DTF Printing on T-Shirts & Apparel in Canada | Ton Atelier
Full colour DTF print on a t-shirt
DTF printing · Made in Laval

Full colour DTF printing on any shirt. From one piece.

Direct-to-film printing puts photos, gradients and every colour of your logo on cotton, polyester and blends — no setup fees, no minimum, ready in 3 days.

Choose your garment → See when it's ready
No minimum1 shirt or 1,000
72 hready to ship
Unlimitedcolours, same price
100+garments to print on
  • ★ 4.96 from 52 DTF reviews
  • Printing in Québec since 2016
  • You approve a proof before we print
  • Free shipping in Canada over $199

What is DTF printing?

Printed on film, pressed into the fabric.

DTF (direct-to-film) printing is a heat-transfer method: your design is printed in full colour onto a film, backed with white ink and an adhesive powder, then heat-pressed onto the garment. At Ton Atelier in Laval, Québec, DTF has no minimum, no setup fees, works on cotton, polyester and blends, and is ready in 72 hours.

  1. DTF printer printing a full colour design onto film in our Laval shop
    1

    We print your design on film

    Full colour, then a layer of white behind it so colours stay bright on black, navy or red fabric.

  2. Adhesive powder being applied and cured on DTF film
    2

    An adhesive powder is cured on

    A fine powder bonds to the wet ink and is melted in. It's what makes the print grip the fibres.

  3. Heat-pressing a DTF print onto a t-shirt
    3

    Heat-pressed onto your garment

    At around 300°F the print fuses into the fabric. Then a separate quality team checks your order before it ships.

Want to press the transfers yourself? Buy DTF transfers by the square inch →

Benefits of DTF printing

Six reasons it's our most popular method.

DTF removes the two things that make custom apparel expensive in small runs: screens and colour limits.

Close-up of a multi-colour DTF print on a t-shirt

Every colour, one price

Ten colours cost the same as one. No colour separations, no extra screens.

A single custom DTF shirt ready to ship

No minimum

One shirt for a gift, or one of each size for a team. Nothing to amortise, so small orders make sense.

Macro of a photographic DTF print showing fine detail and gradients

Photos and gradients

Photo-quality detail, soft fades and fine lines — the artwork screen printing struggles with.

Bright full colour DTF print on a black t-shirt

Bright on dark fabric

An opaque white layer sits under the colours, so they read the same on black as on white.

DTF prints on cotton, polyester and fleece garments

Almost any fabric

100% cotton, cotton/poly blends, polyester, nylon and Lycra. Sportswear included.

Packed DTF orders ready to ship from Laval

Our fastest method

No screens to burn and no ink to mix. Your order goes to print as soon as you approve the proof.

How long does DTF printing take?

From your file to your door in about a week.

Often less. Here's what happens after you order.

  1. Day 0You order

    Pick a garment, upload your design, see the mockup and the price.

  2. Same dayYou approve the proof

    We check your file. Pre production proof available. Nothing prints until you say yes.

  3. Within 3 daysPrinted and checked

    Pressed, inspected by a separate quality team, packed.

  4. +1 to 4 daysAt your door

    1 business day in Québec and Ontario, 4 elsewhere in Canada. Express: 1 business day.

Order today
Ready in 72 hours
Delivered in Québec & Ontario 2 business days later
Start my order →

Need it tomorrow? Our Classic T-Shirt ships rush in 24 hours.

What can you print with DTF?

If you can see it on screen, we can print it.

Your design

  • Logos in any number of colours
  • Photos and illustrations — full colour, photo-quality
  • Gradients, shadows and fades
  • Small text and fine detail
  • Names and numbers — a different one on every shirt
  • One-off gifts, event shirts, merch drops

Your garment

  • T-shirts — classic, soft, fitted, heavyweight, oversized
  • Hoodies and crewnecks
  • Long sleeves
  • Polyester sport and team shirts
  • Tote bags
  • Cotton, blends, polyester, nylon, Lycra
T-shirts Hoodies Tote bags
  • Left chestup to ~4″ wide
  • Full frontup to ~12″ × 14″
  • Full backup to ~12″ × 16″
  • Sleeveup to ~3″ wide
  • Back of neckup to ~3″ wide

DTF vs screen printing vs embroidery

We do all three. Here's when to pick which.

DTF wins on colour, speed and small runs. At volume, or for a premium stitched look, another method can be the better call — and we'll tell you.

DTFScreen printingEmbroidery
MinimumNone24 pieces12 pieces
Production72 hours5 days10 days
ColoursUnlimited, same pricePriced per colour. Up to 6 colors.Per embroidery size
Photos & gradientsYesLimitedNo
Exact Pantone matchClose, not guaranteed (CMYK)Yes — mixed in houseThread colour chart
Best forSmall runs, full-colour art, fast deadlinesBig runs of simple logos — lowest price per piecePolos, caps, jackets, a premium look
Pick DTFUnder ~24 pieces, many colours, a photo, or a deadline this week.
Pick screen printingSame 1–3 colour logo on 24+ shirts and you want the lowest unit price.
Pick embroideryWorkwear, polos or caps that should look stitched, not printed.

DTF file requirements and care

Send a good file. Wash it right. It lasts.

Your file

  • PNG, JPG, SVG or PDF — up to 20 MB
  • Best result: PNG, transparent background, 300 dpi at print size
  • No file yet? Upload what you have — we check every file before printing

About colours: DTF prints in CMYK. Brand colours come out close, but an exact Pantone match isn't guaranteed. If it must be exact, ask about screen printing.

Washing your shirts

  • Turn inside out, wash cold or warm
  • Tumble dry low or hang to dry
  • No bleach, no fabric softener
  • Don't iron directly on the print
  • Wait 24 hours before the first wash

DTF printing FAQ

DTF, answered.

Will the print crack or peel?
Not with normal wear and the care steps above. DTF stretches with the fabric. Most problems come from hot dryers and irons — turn it inside out and keep the heat low.
Does it feel like a sticker?
There is a thin layer on the fabric, softer than vinyl and more flexible than older transfers. Large solid areas feel more than outlines or text. If you want no feel at all on a big design, ask us about screen printing.
Can you print on black or dark shirts?
Yes. A layer of opaque white is printed behind your colours, so they stay bright on black, navy, red or any dark colour.
Is there a minimum order?
No. One shirt is fine. Every piece is printed individually, so there are no setup fees to spread across a run.
How fast will I get it?
Printed and checked within 72 hours of your proof approval, then 2 business days to Québec and Ontario or 4 days elsewhere in Canada. Express delivers in 1 business day.
Can every shirt have a different name or number?
Yes. Each print is its own file, so personalising every piece costs no more in setup than printing them all the same.
Can you match my exact Pantone colour?
DTF prints in CMYK, so we get close but can't guarantee an exact Pantone. For an exact match on a larger run, screen printing is mixed by hand in our shop.
I have my own heat press. Can I buy just the prints?
Yes — order DTF transfers by the square inch or a 22″ × 39″ gang sheet. They ship within 24–48 hours.
Ready when you are

Your design, in full colour, this week.

Pick a garment, upload your file and see the price before you pay.

Talk to a person

+1 (514) 665-7495
Mon–Thu 9–5 · Fri 9–3

1540 rue des Patriotes, Laval QC H7L 2N6
Pick up from our smart lockers, any hour.