A well-prepared file is the simplest way to make sure your DTF print comes out as expected. Most problems with quality, dimensions and transparency come from the file rather than the printing itself - so it's worth taking a moment to check it before sending.
This guide walks through every key setting for artwork destined for DTF printing: from file format, through resolution and colours, to preparing the production sheet. At the end you'll find a ready-made checklist to run through before every order.
01. Before you start - check what you're printing on
Before you open the artwork, settle a few basics. They determine how the design should be prepared.
Which transfer you're choosing - STANDARD or BLOCKER, depending on the material.
Which material will be decorated - cotton, polyester, a blend, sportswear or workwear fabric.
The target size of the artwork - the exact print dimensions in centimetres.
The available working width and length - e print on film with a maximum width of 58 cm. Sheets are produced in fixed lengths: 58×50 cm, 58×100 cm, 58×150 cm, or 58×200 cm (2 m) - choose the length that fits your order.
Why it matters
Why it matters
Both dimensions matter: width is always fixed at 58 cm, and length has a maximum of 2 metres. Plan your layout around one of the four standard sheet lengths rather than assuming unlimited space.
02. Which file format to choose?
The file format affects whether quality and transparency are preserved. The formats most commonly used in DTF printing are:
PNG
Artwork with transparency
For single designs. Supports a transparent background. A good choice while you're designing a single logo or an irregularly shaped motif.
TIFF (LZW compression)
High quality
Required for the production sheet. The only format we accept for the finished, production-ready sheet. Saving as TIFF locks the graphic into a single pixel matrix, so there's no risk of hidden objects, substituted fonts, or misread transparencies/shadows - all of which can happen when a vector PDF is reopened in design software.
Please avoid sending finished production sheets as PDF. PDFs can contain elements that were invisible in your design software but become visible - and get printed with a white underprint - once opened by our RIP software.
When to use which format?
- While designing a single element with a transparent background - PNG.
- For the finished production sheet at target dimensions - TIFF only.
- Artwork with fine detail where quality is critical - high-resolution TIFF.
03. Transparent background - why it matters
In DTF printing, whatever is visible in the artwork gets printed. If there's a white background behind the design instead of transparency, it will be treated as part of the design and printed along with the motif.
Incorrect
A white rectangle instead of transparency
The background prints around the design
A visible box on the finished garment
Correct
Transparent background (checkerboard in the editor)
Only the design itself is printed
A clean shape with no unwanted background
04. Colours - CMYK, Rich Black and pure white
Prepare your file in the CMYK colour space (recommended profile: Coated FOGRA39) on a fully transparent background, with all working layers and masks removed.
- Deep, saturated black (Total Rich Black): set colour values to exactly C:100% M:100% Y:100% K:100%.
- Pure white elements (text, logos, fine details) must be exactly C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0. Even a tiny "dirty" mix (e.g. C:0 M:1 Y:0 K:1) will be read as a colour by the RIP and trigger a white underprint choke, leaving jagged, incomplete edges on small details. Check with the eyedropper tool before exporting.
05. Artwork resolution
Resolution determines how sharp the print is. All graphics must be 300 DPI at 1:1 scale. A file that's too small loses quality when scaled up - low resolution (e.g. 70 DPI) causes a visible staircase/pixelation effect on edges and blurry contours in print.
What happens when you enlarge a small file? Enlarging doesn't add detail that isn't in the file. The software "stretches" the existing pixels, which makes the artwork look soft. That's why it's better to prepare the design at the right size and quality from the start.
Screen artwork vs production artwork Artwork made for screen (for example, from the web) usually has a lower resolution, enough only for display. Production artwork needs 300 DPI at the target print size.
05. Design size and proportions
It's best to prepare the design at its target size straight away, in CMYK, at 300 DPI. That way you can be sure the print will be the right size and the quality will hold up.
How to check the size before sending? Before sending, check the artwork's dimensions in centimetres and compare them with the planned print size. It's worth viewing the design at 1:1 scale to judge the real size of the details.
Minimum element thickness The smallest elements, dots and lines in fonts must be at least 1 mm thick. Thinner elements won't hold enough powder adhesive and can peel off during washing.
Do not mirror your graphics Send the file exactly as it should appear on the finished garment (text reading normally, left to right). Our production RIP automatically performs the mirror inversion when generating the white underprint mask - a file that's already mirrored will print double-mirrored and come out wrong.
06. The production sheet
A production sheet, also called a gang sheet, is one large file with many designs laid out side by side. This lets you use the film width efficiently and print several designs in a single run.
How to lay out designs
- Arrange designs evenly, with small gaps between them.
- Keep the whole layout within a width of 58 cm and one of the standard lengths (max 200 cm).
- Keep each design at its target size, 300 DPI, CMYK, with a transparent background and sharp (non-feathered) edges.
- Save the finished sheet as TIFF with LZW compression.
Remember
Sheet width: fixed at 58 cm. Sheet length: max 200 cm.
What to avoid
- Overlapping designs.
- Leaving too little margin from the sheet edge.
- Mixing different sizes without any order.
You can prepare the gang sheet yourself, or send individual designs to be laid out.
Questions?
For any technical questions about file preparation, get in touch at support@dtftransfer.com.