By Melissa Donovan
Direct to film (DTF) and direct to garment (DTG) printing solutions are leveraged by wide format print shops as a way to extend offerings. Customers looking for signs and apparel? What about a banner and personalized drinkware? They can get it all in one place, with one point of contact.
For the print service provider (PSP) considering adding DTF or DTG printing to their service lineup, a hybrid solution—a device offering both capabilities—is enticing. As an entry-level user unsure of the demand, having either DTF to DTG on hand is an advantage. Once its evident which service is in more demand, it might make sense to invest in a standalone device.
Let’s Go Hybrid
A hybrid device offers the best of both worlds—DTG and DTF—in one compact solution.
DTG/DTF hybrid options are well suited for smaller print shops that lack space. “The printers provide decent productivity, about 20 shirts an hour, and can be set up in a spare room. Since these hybrid printers create DTG and DTF, they are versatile, allowing users to decorate any fabric type and expand offerings to hats, shoes, bags, and other non-flat items,” explains Karl Tipre, owner, PrinterBiz, a DTG-C Company.
It’s all about application/substrate versatility. Print shops can choose between the most efficient print method—DTG or DTF—based on “incoming job features, such as garment type, order size, details required, and turnaround time. These hybrid systems also allow operators to easily pivot between workflows and adapt production throughout the day as orders come in,” says Paul G. Morales, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc.
Morales adds that hybrid systems print directly to cotton, blends, and synthetics, while also producing film transfers for non-apparel applications or materials that are not ideal for DTG.
“A DTG/DTF hybrid printer is nice because certain graphics have a lot of saturation and can feel thick, like a sticker if printed using DTF. With a hybrid printer, you can choose to use DTG for the softer hand, or DTF if you’re printing on polyester or non-flat surfaces,” continues Tipre.
Kostis Gounaris, business development, Polyprint, believes “a hybrid DTG/DTF machine is a great option, especially for small businesses, because you basically get two important printing technologies in one machine. Instead of buying separate DTG and DTF systems, you can handle both with a single setup, which is a big help when you’re working with a limited budget. It also lets you serve a much wider range of customers—from cotton t-shirts to different types of fabrics—so you can take on more orders and grow your business faster.”
While positives abound, there are negatives to implementing a hybrid solution.
Gounaris points out that with hybrid machines, the DTF process is still manual on some models compared to a dedicated DTF printer. In addition, DTG inks are typically more expensive than DTF inks.
Ayden Tran, digital marketing manager, Ricoh DTG, says “hybrid printers are not intended to compete with high-volume, roll-to-roll DTF shakers. If a shop’s sole business is over 100 transfers a day, a dedicated roll-to-roll system is faster; however, for the average custom shop, the hybrid’s flexibility outweighs the raw speed of a specialized unit.”
The manual part of the DTF process makes it best suited for short-run production. “This is because the finishing portion, which includes applying and melting the powder, is done manually. Additionally, many hybrid printers are slower than production-level DTF printers, so they don’t provide the same kind of productivity,” explains Mike Davis, application specialist, Roland DGA Corp.
“There are a few disadvantages with hybrid machines. They do require a print shop to have printer operators familiar with two separate pretreatment, workflow, and post-workflow requirements,” admits Morales.
Ink Sharing
Working on a hybrid device means sharing inks between DTF and DTG processes.
“Hybrid printers use the same ink for DTG and DTF printing. The upside is it is easy to switch between DTG and film. The downside is a hybrid printer system typically has more expensive ink,” says Kipre.
Certain ink sets are capable of producing vibrant, high-quality output for both DTG and DTF, says Morales.
“Specialized DTG inks are engineered to bond perfectly to fabric and DTF transfer film. This eliminates the need for two ink inventories and prevents clogging issues often seen when switching chemistries,” says Tran.
Switch It
It does not take long to switch modes on a hybrid device.
Gounaris says the switch between DTF and DTG couldn’t be easier. “It’s just settings on the RIP and instead of a shirt you load a film on the platen.”
According to Morales, the change between DTG and DTF on a hybrid device should be fast and intuitive. Software makes it as simple as selecting either t-shirt or film. “Once chosen, the software and printer automatically adjust the appropriate settings so the operator doesn’t need to manually change ink densities, RIP profiles, or hardware components. This seamless transition minimizes downtime and allows users to move cleanly and confidently between production modes.”
This is all dependent on the system, as some might still involve manual changeover versus software driving the switch. When it’s included in the software, “the image is automatically mirrored and the ink order reversed to make the switch easy,” explains Tipre.
He does note that there is some inherently learned knowledge involved in the switchover. “The user must reduce the amount of white ink in the software settings when switching to film since it is far less absorbent than fabric. There can be a learning curve for using this technology, but a good printer dealer will have training to make the user comfortable.”
Standing Alone
Printers specializing in only DTG or DTF are also useful in a wide format print shop.
