📍 Fort Lauderdale, Florida
DTF transfers print full-color designs on any fabric — cotton, polyester, marine ripstop workwear, caps — in a single production run. Perfect for Fort Lauderdale mixed-garment orders: yacht-service crews, Las Olas restaurant uniforms, boat-show mixed apparel.
DTF is the method we reach for when a Fort Lauderdale order spans multiple garment types — the marine company that needs cotton tees for the yard crew and polyester moisture-wicking shirts for the dock staff, the restaurant that wants staff tees plus event caps, the contractor whose crew needs branded ripstop workwear alongside branded office polos. Because DTF transfers apply to virtually any fabric, we press cotton, polyester blends, ringspun, tri-blend, ripstop workwear and headwear from the same production run.
That is why DTF handles the middle of our Fort Lauderdale volume — the 5-to-40-piece orders where screen printing would be uneconomical and DTG would need four different garment styles. Our shop is at 389 NE 2nd Ave in Hallandale Beach — a 15–20 minute drive south of Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Free pickup at the shop is always available; delivery into Fort Lauderdale is available on orders above 25 pieces.
We also operate SoFLo DTF, our sister DTF-supply business in South Florida — which means we control our own transfer film and adhesive-powder sourcing rather than depending on third-party wholesalers. Fresher transfers, tighter quality control, and pricing that reflects wholesale-plus-application rather than reseller markup.
Direct-to-film (DTF) printing produces a full-color, high-durability image on a special film that is then heat-pressed onto the finished garment. Because the design is printed on film before it touches the fabric, DTF is not limited by the garment's color, texture or fiber content — the same transfer applies just as cleanly to a white cotton tee as to a black polyester hoodie or a canvas tote.
Your artwork is printed in full CMYK plus a white underbase onto a specialty PET film. While the ink is wet, a thermoplastic adhesive powder is applied to the print, then cured under heat. The result is a heat-transferable image ready to press onto any garment.
At the press step, we align the transfer onto the finished garment, apply heat (around 305°F) and pressure for about 15 seconds, cool the transfer, and peel the carrier film away. The image bonds directly to the fabric — soft to the touch, stretchable with the fabric, and washable up to 50+ cycles when cared for correctly.
Because we also operate SoFLo DTF, our sister DTF-supply business in South Florida, we control our own transfer film and adhesive-powder sourcing rather than depending on third-party wholesalers. That means fresher transfers, tighter quality control, and pricing that reflects wholesale-plus-application rather than reseller markup.
Screen printing wins on quantity and long-term wash durability. If you're ordering 50+ pieces of the same design on the same garment, screen printing is usually cheaper per shirt and slightly more durable at the extreme end of the wash-cycle curve.
DTF wins everywhere else. On orders under 40–50 pieces, DTF's zero setup fee and zero color-count surcharge beat screen printing on price. On multi-color, gradient, or photographic art, DTF is dramatically better. And on mixed-garment orders where the design has to appear on a cotton tee, a polyester hoodie, a nylon jacket and a cap, DTF handles all four in one run.
DTG (direct-to-garment) prints ink directly into the fibers of the shirt and produces a very soft, natural feel. On 100% cotton light-colored garments in single-piece orders, DTG is often the better choice for feel.
DTF wins when the garment isn't ideal for DTG: dark polyester, tri-blend, polyester-heavy performance wear, non-cotton fabrics, textured materials, or anything that isn't a flat cotton canvas. DTF also wins across mixed-fabric orders, and on price for orders above about 10–15 pieces.
Fort Lauderdale's DTF volume is concentrated in three categories: the marine and boating industry around Port Everglades, the restaurant and hospitality corridor along Las Olas and A1A, and the contractors and trades operating across Broward County. Each takes advantage of DTF for a different reason. Here is what those orders actually look like.
The marine trades around Port Everglades and the 17th Street Causeway marinas need branded workwear across multiple garment types — cotton tees for the yard crew, polyester moisture-wicking shirts for the dock staff, nylon windbreakers for the captains, and caps for everyone. DTF handles all four in one production run, with the same company logo appearing at the same size and color across every garment type.
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show exhibitors use DTF for mixed-garment brand packages — staff tees, branded caps, and event polos all from the same order. We keep the artwork on file for annual reorders; boat-show orders typically run 20–80 pieces across 3–5 garment types.
Restaurants along Las Olas Boulevard and the beachfront hospitality strip on A1A use DTF for mixed-garment staff uniform packages — front-of-house polos in a moisture-wicking blend, kitchen tees in cotton, and event caps for the season. DTF handles all three in one production, with the same logo appearing at the same size and color across every garment.
Beach hotel properties along A1A use DTF for uniform refreshes where the garment mix changes seasonally — cotton polos in winter, moisture-wicking synthetic in summer, jackets for events. We keep the artwork on file, so refresh orders are a phone call: sizes, quantities, garment specs.
The contractor base operating out of and around Fort Lauderdale — HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, marine and construction trades — needs branded workwear across ripstop shirts, hi-vis vests, cotton tees for hot days, and hoodies for cool mornings. DTF applies just as well to a stiff ripstop workwear shirt as it does to a hi-vis vest or a cotton tee. Left-chest logo standard; full-back for higher-visibility branding on job sites.
DTF works on virtually any fabric: 100% cotton, polyester, nylon, tri-blend, cotton-poly blends, ripstop workwear, moisture-wicking performance fabric, canvas, denim, fleece, and structured caps.
