DTF transfer FAQ

DTF (direct-to-film) printing puts your design on a clear PET film with pigment ink and a white ink layer, then a powdered adhesive is cured on the back so you can heat press it onto a garment.

You press it, peel the film, and the print stays on the fabric. There are no screens to set up and no pre-treatment on most garments, which is why it suits full-color logos, gradients and small text on short runs.

DTF is for fabric like t-shirts, hoodies and hats. UV DTF is for smooth, hard surfaces like glass, mugs, metal, wood and ceramics.

UV DTF goes on with heat or hand pressure: put the adhesive layer on the printed film, position it on the surface, press, then peel the film off. Finished UV DTF is microwave safe, but it is not dishwasher safe and should not be soaked in harsh detergent. Build a UV DTF gang sheet if that's what your job needs.

DTF is the better pick for short runs and full-color designs across mixed fabrics. Screen printing is cheaper for big runs of simple one- or two-color logos, and DTG gives a soft feel on cotton but needs pre-treatment and struggles on polyester.

Screen printing needs a screen per color, so it only pays off at volume. DTF has no setup per color, works on cotton, polyester and blends, light or dark, and you can press it whenever you're ready.

Cotton, polyester and blends, on light or dark garments. Just use the right press settings for the fabric.

Shops also use our transfers on:

• Tri-blends
• Nylon (test one first)
• Leather and faux leather
• Denim
• Canvas totes and aprons
• Hats, beanies and caps

Settings for each fabric are in the DTF press guide.

Yes. We print with OEKO-TEX® certified inks, which are safe for all ages.

A gang sheet is one strip of DTF film with as many of your designs packed onto it as will fit. You pay for the sheet size, not per design, so a full sheet brings your cost per transfer down.

One sheet can hold different designs, small logos and custom neck labels. Cut them apart and press them as you need them.

Our DTF gang sheets are 23 inches wide and run from 15 to 300 inches long in 5-inch steps. A 23" x 15" sheet is $8.00 CAD and a 23" x 300" sheet is $148.54 CAD.

Longer sheets cost less per inch: the 15-inch sheet works out to about 53¢ per inch of length, the 300-inch sheet to about 50¢. UV DTF sheets are 16 inches wide and start at $10.00 CAD for 16" x 10". Prices are as of October 2026; the gang sheet product page always shows the current price for every length.

Open our Gang Sheet Builder, pick a sheet size, upload your PNGs, arrange them on the sheet and check out.

The Gang Sheet Builder lets you resize, rotate and duplicate designs, and auto-nesting packs them tight so you waste less film. Not ready to pay yet? Export the sheet and check out later. Prefer Canva or Photoshop? Build it there and upload the finished file instead. The builder walkthrough has a video and step-by-step instructions.

Yes. If your sheet is already laid out 23 inches wide, choose the matching length on Upload A DTF 23" Gang Sheet, upload the file and check out.

Use Upload A DTF 23" Gang Sheet for fabric transfers and Upload my UVDTF Gang Sheet for UV DTF. We print the file exactly as you send it, so check spacing and spelling first.

Yes. Upload your own artwork and we print it exactly as you submit it. We do not make changes to your art.

Bought a design on Etsy or had a designer make one? That works too, as long as the file is high resolution.

No. Order one sheet with one design on it if that's all you need. The smallest DTF gang sheet is 23" x 15".

Every inch of the sheet is printable, so you only pay for the space you use. Start small, like a weekend drop for the hockey team, and reorder when the next batch of orders comes in.

Yes. Pricing drops automatically as you order more, and you can see it in the size table on each product page. For large custom bulk orders, contact us for a quote.

Email customerservice@formulatedprints.com with roughly how many sheets you run a week or month and we'll talk volume pricing.

Upload PNG or TIFF files with a transparent background at 300 DPI.

Transparent PNG or flattened TIFF gives the best results. Low-resolution or non-CMYK artwork isn't covered by our reprint guarantee, so it's worth getting the file right before you upload.

