07/08/2026
✨ DID YOU KNOW? ✨
Here at Grindstone Graphics & Designs, we offer several different textile printing and pressing options! 👕🧢
But what’s the difference between Vinyl, Sublimation, and Direct to Film? And how do you know which option is best for your project?
Here’s a quick breakdown! 👇
🔥 HEAT TRANSFER VINYL — CUT & PRESS
Heat transfer vinyl, also known as HTV, is cut from sheets or rolls of vinyl and heat pressed directly onto your garment.
We offer a variety of colors and specialty options, including:
✨ Regular Vinyl
☁️ Puff Vinyl
💎 Glitter Vinyl
🌟 Reflective Vinyl
…and more!
HTV is a great option for names, numbers, lettering, simple logos, and designs with clean shapes and lines. It’s especially popular for team apparel, work shirts, personalized items, and projects that need a fun specialty finish.
💡 LITTLE FACT: Vinyl sits on top of the fabric, giving the design a slightly raised feel depending on the type of vinyl used.
🎨 SUBLIMATION PRINTING
Sublimation is a completely different printing process! Instead of sitting on top of the garment, sublimation ink actually dyes the fibers of the material.
Because the design becomes part of the fabric, you don’t feel a heavy print sitting on top of the shirt. The result is a lightweight, smooth, and vibrant design that won’t crack, peel, or flake.
There are a few important things to know about sublimation:
✔️ Works best on 100% polyester
✔️ Garments should contain at least 85% polyester for the best results
✔️ Works best on white or light-colored fabrics
✔️ White ink cannot be printed with sublimation
✔️ Not suitable for black, navy, or other dark-colored garments
Sublimation is a great choice for bright, colorful designs, photographs, detailed artwork, and custom items made specifically for sublimation printing.
💡 LITTLE FACT: Sublimation dyes the fibers of the fabric instead of sitting on top of it!
🖨️ DIRECT TO FILM — DTF PRINTING
Direct to Film, better known as DTF, is one of our most versatile printing options!
With DTF, designs are printed onto a special film and then heat pressed onto the garment.
DTF allows us to:
✔️ Print white ink
✔️ Print full-color designs
✔️ Create highly detailed artwork
✔️ Print on light AND dark-colored garments
✔️ Print on a wide variety of fabric types
✔️ Create everything from simple logos to detailed, colorful designs
DTF is a great option when you want bold colors, fine details, multiple colors, or designs that wouldn’t work well with traditional cut vinyl.
💡 LITTLE FACT: Like vinyl, DTF sits on top of the material—but it allows for much more detailed and colorful artwork without having to cut and layer multiple pieces of vinyl.
🤔 SO WHICH PRINTING METHOD IS BEST?
That depends on your garment, your design, and the look you’re wanting!
🔥 HTV = Great for simple designs, lettering, names, numbers, and specialty effects like puff, glitter, and reflective.
🎨 SUBLIMATION = Great for lightweight, vibrant designs on light-colored polyester garments.
🖨️ DTF = Great for full-color, detailed designs on almost any color or fabric type.
And the good news?
✨ WE OFFER ALL THREE! ✨
At Grindstone Graphics & Designs, we can help determine which printing method will work best for your design, garment, and project.
Whether you need one custom item, business apparel, team gear, school spirit wear, organization shirts, event apparel, or something completely unique—we’re here to help bring your ideas to life!
📩 Have a project in mind? Send us a message and let’s create something great!
Grindstone Graphics & Designs
✨ Your Design. Your Style. Your Way. ✨
