Direct-to-Film Heat Transfers

Direct-to-Film (DTF) heat transfers are perfect for those who have a design, heat press, and shirt ready-to-go, but need the design printed on film. The films will come ready-to-apply.

  • No Minimum Quantity
  • Full CMYK Color Palette
  • Fast Turnarounds
  • Soft, Matte Finish
  • Easy Hot Peel
  • Priced by the Square Inch

Scroll down to see application information.

Direct-to-Film Application Tips

  • 1. Pre-work

    We recommend that you check each film before you begin applying.

  • 2. Heat Press Temperature

    Set your heat press temperature to 266ºF.

    Based on using a Stahls' Hotronix® Fusion IQ® Heat Press.

  • 3. Press

    Place transfer on your garment with the ink side facing the garment. Close press and apply for 5 seconds.

  • 4. Peel

    Open your press and remove the film carrier smoothly and evenly.*

  • 5. Finishing Press

    We recommend a final 2 second finishing press after the film carrier has been removed.

  • Time

    5 seconds, plus a 2 second finish

  • Temperature

    266ºF

  • Pressure

    High 9 (90 psi)

  • Peel

    High 9 (90 psi)

These recommended time, temperature, and pressure settings are based on our preferred use of Stahls' Hotronix® Fusion IQ® Heat Press, with Poly/Cotton, Cotton, and Polyester garments. Settings on other heat presses may vary. Please test accordingly.

* Some thicker, softer garments may need to peel warm/cool. We’ve noticed this needing to happen with some Bella+Canvas fleece garments.

Artwork Guide

If you have already created a artwork, the following are our recommendations for the best results.

  • All art will print as provided. Unless specifically asked or we find potential issues, we will not make any alterations to your file.

    For bitmap images, please ensure the resolution is at least 300 dpi.

    If you're designing with Canva, we recommend you download the highest quality PNG with a transparent background from their program for best the results.

    1. Size: Minimum, 0.25" x 0.25". Maximum, 21" x 21".
    2. Text/Fonts: Convert all text to outlines before uploading.
    3. Colors: Setup your document color mode and colors as CMYK. Note: CMYK does not reproduce florescent colors.
    4. Lines: For best results, please use a line thickness that is at least .02" or 1.5 pt.
    5. Effects: By default, we apply a white underbase on all prints. Designs that fade to transparent may not appear correctly with the underbase. If you would like us to remove the underlay for your project, please add a note to when placing your order or email us after you've placed your order.

  • We accept these file types:

    AI, PDF, EPS, SVG, PSD, PNG, JPEG, and TIFF

    • Adobe Illustrator (preferred) - with outlined fonts
    • Adobe Acrobat (PDF) - Vector preferred
    • Adobe Photoshop - 300 dpi minimum
    • CorelDraw - save as PDF or EPS
    • Bitmap/JPEG - 300 dpi minimum

Have a question? Reach out!