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Posted by AllDayShirts on to Printing Business Tips, Printing Techniques., Product Guides
In the custom apparel world, personalization is everything. Whether it's for a sports team, a special birthday celebration, or a milestone anniversary, one element that never goes out of style is customized numbers. Thanks to the versatility of DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing, creating vibrant, detailed, and long-lasting numbers on t-shirts, hoodies, jerseys, and more has never been easier.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how DTF printing is revolutionizing numbered apparel across different occasions, industries, and events. From sports uniforms to birthday shirts, anniversary apparel, and even memorial keepsakes, this blog post will show you why DTF numbers are a go-to choice for both businesses and individuals looking for standout designs.
DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing is a heat-transfer printing method that involves printing a design onto a special film and then transferring it onto fabric using heat and pressure. Unlike screen printing, it doesn't require burning screens, and unlike vinyl, it can print full-color gradients and intricate designs with fine detail.
DTF is known for:
Vibrant, full-color results
Soft hand feel
Stretch and wash durability
Applicability on cotton, polyester, blends, and more
No weeding required
This makes it an ideal solution for adding numbers to apparel, especially in smaller batches or one-off personalized pieces.
Numbers are often a central design element—whether representing a team jersey number, a birthday age, or a special date. With Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing, you get the ideal blend of professional-grade quality and customization flexibility. Not sure how it will look or feel? Before committing to a full order, you can try out different number styles, textures, and finishes using Free DTF Sample Packs from AllDayShirts.com. It’s a great way to test print quality, fabric compatibility, and overall durability—so your numbered apparel hits the mark every time.
Key Benefits:
Full customization of fonts, sizes, and colors
Easy setup for one or 1000 items
Better detail than vinyl or screen print for multicolor or textured numbers
Works on a wide variety of garments and accessories
Custom numbers are a staple in the world of team sports. Whether you’re outfitting a little league baseball team, a local soccer club, or adult rec league participants, DTF offers affordable and durable solutions.
Jersey back numbers
Front chest numbers
Shorts or sleeve placement
Position-specific identifiers
Stands up to frequent washes and active movement
Allows for multiple placements beyond just the back of a jersey
More breathable and lightweight than traditional vinyl
Add team logos or player names alongside numbers for a complete branded look—all in one transfer!
From a baby’s first celebration to a grandparent’s milestone year, personalized birthday shirts continue to be a top trend in custom apparel. DTF printing makes it effortless to create designs that reflect the age and personality of the wearer with vibrant numbers and themed graphics.
Popular Concepts Include:
"Birthday Girl 10"
"Level 13 Unlocked" (video game theme)
"Two Fast" with a race car and the number 2
"One in a Melon" with a playful twist on the number 1
What makes DTF ideal for birthday apparel is its ability to quickly produce vivid, custom prints—even for one-off orders. With no setup fees and full-color capabilities, it's perfect for last-minute gifts or themed party outfits.
Why It’s a Favorite:
Quick turnaround, even for single items
Bright, high-resolution results that look great in photos
Themed designs enhanced with sparkle, texture, or glitter
Pro Tip:
Incorporate metallic or glitter DTF finishes to give birthday numbers extra shine and dimension—perfect for capturing attention and standing out in photos.
Custom numbers aren’t just for birthdays and sports—they’re a creative way to celebrate the calendar year. Whether marking holidays, organizing summer camps, or launching back-to-school gear, DTF-printed numbers help make apparel festive, functional, and fun.
Holiday-Themed Ideas:
“Santa Squad 2024” with bold numbers on the back
“12 Days of Christmas” countdown pajamas for families
“Cheers to 2025” with glittery New Year’s numbers
Summer & Camp Uses:
Age-group shirts for campers (e.g., "Group 7 – Camp 2024")
Cabin or bunk numbers for easy team identification
Staff apparel with designated roles and printed numbers
Back-to-School Collections:
Graduation year shirts like “Class of 2025”
Classroom-specific tees (e.g., “Room 204 – 2024/25”)
Spirit week uniforms using grade-level or team numbers
Limited-Time Campaigns for Print Shops:
Capitalize on holidays and cultural events by launching seasonal collections. Examples include:
Valentine’s Day couples shirts with “1 of 2” / “2 of 2”
Independence Day designs like “Freedom 24” or “Est. 1776”
Halloween group shirts such as “Squad 13” or “Boo Crew 2024”
These campaigns not only boost engagement and sales but also let customers wear meaningful, personalized designs that reflect the season or occasion.