Standalone devices are optimized for their specific print methods, attests Morales. They offer high speeds, increased productivity, and a streamlined workflow. This makes “it easier for operators to become familiar with the print technology and maintain consistency.”
“If volume and efficiency are your priority, standalone can be a strong choice,” advises Gounaris.
Production levels increase because a standalone DTF machine for example is a more automated setup over a hybrid device. “It’s built specifically for DTF production, which means you can produce higher volumes every day with minimum manual work. That helps lower your cost per print and makes it easier to handle more customers,” explains Gounaris.
“Standalone units are optimized for a singular purpose. A dedicated DTF line is ideal for mass-producing transfers to be heat pressed later,” adds Tran.
Theoretically, all DTG printers can print film—so a DTG standalone device is not necessarily something that exists in the sense that it can physically only print on garments. The user may choose to only print garments and not film, but the film capability is still there. Tipre points out that it’s not that the printer can’t switch between the two options, but more that some printers make it easier than others with integrated software.
Standalone printers are ideal if the intent is to print to a specific application/material. If printing to garments and film is the goal, then investing in two separate machines for DTF and DTG “means higher upfront costs and more space needed,” admits Gounaris.
“A disadvantage of using a standalone DTG or DTF printer is that such a device can’t satisfy the needs of users who require an all-in-one solution of performing both DTG and DTF printing. Having both DTF and DTG standalone printers can be challenging for operations that don’t have the space for two independent devices,” shares Davis.
Tran agrees and suggests that standalone setups often require double the floor space and expanded maintenance routines.
Running a standalone DTF printer does limit the capability of offering a softer hand on the final graphic. “A DTF standalone printer cannot print anything but transfers, so for solid graphics the finished product can feel thick like a sticker,” suggests Tipre.
With a dedicated printer, “you are locked into a specific workflow. A standalone DTF setup cannot print directly onto a garment for that soft hand feel that several customers demand,” says Tran.
Volume Work
A hybrid device is best suited for on demand single orders, samples, and short runs. Meanwhile standalone solutions—either DTG or DTF—make more sense for higher volumes of work.
Tipre believes that DTG/DTF hybrid machines are ideal for those looking to use the printer for samples or smaller runs. “They can print about 20 shirts per hour, but require an operator to print one shirt at a time. If a print shop needs more volume, about over 50 items per day, it makes sense to invest in a more automated system like a DTF standalone device.”
“Once the add-on service grows into a constant, mid- to high-volume business, it’s time to consider a single-function device,” seconds Morales. “When a single hybrid printer begins to struggle to keep pace with demand across both DTG and DTF workflows, adding a roll‑to‑roll DTF unit is often the most efficient next step. A dedicated roll‑to‑roll system allows the operator to print and cure DTF transfers simultaneously, freeing the hybrid device to focus on DTG output. This parallel workflow not only increases total production capacity but also improves turnaround times as the business scales.”
As with any machine, “you only profit when you have work for them. I would say that if you are doing less than ten designs per day on average, outsourcing is the best option. Above that you can start thinking of getting a machine and also work on growing your business,” suggests Gounaris.
“A hybrid device is suitable for wide format providers. It excels at on demand, single orders and short- to mid-volume runs. Because wide format shops already understand color management and substrate versatility, they find the move into t-shirts, hoodies, totes, and even structured hats to be a natural extension of their existing business,” explains Tran.
Pricing Thoughts
Comparing the cost of a hybrid solution versus a standalone DTG or DTF device goes beyond the out-of-the-box price tag. It’s about total cost of ownership (TCO).
The TCO includes the equipment to support the DTF process—for hybrid printers, a powder applicator and curing oven are typically separate expenses. For dedicated DTF systems, many incorporate the powder application and curing within the unit. “This streamlined setup reduces the amount of manual handling required, which can lower overall labor costs and improve workflow efficiency,” comments Morales.
A separate powder melting device usually costs $500 to $1,000 depending on the unit, so that must be factored into the overall cost when choosing a dedicated DTF printer versus hybrid. And “while this type of device is not needed for a DTG machine, DTG printers also have an accessory—a pretreat machine—that boosts productivity. This device, which allows for easy and repeatable application of the pretreat solution to a garment, can run anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000,” shares Davis.
Gounaris says “the cost of DTF machines varies but starts lower than a DTG machine. Also the TCO is lower for DTF as the consumables cost less for DTF than DTG.”
“Ultimately, the best value depends on the user’s production needs—hybrids offer flexibility, while dedicated units can deliver operational efficiencies at higher volumes,” concludes Morales.
What’s Your Need?
Hybrid DTG/DTF devices and dedicated solutions are both something to consider in a wide format print shop. For those just starting out and looking to test their customer base on what will be the main application, a hybrid device is ideal. They offer short- to mid-volume runs at an economical price point and versatility to flip easily between garment and film. When—or if—a standout application is identified, it might make sense to invest in a standalone solution, one that can offer higher rates of productivity if needed.
May2026, Industrial Print Magazine
