Wholesale Water-Based Transfer Printing — Your Logo on Any Fabric
Full-color screen-print transfers that combine silkscreen durability with photo-real digital detail — eco-friendly, opaque on lights and darks, 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, minimums from one piece
Trusted by thousands of companies across the U.S.
What Is a Water-Based 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. 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.
Water-Based Transfers vs. DTG vs. Screen Print
Water-based transfers bridge the gap — the photo-real color of digital with the durability and opacity of silkscreen, on fabrics neither method handles as well. Not sure which fits your project? Talk to an account rep.
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
Soft full color on cotton
- Best on high-cotton garments
- Soft-hand, full-color detail
- No setup, minimums from one piece
- Less opaque on darks and polyester
Bold spot color at volume
- Bold, opaque spot colors
- Best value on large runs
- Limited colors per design
- Setup per color in the design
Why Brands Choose Water-Based Transfers
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Works on Any Fabric
From 100% cotton to complex patterned polyester and blends — far more versatile than DTG.
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Eco-Friendly Water-Based Ink
Free from phthalates and PVC — no vinyl shortcuts, gentle on skin and the planet.
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50–75+ Washes
Tested past 50 washes with no fading — and over 75 when washed inside-out.
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Opaque & Bleed-Resistant
Bright and clear on light and dark garments, with a smooth matte finish.
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Unlimited Colors
Millions of colors and gradients — from one color to one million, the price stays the same.
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Fine Photo-Real Detail
A six-color CMYK process renders intricate designs with detail as fine as 1 mm.
Set Your Transfer Up for Success
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How This Process Works
Three simple steps from design to finished merch — and every order is triple-checked by our team before production and again before it ships.
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.
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.
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.
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 minimums starting at one piece.
What Can You Print with Water-Based Transfers?
Because the transfer works on nearly any fabric, the canvas is wide open. Tees, hoodies, hats, sweatpants, and tote bags are some of the most popular — if you can dream it in full color, we can likely transfer it.
Products we print with water-based transfers
T-Shirts
Hoodies
Tote Bags
Sweatpants
Long Sleeves
Tank Tops
T-Shirts
Hoodies
Tote Bags
Sweatpants
Long Sleeves
Tank Tops
T-Shirts
Hoodies
Tote Bags
Sweatpants
Long Sleeves
Tank Tops
T-Shirts
Hoodies
Tote Bags
Sweatpants
Long Sleeves
Tank Tops
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 is a water-based heat transfer?
Water-based transfers — also called photo t-shirt printing — combine the quality and durability of traditional silkscreen with the color range and photo-real detail of digital printing. That lets us print a wide range of full-color images on nearly any fabric, with low damage rates, quick turnaround, and an eco-friendly water-based ink.
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.
How many washes can a water-based transfer handle?
All of our wearable transfers are tested past 50 washes and still look great. Washed correctly — inside out — water-based transfers have been known to last over 75 washes. They are made to last.
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.
How much detail and how many colors can it print?
Our six-color CMYK process prints millions of colors and gradients and can reproduce almost any design, with fine detail as small as 1 mm. There is no limit on colors and no per-color charge — from one color to one million, the price stays the same.
What is the largest transfer size?
Our current largest water-based transfer size is 16.5" × 11.7". If you need a larger print, we can print directly onto the garment with DTG or use a classic plastisol transfer instead — your rep will recommend the best fit.
Are there minimums or hidden fees?
Online orders have a one-piece minimum, and sample runs start at 20 pieces. There are no hidden fees and no per-color charges — we have taken the complexity out of ordering transfers. Standard production is 10-14 business days, with rush options available.
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