Glossary
DTF vs sublimation
DTF transfers a printed film onto the surface and works on almost any fabric or colour. Sublimation turns dye into gas that bonds into the material itself, giving a permanent finish with no feel at all, but it only works on polyester or specially coated items and cannot print white.
The decisive question is the substrate. Sublimation on a white polyester item is superb: the print will not crack, peel, or fade because it is chemically part of the material. On cotton or on a dark garment it is simply not an option.
DTF is the generalist. It handles cotton, blends, and dark colours, and it prints white. You pay for that flexibility with a print that sits on the surface rather than in it.