CMYK. We print in CMYK, so a CMYK file gives you the closest color match.

RGB files get converted to CMYK. Our printers are calibrated to closely match HEX values, but bright screen colors can shift: a neon pink on your phone can come out as a soft coral on the shirt. Not sure how to convert your file? Ask us before you upload.

No. Once a design is submitted we can't make art changes, and we print it as is.

Check spelling, sizes and resolution before you check out. If we spot a problem with a file, we'll email you, so keep an eye on your inbox after ordering.

Press cotton at 165°C (329°F) for 10–15 seconds with high pressure. Polyester is 140°C (284°F) for 15–20 seconds at medium pressure, nylon 135°C (275°F) for 10 seconds at low pressure, blends 150°C (302°F) for 10–15 seconds at medium pressure, and heat-sensitive fabrics like spandex 130°C (266°F) for 10 seconds at low to medium pressure.

The full settings table is just below these questions, and the step-by-step press guide shows every step with pictures.

Hot. Our transfers are Instant Peel: wait 2–3 seconds after pressing, then peel the film off in one quick, confident motion.

Cold peel works too. Let the transfer cool completely, then peel the film away. Hot peeling with high pressure gives the best result, especially on thin-line designs.

Yes. Pre-press the garment for 10 seconds to drive out moisture and flatten wrinkles before you lay the transfer down.

Preheat your press for 2–3 minutes before the first shirt too. Moisture left in the garment stops the glue from bonding.

It's optional. A Teflon sheet or parchment paper protects the transfer, and a second press of a few seconds under a sheet adds durability.

On polyester, a sheet on top also helps stop shine and press marks.

A standard 15 x 15 inch heat press is all you need.

It fits on a desk and plugs into a regular wall outlet. Pair it with a Teflon sheet or parchment paper and you're set up.

Usually not enough time, pressure or pre-press. Press a little longer or harder using the settings for your fabric, and always pre-press for 10 seconds first.

You can also lay a Teflon or transfer sheet over the design and press again. If the film tears when you hot peel, wait the full 2–3 seconds and pull in one quick motion; if it still resists, let it cool completely and cold peel.

Our DTF transfers are built for 100+ washes when they're pressed at the right settings and washed with care.

Pressed right, they stretch with the fabric and won't crack, fade or peel. Want more life out of a print? Do the optional final press of a few seconds with a Teflon or transfer sheet on top.

Wait 24 hours after pressing before the first wash, then wash it cold, inside out, and tumble dry on low.

Right after peeling, let the garment cool for 30 seconds before anyone wears or folds it.

No. UV DTF is microwave safe but not dishwasher safe. Hand wash it and don't soak it in harsh detergent.

It's water resistant and scratch resistant, which is why it works on tumblers, glass and mugs.

Keep them flat in a drawer and press them when you're ready. There's no rush.

Press in batches or on demand, whatever suits your orders. Transfers don't need to be used the day they arrive.

Most orders print and ship in 1–2 business days.

Large or complex orders can take longer. Once it ships, delivery time depends on where you are. Need it sooner and you're in Calgary? Pick it up instead.

Yes. Pick up at 4558 14 Street NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6T7, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. We're closed weekends.

Contact us to arrange your pickup time so your order is ready when you get here: +1 368-887-4117 or customerservice@formulatedprints.com. Get directions.

Yes. Orders over $99 ship free across Canada.

In Calgary? Skip shipping and pick your order up at our shop instead.

We ship within Canada and to the US only. We don't ship to other countries.

US shipping is calculated at checkout. Free shipping over $99 is for Canadian orders only.

Yes. Once your order ships, we email you a tracking number.

Use that number to follow your package until it arrives.

No. Orders go straight into production, so we can't cancel or modify them once they're placed.

Review sizes, quantities and artwork carefully before you check out.

Yes. The sample is free; you just cover shipping or pick it up in Calgary. Limit one per customer.

