How to Prep Your Artwork for DTF Printing
Most DTF problems start in the file, not on the press. A few minutes of prep before you upload can save you a reprint, so here is what to look at first.
Start with the right file
Vector files and PNGs print best. Our upload page accepts PNG, JPG, and SVG files up to 500 MB. If your logo exists as a vector, use that version, because it stays sharp at any size.
Size and resolution go together
Resolution only means something at the size you plan to print. A small image stretched to fill a big transfer will look soft or pixelated, no matter how good it looked on your screen. Set your artwork to its final print size at 300 DPI or higher. Enlarging a small file and hoping for the best rarely works.
Remove the background
Transparent areas print no ink. If your file has a solid white or colored box behind the design, that box can print as part of the transfer. Delete the background and save the file as a PNG with transparency.
Work in RGB, not CMYK
Save your artwork in RGB. RGB covers a wider range of color than CMYK, so bright blues, greens, and oranges stay more vibrant. If a file gets converted to CMYK before you upload it, those colors can come out duller than you expected. Keep the file in RGB and what you see on your screen will be closer to what prints.
White and transparent are not the same thing
Anything you want printed white needs to be white in the file, and anything you want left blank needs to be transparent. Zoom in on the edges of your design and look for stray white boxes or halos left over from a cutout. They are easy to miss on a screen and hard to miss on a shirt.
Don't mirror your file
Upload your artwork the way it should look on the garment. We print it as you send it, so a flipped file comes out flipped.
Watch the fine details
Very thin lines, tiny text, and faint gradients can fade or break up once they're printed and pressed. If a detail is hard to see when you zoom out, make it bolder.
Leave a little room
When you lay out a sheet, a small gap between designs lets each one cut and peel cleanly. A quarter to a half inch is a good range.
Look it over before you order
Zoom in and check for jagged edges, leftover backgrounds, and missing pieces. Every uploaded sheet gets an expert review before printing, but a clean file always gives the best result.
Ready to print?
Upload your own gang sheet, build one in our online builder, or order by image size. Want to cut your cost per transfer? Read how to build a gang sheet that saves money. Orders placed before 11 AM ship or are ready for pickup the same day.