Artwork for DTF Printing
DTF (Direct to Film) printing transfers full-colour artwork onto garments by printing on PET film, applying hot melt powder, curing, and heat pressing. DTF has replaced HTV for multi-colour designs because it requires no weeding and works on any fabric colour or type.
About Artwork for DTF printing
DTF is now the dominant method for short-run custom apparel production. Suppliers including Rush DTF, Transfer Express, Stahls, and PrintKick print DTF transfers and ship them to decorators who heat press them onto garments.
DTF file requirements: - Format: high-resolution PNG with transparent background. White background PNGs produce a white box around the artwork on the pressed garment. - Resolution: 300 DPI at the intended print size. For a full-front shirt print (12 × 16 inches), the PNG should be 3600 × 4800 pixels. - Colour mode: RGB. DTF printers use a CMYK+White ink set. RIP software converts RGB to CMYK+W automatically. - No heavy compression: use uncompressed PNG. Heavy JPEG compression creates visible colour fringing at edges in the finished transfer. - Transparent background: DTF printers apply white ink as an automatic underbase where the PNG has opaque pixels. Transparent areas get no ink — ideal for printing on dark garments.
DTF sizing guide for garments: - Left-chest print: 4 × 4 inches (1200 × 1200 px at 300 DPI) - Full front print: up to 12 × 14 inches (3600 × 4200 px at 300 DPI) - Sleeve print: 3 × 10 inches
How to prepare artwork for DTF: 1. Upload the logo or design PNG to the PNG-to-SVG converter above. 2. Download the SVG for vector editing at any size. 3. Finalize artwork in Inkscape and export as 300 DPI PNG with transparent background. 4. Submit to the DTF transfer supplier.
Use the PNG vectorizer above to clean and rebuild any artwork for DTF transfer production.