Anyone in the printing industry will have heard of "screen printing" at some point. It's the most common printing technique to use in certain materials.
Screen printing consists of forcing ink through a mesh and onto a surface. Many people use it for creating artwork, posters, and other items. However, it's also effective for printing fabrics and textiles.
A great benefit of screen printing is that it produces vivid colors. Also, it gives the print a great tactile quality. If you're interested in creating multiple copies of the same design, this method might be worth it.
What's the difference between screen and DTF printing, then? With the former, you must create a woven screen/mesh for every color and design element. Instead of soaking the ink into the fabric, it will lay on top of it.
While this may not be a problem for some people, it will cause consistency issues with complex designs. As you need to print more details, you'll have to get more layers. This will create a "thicker" feel on your shirt or garment.
You won't have this problem with DTF printing. This method will give you a "uniform" feel that won't become thicker as you add more design elements. In other words, you'll be able to work with fine details without sacrificing the quality of your product.