
Testing a first idea?
Start with a single garment or small run and learn what the artwork looks like before scaling the project.
Need gradients or photos?
DTF can reproduce detailed and photo-quality graphics without splitting the artwork into separate screen colours.
Building merch?
Add different graphics, garment colours and product ideas without treating every variation like a new screen-print setup.
Common questions
Still comparing DTF and screen printing?
Is DTF better than screen printing?
Neither process is automatically best for every job. DTF is often the more flexible option for detailed, full-colour artwork, small quantities and projects that do not suit screen setup. We can help assess the practical route from the artwork and garment details.
Does DTF cost more for more colours?
Trap Door Print’s standard DTF print pricing is not calculated by the number of colours in your artwork. The overall project still depends on the chosen garment and other job requirements.
Can DTF print photographs?
Yes. DTF is suited to detailed digital artwork, including photo-quality graphics, provided the file is prepared appropriately for the chosen garment and print size.
Do you have a minimum order?
No minimum order applies. You can ask about a single garment, a small merch run or a larger project.
Ready to compare less and make the thing?
Send us the artwork, garment idea and quantity. We will explain the DTF route, check the fine details and tell you what needs to happen next.
Start your quote