Claim your free sample to feel the print and check our color before you place a full order.

Yes. Just let us know first by email or phone, or put our phone number, +1 368-887-4117, as the contact on the Uber or courier order so the driver can reach us.

Email customerservice@formulatedprints.com or call +1 368-887-4117 with your order number and roughly when the driver will show up. Pickup runs Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM, so book the ride inside those hours. We're at 4558 14 Street NE. Get directions.

Choose pickup at checkout. Most orders are ready in 1–2 business days, and when yours is packed we send you a pickup notification by email. Reply to it to set your pickup time.

Pickup is at 4558 14 Street NE, Calgary, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. You skip the carrier entirely, which is handy when a job is due tomorrow.

Set a time with us first. Pickup is Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM, and we arrange each pickup so your order is ready when you get here.

Reply to your pickup notification, call +1 368-887-4117 or email customerservice@formulatedprints.com. We're closed Saturday and Sunday. When you get here, ring the bell.

Ring the bell when you arrive and we'll bring your order out.

We're at 4558 14 Street NE, Calgary. Set your pickup time with us first so your order is packed and waiting.

Yes. Tell us who is coming before they get here, the same way you would for an Uber or courier.

Send their name and your order number to customerservice@formulatedprints.com, or call +1 368-887-4117.

Credit cards, including American Express, plus Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal at checkout.

We don't take cash. Apple Pay and Google Pay show up at checkout when your phone or browser supports them.

No. We don't accept cash. Pay online when you place the order, then come get it.

Printing starts once payment is confirmed, so paying at checkout is also what gets your sheet on the press.

Yes. Prices on the site don't include tax, and GST is added at checkout.

On a Calgary order that's 5%. For example, a 23" x 60" gang sheet at $31.00 comes to $32.55 with GST.

Yes. Your order confirmation email lists each sheet, the GST and the total, so it works as your receipt.

Need a formal invoice for your books? Email customerservice@formulatedprints.com with your order number.

Yes. Email your files, sheet size and quantity to customerservice@formulatedprints.com and we'll set up the order and invoice you.

Printing starts once the invoice is paid. For most jobs the website is still quicker: the Gang Sheet Builder lets you pick a size, see the price and check out in a few minutes.

No. We don't take orders over the phone. Order on our online store, or by email if that's easier.

Stuck on the builder or a file? Call +1 368-887-4117 or email customerservice@formulatedprints.com and we're happy to help you get the order in.

No, not at this time.

Sometimes. Rush service may be available for an extra fee, depending on how much is already on the press, and it can't be guaranteed in busy seasons.

Ask before you order: call +1 368-887-4117 or email customerservice@formulatedprints.com with the sheet size and the day you need it. Standard turnaround is 1–2 business days.

We don't offer refunds, but every eligible order is covered by a 30-day reprint guarantee. If your transfers arrive damaged, have printing errors or have defects that affect use, we reprint them at no cost.

The 30 days start from delivery, and we need photos or video of the problem. Not covered: minor color variation from monitor calibration and normal print tolerance, problems caused by low-resolution or non-CMYK artwork you supplied, and normal wear or misuse after delivery. Full details are in our refund and reprint policy.

Email customerservice@formulatedprints.com within 30 days of receiving your order with your order number, a clear description of the issue, and photos or video.

Our team reviews it and may ask for more information. If we need the items back for inspection and the defect is confirmed on our end, we cover the return shipping and reprint the affected items at no cost.

We print on industrial-grade film with CMYK color consistency, most orders print in 1–2 business days, and Calgary shops can pick up locally instead of waiting on shipping.

If color drifts between reorders, or a polyester blank scorches at stock heat settings, that is exactly the kind of production problem we help shops avoid. Customers rate us 4.91 on Judge.me from 108 reviews (October 2026).

Email customerservice@formulatedprints.com or call +1 368-887-4117.

You can also send a message through our contact page or book a 30-minute consult to talk through a bigger job.