Want your number-based apparel to stand out from the rest? Use these advanced tips to take your DTF printing game to the next level:
Try layering numbers with drop shadows, outlines, or dual-tone fills. DTF allows for rich gradients and multi-layer effects that aren’t possible with vinyl.
Combine serif numbers with sans-serif or handwritten fonts for names, slogans, or taglines. This creates a balanced design and emphasizes the numerical element.
Use cutouts or transparency in your DTF number design to allow the garment color to show through. This technique works especially well with darker apparel and bold typography.
Think beyond just the back of the shirt:
Side hip placement for trendy streetwear looks
Large front number with a smaller accent on the sleeve
Bottom hem or hood corner for subtle personalization
If printing multiple jerseys or sets, you can streamline the process by creating pre-spaced sheets of numbers in popular sizes. This cuts down on setup time and improves alignment consistency across large batches.
Adding numbers to apparel isn’t just about style—it’s about significance. From showcasing a player’s identity on the field to celebrating milestones with loved ones, numbered garments create memories, elevate branding, and enhance team unity.
With DTF printing, the possibilities are endless. You get the freedom to customize without limitations, the durability to last season after season, and the ease to scale whether you're printing one piece or a hundred.
So whether you're:
Outfitting a team for game day
Creating matching shirts for a family reunion
Launching a custom birthday design on Etsy
Or building out your next POD collection…
DTF numbers are the bold, dependable choice to make your designs truly count. For even more inspiration on how numbers can add creative flair to projects—from apparel to home décor—check out these fantastically creative numbered DIY ideas that showcase the versatility of using digits in design.
Not all numbers are created equal. The style of your numbers can completely transform the look and feel of your apparel.
Varsity Block: Great for sports
Brush Script: Elegant and fun
Retro 70s: For themed birthdays or anniversaries
Futuristic Sans Serif: Modern, clean look
Back of jerseys: 8" to 10"
Front chest: 4" to 6"
Sleeves or accessories: 2" to 3"
Make sure to leave appropriate spacing, especially when combining numbers with text or images in your DTF design.
DTF is not just easy to design—it’s also easy to apply.
Heat press (preferred over household iron)
DTF transfer sheet
Garment (cotton, poly, blend, etc.)
Pre-press the garment to remove moisture and wrinkles
Position the DTF transfer number-side up
Press at 300-320°F for 10-15 seconds
Let cool, then peel
Repress with parchment for a matte finish (optional)
This process ensures the transfer bonds correctly and holds up over time.
Whether you’re printing 100 jerseys or one birthday shirt, DTF printing scales seamlessly. No setup fees, fast production, and consistent quality make it perfect for both custom shops and small businesses.
Online personalization stores
Etsy shops
Print-on-demand platforms
Local event merch sellers
AllDayShirts.com and other custom DTF suppliers offer blank garments and DTF-ready surfaces that work perfectly with custom number designs.
Some platforms allow you to upload your design or use pre-made templates for birthdays, anniversaries, or sports jerseys.
Look for suppliers that offer:
No minimums
Fast shipping
Clear application instructions
Vibrant, high-resolution prints
Numbers tell a story. Whether it’s a jersey number, birth year, or anniversary date, adding digits to your design turns a basic shirt into something meaningful. With DTF printing, you can bring that story to life on almost any surface, with quality and detail that lasts.
From sports leagues to birthday bashes and anniversary milestones, numbered DTF apparel adds personality and pride to every piece. Explore your creative side and start designing with numbers that count.
Ready to start? Visit AllDayShirts.com and discover blank apparel that’s perfect for your next DTF printing project.
Please email media@alldayshirts.com