Best results on: flat, smooth fabric surfaces. Works on textured fabrics but transfer adhesion may vary on very rough or heavily textured materials.
Not ideal for: waterproof membranes (Gore-Tex, DWR-coated fabrics) where heat pressing may damage the coating.
Unlimited colors — DTF prints full CMYK with no color-count surcharge. Photographic art, gradients, fine detail, and complex multi-color designs all reproduce cleanly. No setup fee. Each garment type in a mixed order uses the same transfer, so the logo is identical across every piece.
Print area: up to 14" × 16" on adult garments. Left-chest logo: 3.5–4" wide standard. Full-front, full-back, and sleeve prints available.
DTF pricing is per-transfer with no setup fee and no color-count surcharge. A single transfer for a left-chest logo typically runs $3–$6; a full-front transfer runs $6–$12. Application (pressing onto the garment) adds $2–$4 per piece. Mixed-garment orders use the same transfer across all garment types, so the per-piece cost stays consistent regardless of fabric.
Standard turnaround for DTF is 1–3 business days from proof approval. Same-day turnaround is available on standard orders for pieces under 40 — drop off by noon at our Hallandale shop and pick up by 5:30 PM. Rush turnaround is available for an added fee on most orders.
Pickup at 389 NE 2nd Ave in Hallandale Beach is always free, Monday through Friday 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM — a 15–20 minute drive from Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas, or the beach. Delivery into Fort Lauderdale is available on orders above 25 pieces.
The right choice for 25+ pieces of the same design — marine crew shirts, team uniforms, restaurant staff shirts. Most cost-effective method at volume.
Single-piece and small orders (1–20 pieces) on 100% cotton light garments with photographic or full-color designs. No setup fee, softest hand-feel.
What yacht-crew polos, hospitality uniforms, jackets, and structured caps typically call for — a stitched logo that outlasts printed methods.
Not sure which method fits your order? Contact us with your artwork and quantity and we'll recommend the right one.
Our Hallandale Beach shop serves DTF customers across Broward and Miami-Dade County, about 15–20 minutes south of Fort Lauderdale.
See the full list of areas we serve across South Florida on our areas we serve page.
There is no minimum — we press single transfers. DTF is cost-effective from one piece up to about 40–50 pieces, where screen printing starts to beat it on per-shirt price. For mixed-garment orders (different fabrics or styles), DTF stays the better method at any quantity.
Yes — DTF works on virtually any fabric, including 100% polyester, nylon, tri-blend, moisture-wicking performance fabric, ripstop workwear, and structured caps. This is DTF's biggest advantage over DTG, which requires cotton-heavy garments for best results.
DTF prints last 50+ wash cycles with proper care. Wash inside-out on cold, tumble-dry on low, and do not iron directly over the transfer. On polyester and performance fabrics, DTF typically outlasts DTG because there's no pretreatment dependency.
Yes — mixed-garment orders are DTF's specialty. We print the transfers once and press onto whatever mix of blanks the order calls for: cotton tees, polyester hoodies, nylon jackets, and structured caps all in the same order, all with the same logo at the same size and color.
Yes — delivery into Fort Lauderdale (33301, 33304, 33308, 33312, 33316) is available on orders above 25 pieces. For smaller orders, free pickup at our Hallandale Beach shop (389 NE 2nd Ave) is the fastest option — a 15–20 minute drive from Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas, or the beach.
SoFLo DTF is our sister DTF-supply business in South Florida. Because we control our own transfer film and adhesive-powder sourcing, we offer fresher transfers, tighter quality control, and pricing that reflects wholesale-plus-application rather than reseller markup. For Fort Lauderdale customers, this means better quality at a lower price than most local competitors who buy transfers from third-party wholesalers.
Tell us about your order and we'll get back to you within 1 business day.
Virtually any fabric: 100% cotton, polyester, tri-blend, moisture-wicking performance fabric, ripstop workwear, canvas, denim, and headwear panels. Both dark and light garments print equally well — the white underbase in the transfer keeps colors bright on black garments just as on white.
No minimum. One shirt or five hundred — same process, same quality. DTF is specifically suited to small runs and mixed-garment orders where screen printing setup would cost too much.
Screen printing wins on 50+ pieces of the same design on the same garment — cheaper per shirt and slightly more durable at the extreme end of the wash curve. DTF wins on everything else: orders under 40–50 pieces, multi-color and photographic art, mixed-garment orders (shirts + hoodies + caps in one run), and any fabric that isn't ideal for screen printing.
DTG prints ink directly into cotton fibers and produces a softer, more natural feel on 100% cotton light garments. DTF wins on fabric versatility (any fabric, any color), on mixed-garment orders, and on price above 10–15 pieces. When a customer isn't sure, we quote both and recommend based on the specific garment, design, quantity, and deadline.
Yes, often. For orders under 25 pieces, drop off print-ready artwork at 389 NE 2nd Ave by noon on a weekday and same-day pickup by 5:30 PM is realistic on standard garments we stock. Call ahead if the deadline is tight — some days the press is backed up and we'll tell you honestly whether we can hit your cutoff.
Standard DTF (this page) is for fabric garments — shirts, hoodies, caps, workwear. UV DTF is a different process for rigid hard substrates: phone cases, tumblers, water bottles, wood signage, and hard-surface promo items. We offer both; see our UV DTF page for hard-substrate orders.
Call, WhatsApp, or fill out the quote form. We'll handle the rest — artwork, printing, and local pickup.
About Us
At Adorb Custom Tees, we make comfortable and personalized clothing and gifts for every occasion.