Custom Water Based Transfer Printing

Wholesale water based transfer printing in Los Angeles: silkscreen durability with photo-real digital detail, eco-friendly and printable on nearly any fabric.

Photo-real full color on nearly any fabric
Eco water-based ink, phthalate- and PVC-free
Tested past 50 washes, low minimums

Get a quote See how it works

Photo-real full color on nearly any fabric

Tested past 50 washes (75+ inside-out)

Eco water-based ink, phthalate- and PVC-free

Unlimited colors, no per-color charge

Trusted by thousands of companies across the U.S.

Full-color screen-print transfers

What is a Water Based Heat Transfer?

Water-based transfer printing (also known as photo t-shirt printing) combines the quality and durability of traditional silkscreen techniques with the color range and photo-real detail of digital printing, for low damage rates, quicker turnaround times, and fewer limitations. Our eco-friendly water-based ink is free from phthalates and PVC, highly opaque, and bleed-resistant, preserving the clarity of your design and leaving a smooth, matte finish on nearly any fabric.

Photo-real full color and gradients on cotton, polyester, and more
Tested past 50 washes (over 75 when washed inside-out)
Opaque on lights and darks, with a soft matte finish

Pro Tip: Each fabric and color can react a little differently. We recommend ordering a sample of your exact garment before a full production run.

Connect with a rep

Photo-real full-color water-based transfer print on a cotton t-shirt

Water-based transfers vs. DTG vs. screen print

Full Color Screen Print Transfers

Water-based transfer printing combines the flexibility and convenience of DTG with the quality of traditional silkscreen, on fabrics neither method handles as well, which expands the range of products you can use as promotional items. Not sure which fits your project? Talk to an account rep.

Water-Based Transfer

Photo-real, on any fabric

Works on cotton, polyester, and blends
Unlimited colors and gradients
Opaque and bleed-resistant on lights and darks
Tested past 50 washes, eco water-based ink

Close-up of a soft-hand DTG print on a cotton t-shirt

DTG

Soft full color on cotton

Best on high-cotton garments
Soft-hand, full-color detail
No setup, low minimums
Less opaque on darks and polyester

Screen Print

Bold spot color at volume

Bold, opaque spot colors
Best value on large runs
Limited colors per design
Setup per color in the design

Water-based-transfer-printed apparel with a full-color streetwear graphic

Benefits of water-based transfers

Eco-Friendly Water Based Heat Transfers

Works on Any Fabric
From 100% cotton to complex patterned polyester and blends, far more versatile than DTG.
Eco-Friendly Water-Based Ink
Free from phthalates and PVC: no vinyl shortcuts, gentle on skin and the planet.
50-75+ Washes
Tested past 50 washes with no fading, and over 75 when washed inside-out.
Opaque & Bleed-Resistant
Bright and clear on light and dark garments, with a smooth matte finish.
Unlimited Colors
Millions of colors and gradients. From one color to one million, the price stays the same.
Fine Photo-Real Detail
A six-color CMYK process renders intricate designs with detail as fine as 1 mm.

Water-based transfer prints across a cotton tee, polyester jersey, hoodie, cap, and tote bag

Design & specs

Water-Based Transfer Printing

Water-based transfers run on a six-color CMYK process for an expanded color range. We do not print RGB files. Send full-color designs and we triple-check every order for the cleanest possible result.

Color Mode Six-color CMYK process (RGB files not accepted)

Max Transfer Size 16.5x11.7"

Detail As fine as 1 mm, millions of colors & gradients

Fabric 100% cotton through patterned polyester & blends

Unlimited colors, one flat price: we do not charge by the color. From one to one million, the price stays the same. No calculations, no hidden fees.

Get a quote

Custom headwear

Yes - We Print Hats With Water-Based Transfers

Screen print and DTG are flat-panel methods, so a curved cap crown cannot run through either. A water-based transfer is heat-applied: it wraps the crown and lays down the gradients, photographs, and unlimited color that thread cannot stitch.

Full-color water-based transfer applied to a trucker hat foam front panel

Trucker & foam front panels

The flat foam front of a trucker hat is the best transfer canvas in headwear: a smooth, stable surface that takes a large full-color graphic edge to edge.

Water-based transfer on a cotton twill dad hat front panel

Twill caps & five-panels

Cotton twill and brushed chino front panels press cleanly, so dad hats, five-panels, and structured six-panels carry photographic designs with a soft hand.

Water-based transfer graphic on a bucket hat panel

Bucket hats & visors

Wide brims and open crowns give you room for oversized graphics, and the transfer flexes with the panel instead of cracking along a seam.

Choosing a method for caps: embroidery, 3D puff, and patches are the right call for logos, wordmarks, and monograms. Reach for a water-based transfer when the design has gradients, photographic detail, or more colors than thread can practically handle.

Browse custom hats

Recent work

Water Based Heat Transfer Gallery

View Complete Portfolio

How it works

Step 01

Choose your product(s)

Pick your blank from thousands of styles (cotton, polyester, or blends), then select your colors, sizes, and the print locations you want for each design.

Step 02

Upload your design

Upload your full-color files and any special instructions. We check resolution and print quality, and your account rep guides you on any tweaks. Once you approve the proof, production begins.

Step 03

Make a lasting impression

Lead the pack in your industry with employees and customers who actually want to wear your merch: photo-real, eco-friendly, and built to last past 50 washes.

Want to see it on your exact garment first?

We recommend it. Each fabric and color reacts a little differently. Ask your rep about a sample run before full production.

Connect with a rep

Transparent pricing

How Much Do Water-Based Transfers Cost?

