What is heat transfer printing on fabric? How is it different from direct digital printing?

Q: What is heat transfer printing on fabric? How is it different from direct digital printing?

Heat transfer: design on paper first, then pressed to fabric — best on polyester (sublimation), excellent wash fastness, photographic quality. Direct digital: ink printed directly on fabric — best on cotton/natural fibres, natural hand feel, good wash fastness with reactive ink. Heat transfer cheaper per piece at small quantities; direct digital better for cotton.

Both are methods of applying digitally designed patterns to fabric — but the process and suitable fabrics differ:

Feature	Heat Transfer Printing	Direct Digital Printing (DTG/DTF)
Process	Design printed on transfer paper first, then transferred to fabric with heat and pressure	Ink printed directly onto fabric surface
Best fabric	Polyester (sublimation transfer) — limited on cotton	Cotton, linen, natural fibres
Resolution	Very high — photographic quality on polyester	High — but may vary by fabric texture
Hand feel	No feel change on polyester; slight plastic feel on cotton (non-sublimation)	Natural hand feel — ink absorbed into fibre
Wash fastness	Excellent on polyester; moderate on cotton	Good on cotton with reactive ink
Cost	Lower per piece at small quantities	Higher per piece than screen at large volumes

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What is heat transfer printing on fabric? How is it different from direct digital printing?

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