Not all print methods treat a file the same way, and using the wrong prep for the wrong method is one of the most common (and expensive) mistakes new POD sellers make. Here's what each method actually needs.

DTG (Direct-to-Garment)

DTG works like an inkjet printer for fabric — it sprays ink directly onto the shirt. It handles full-color, photorealistic, and gradient-heavy designs well, and it's the most forgiving method when it comes to resolution, since ink naturally soaks into fibers and softens hard edges slightly. Use a high-resolution transparent PNG; this is the format most POD platforms default to for DTG anyway.

DTF (Direct-to-Film)

DTF prints the design onto a special film first, then heat-presses it onto the garment as a single layer — similar to a sticker. It holds fine detail and vibrant color better than DTG and works on more fabric types (including dark fabrics without a white underbase issue). Because the transfer process preserves sharp edges, higher resolution PNGs (300 DPI at final size) make a noticeably bigger difference here than with DTG.

Screen Printing

Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh stencil, one color layer at a time — which means gradients and complex color blending don't translate well; each color needs its own screen. Designs intended for screen printing should be prepped with clean, separated color areas rather than photographic detail. A vector SVG with clearly defined solid-color shapes is far more useful here than a raster PNG, since it can be cleanly separated into individual screens without jagged edges.

Sublimation

Sublimation turns dye into a gas that bonds directly with polyester fibers — there's no ink layer sitting on top of the fabric, which makes it the sharpest and most durable of the four methods, but it only works on light-colored polyester or poly-blend items (mugs, all-over-print shirts, etc.). Because there's no ink layer to hide softness, sublimation is the least forgiving of the group — always use the highest resolution PNG available, ideally 300 DPI at full intended size.

Quick reference

  • Photorealistic or gradient-heavy art → DTG or sublimation (polyester only)
  • Bold, sharp designs on dark fabric → DTF
  • Simple, solid-color designs, bulk orders → Screen printing (vector format preferred)
  • All-over prints, mugs, or bright polyester items → Sublimation, highest resolution available

If you're not sure which method your POD platform uses for a given product, check their production specs page — many platforms actually mix methods depending on the product type, so the "right" file can change even within a single store.