Your price depends on the garment, transfer size, and quantity, but we never charge by the color. From one color to one million, the price stays the same, with low minimums on every project.

$0Per-color charges

50+Washes tested

16.5x11.7"Max transfer size

Unlimited colors, one flat price Low minimums on every project No hidden fees Wholesale pricing at volume

Get a quote

Recommended Products for Water Based Transfers

Part of what makes full-color printing so popular is its ability to work on so many products. Few customization services can do photo-quality image transfers. For your canvas we suggest hats, t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, and tote bags. Standard turnaround is 10-14 days, with rush orders also available.

View all products Get a quote

Products we print with water-based transfers

T-Shirts

Hoodies

Hats

Tote Bags

Sweatpants

Long Sleeves

Tank Tops

Trucker Hats

Dad Hats

Bucket Hats

Polos

Crop Tops

T-Shirts

Hoodies

Hats

Tote Bags

Sweatpants

Long Sleeves

Tank Tops

Trucker Hats

Dad Hats

Bucket Hats

Polos

Crop Tops

T-Shirts

Hoodies

Hats

Tote Bags

Sweatpants

Long Sleeves

Tank Tops

Trucker Hats

Dad Hats

Bucket Hats

Polos

Crop Tops

T-Shirts

Hoodies

Hats

Tote Bags

Sweatpants

Long Sleeves

Tank Tops

Trucker Hats

Dad Hats

Bucket Hats

Polos

Crop Tops

T-Shirts

Hoodies

Hats

Tote Bags

Sweatpants

Long Sleeves

Tank Tops

Trucker Hats

Dad Hats

Bucket Hats

Polos

Crop Tops

T-Shirts

Hoodies

Hats

Tote Bags

Sweatpants

Long Sleeves

Tank Tops

Trucker Hats

Dad Hats

Bucket Hats

Polos

Crop Tops

T-Shirts

Hoodies

Hats

Tote Bags

Sweatpants

Long Sleeves

Tank Tops

Trucker Hats

Dad Hats

Bucket Hats

Polos

Crop Tops

T-Shirts

Hoodies

Hats

Tote Bags

Sweatpants

Long Sleeves

Tank Tops

Trucker Hats

Dad Hats

Bucket Hats

Polos

Crop Tops

Why DTLA Print

We Don't Cookie Cut

Each project is unique and requires its own process. Depending on the desired product, we will customize the inks and process for each order.

Dedicated Reps

Each account receives a dedicated rep who can be reached by phone or via e-mail.

Quality Over Quantity

DTLA Print believes in quality over quantity and we want our customers to feel the same way.

Long Lasting Relationships

We value all of our clients and aim to solidify long lasting & mutually beneficial relationships.

Innovative Ideas

DTLA Print is proud to be a leading partner in the promotional products + fashion industry, with unique ideas + out of the box printing methods.

We Stand Behind Our Work

Our main goal is to provide peace of mind, so you can relax and have confidence that your job will come out exactly as you had imagined.

Water-Based Transfers: Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Haven't found what you are looking for? Email or contact us and we'd be happy to assist.

What makes DTLA Print's waterbased transfers unique from regular transfers?

DTLA Print combines the quality and durability of traditional silk screen techniques with the flexibility, color range, and high quality photo real detail of digital printing to allow a wide range of images to be printed on any fabric imaginable with low damage rates, quicker turns, and fewer limitations, all while keeping our eco-friendly vision in mind.

How many washes can the waterbase transfer's handle?

All of our wearable transfers, and transfers made have been tested with over 50 washes and they still looked great. These eco-friendly waterbased transfers for apparel are made to last!

How should the waterbased transfers be washed?

We recommend to follow the included care label and wash instructions provided on your garment, when possible turn the garment inside out for even better results.

Are the transfers eco-friendly?

Yes. Our environmentally friendly water-based ink is free from phthalates and PVC.

What level of detail can these transfers achieve?

Our process prints millions of colors and gradients, allowing us to reproduce almost any design, no matter how complex. We can render fine detail as small as 1 mm.

What is the largest transfer size for this waterbased method?

At the moment our current largest waterbased transfer size is 16.5x11.7, if you need a larger transfer we might need to print directly onto the garment or use a classic plastisol transfer.

What color profiles work best?

The default print process is CMYK (actually, we run a six-color process that gives DTLA Print's transfers more range in the color spectrum). We have the ability to Pantone (PMS) color match. All you need to do is indicate the colors in your order. We do not print RGB files.

Are samples available prior to a production run?

Yes, we recommend ordering a sample of your desired garment prior to running a production, as each fabric and color may react differently.

Are there any hidden fees?

No, We have taken the complexity out of ordering transfers: no calculations or hidden fees.

Is there a limit on the number of colors?

Not at all, design away. You can print unlimited colors and gradients with DTLA Print's eco-friendly apparel waterbased transfers. We do not charge by the color, from one to one million the price remains the same.

Can Water Based Ink Transfers be Pantone Matched?

Unfortunately, no they cannot. Our water based heat transfers are produced using CMYK color model.

How is it different from DTG?

DTG prints directly onto high-cotton garments with a soft hand, but it is less vivid on darks and polyester. Water-based transfers are opaque and bleed-resistant on lights and darks, carry the durability of silkscreen, and work on cotton, polyester, and complex patterned blends that DTG cannot handle as well.

What fabrics work with water-based transfers?

They work on 100% cotton as well as complex patterned polyester and blends, nearly any fabric. Because each fabric and color can react a little differently, we recommend ordering a sample of your exact garment before a full production run.