There are two dominant printing technologies in premium garment production today: Direct-to-Film (DTF) and traditional screen printing. Understanding the difference helps you appreciate the quality of the clothing you invest in.
Screen Printing
Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh stencil onto fabric. It produces vibrant, durable prints for simple designs with flat colours. However, it is expensive for complex multi-colour graphics, impractical for photographic detail, and requires minimum print quantities of several hundred units.
DTF Printing
DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing transfers a design from a film sheet to fabric using heat. It can reproduce photographic complexity, unlimited colours, and fine detail without minimum order quantities. The resulting print is soft, flexible, and highly wash-resistant.
Why Tokiyo Uses DTF
Our limited-edition drops involve complex original artwork - Japanese calligraphy, gradient elements, anime-influenced illustrations. DTF is the only technology that faithfully reproduces this level of detail. Our prints are cured at precisely controlled temperatures for maximum durability and are rated to survive 200+ washes without significant colour loss.
Puff Print
We also use puff print for select designs - a raised ink technique that adds tactile texture and three-dimensional depth to graphics. Puff prints are particularly striking on solid-colour tees where the raised graphic creates a sculptural effect.
