When you customise textiles with your club's or organisation's logo, the choice of marking technique has a direct impact on the finish, durability and price. Not all techniques are suited to every use, and a chest logo on a polo is not marked the same way as a large visual on the back of a sweatshirt.
Here are the four most common techniques in custom textile marking — three suited to single-unit production, and a fourth reserved for large quantity orders.
1. DTF printing (Direct to Film)
DTF is today the most widespread technique in made-to-order custom textile shops. The logo is first printed in reverse onto a transparent PET film, then coated with a hot-melt adhesive powder. The film is then heat-pressed onto the textile: the adhesive melts, the logo transfers and bonds durably to the fabric.
Advantages
- Unlimited number of colours. DTF reproduces any visual with no extra cost linked to the number of colours — gradients, solid fills, complex illustrations, anything is possible.
- Compatible with all textiles. Cotton, polyester, blends, light or dark fabrics, and even accessories (bags, towels, gloves). It is one of the few techniques that works just as well on a cotton t-shirt as on a 100% polyester jersey.
- Ideal for single-unit production. DTF requires no costly setup (no screen, no fabric pre-treatment), making it perfectly suited to made-to-order production, item by item.
- Good durability. The marking withstands repeated washing without cracking or fading, provided you follow standard care instructions (wash inside out, no high-temperature tumble drying).
- A slightly raised feel. The DTF transfer creates a thin layer perceptible to the touch. In the world of sport and badge-style logos, this is an advantage: the marking has a physical presence, a "patch" quality that enhances the premium look of the logo.
Limitations
- Less suited to photographic visuals. DTF excels with logos, illustrations and solid colour fills. For photo-realistic rendering with very fine nuances, DTG (see below) may be more suitable.
DTF vs DTG: what's the difference?
DTG (Direct to Garment) is another single-unit printing technique, often compared to DTF. The principle is different: ink is sprayed directly onto the fabric by a print head, like an inkjet printer on paper. The result is a very soft feel with no thickness — the ink is absorbed by the fibres.
DTG is particularly suited to photographic visuals and highly detailed designs on cotton items. On the other hand, it works only on cotton or blends with a high cotton content, and colours are less vibrant on dark textiles. DTF, by contrast, works on all materials with consistent colour rendering. This is why DTF has established itself as the benchmark technique in sports textiles, where polyester dominates.
Typical DTF use cases: chest logo, back logo, sleeve logo, large visual on the back of a sweatshirt, marking on a cap, bag or towel.
2. Embroidery
Embroidery involves stitching the logo directly into the fabric with coloured threads, using an industrial embroidery machine driven by a digital program. It is the most refined and most highly valued technique in terms of perceived quality.
Advantages
- Premium finish. Embroidery delivers a relief, a texture and a premium look that no other technique can match. An embroidered logo on a polo or a jacket immediately conveys seriousness and quality.
- Exceptional durability. An embroidered marking lasts as long as the garment itself. No risk of fading, cracking or peeling — the threads are integrated into the fabric.
- Resistance to washing. Embroidery withstands intensive washing without any deterioration, making it particularly suited to sports clothing worn regularly.
Limitations
- No gradients. Embroidery works with solid-colour threads. Gradients, blends and subtle nuances cannot be reproduced. A logo containing gradients will need to be simplified into solid colour fills.
- Not suited to very fine details. Very small text, fine lines and microscopic elements cannot be faithfully reproduced. The design may need to be simplified.
- The larger it is, the more expensive it gets. The embroidery machine stitches the logo point by point. A small chest logo takes a few minutes; a large visual can tie up the machine for over an hour. The price is directly proportional to the size and complexity of the design.
- Not suited to thin fabrics. Lightweight t-shirts, shirts worn directly against the skin or highly stretchy items are not recommended, as the stitching on the reverse side of the fabric can be uncomfortable. The best-suited items are thick garments (polos, jackets, coats) and accessories (caps, bags, towels).
- Embroidery program required. You need an embroidery program (.dst file or equivalent) that translates the design into a sequence of stitches. If you don't have one, your provider can usually have it created from your vector logo.
Typical use cases: chest logo on a polo or jacket, badge on a cap, logo on a bag or towel.
3. Text flocking
Flocking allows you to personalise an item with individual text: a first name, a nickname, a player number. Unlike a logo (which is the same for everyone), flocking is different on each item — which is what makes it such a popular individual customisation tool in sports clubs.
Traditionally, flocking is done with heat-transfer flex: rolls of coloured material pre-cut letter by letter, then heat-pressed onto the fabric. This method works well but limits the choice to a few colours available in stock (white, black, red, blue…). Some providers now produce text flocking using the DTF technique, which allows you to freely choose any colour.
Flocking combines perfectly with a DTF or embroidered logo on the same item — for example, a logo on the chest and a first name on the back.
Typical use cases: first name on the upper back of a sweatshirt or jersey, number on the back or chest, first name on a sports bag.
4. Screen printing
Screen printing is the historic technique of textile marking. The principle: a screen is made (a frame stretched with a fine mesh fabric) onto which a stencil matching the design is applied. Ink is pushed through the open mesh with a squeegee and deposited directly onto the textile. Each colour requires a separate screen.
Screen printing is suited to large quantity orders, generally starting from a minimum of 50 pieces. It is not offered in single-unit online shop systems, because the fixed cost of manufacturing the screens is not justified for small runs.
Advantages
- Unbeatable unit cost in large quantities. Once the screens are made, the cost of each additional print is minimal. It is by far the most economical technique for large orders of the same visual.
- Sharp and durable finish. The ink penetrates directly into the textile fibres, producing a smooth finish with no perceptible thickness and excellent wash resistance.
- Vivid and opaque colours. Screen printing produces highly saturated and opaque colours, even on dark textiles.
Limitations
- Fixed setup cost. Manufacturing each screen represents an upfront investment. Below 50 pieces, the unit cost becomes prohibitive compared to other techniques.
- Limited number of colours. Each colour in the design requires a separate screen. Beyond 3–4 colours, cost and complexity increase considerably.
- No gradients or photos. Screen printing works with solid colour fills. Gradients, photos and highly detailed illustrations cannot be faithfully reproduced.
- One design per run. Every item in the run carries exactly the same marking. No individual customisation (first names, numbers).
Typical use cases: bulk order of t-shirts for a tournament, batch of promotional bags for an event, run of identical jerseys for a sports school.
Which technique should you choose?
In summary:
- DTF is the default choice for the vast majority of items — versatile, colourful, compatible with all materials and suited to single-unit production.
- Embroidery is the premium choice for logos on thick items (polos, jackets, caps) where you want a high-end finish and maximum durability.
- Screen printing is the most economical option when you're ordering in large quantities with the same visual on the same item.
With DAGOBA, DTF, embroidery and text flocking (using DTF, meaning any colour you choose) are available directly on your free online shop, and screen printing is offered on request for bulk orders. To learn more about pricing and specifications, visit our help centre.
