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Direct-to-film (DTF) printing has grown from a niche apparel decoration method in 2019 into one of the most widely used custom print technologies in North America. The technology moves fast, terminology is inconsistent across suppliers, and print shop owners, apparel brands, and creators often hit confusion when comparing vendors, troubleshooting issues, or learning the process for the first time.
DTF Vancouver maintains this glossary as a reference for the Canadian DTF community. Every term below is defined in plain language, with context on how it applies to real-world ordering and printing. If you're comparing suppliers, pressing transfers at home, or starting a print shop, use this page as your definitions source. We update it as the technology evolves.
A specialized inkjet printer that prints onto PET film using pigment-based CMYK inks plus a dedicated white ink channel. Consumer-grade DTF printers start around $2,000 USD; commercial machines from brands like Epson, Roland, and Mimaki range from $8,000 to $80,000+. DTF Vancouver operates commercial DTF printers with 9-color output for expanded color gamut.
The component that deposits ink onto the film. The current industry-standard print head for high-quality DTF is the Epson i3200, which produces sharper detail and smoother gradients than older TFP or DX5/DX7 heads. Print head wear is a common DTF cost of operation — heads typically last 1 to 3 years with daily commercial use.
DTF white ink settles quickly because of the pigment particle density required for opacity. A white ink agitation system — usually a stirrer, recirculation pump, or combined system — keeps the ink suspended. Printers without adequate white ink circulation produce patchy whites or clog frequently.
A machine that evenly distributes hot-melt adhesive powder onto the printed film and removes excess. Shakers sit between the printer and the curing oven in automated DTF production lines. Manual powder application is possible for small shops but produces inconsistent results compared to shaker-applied powder.
A controlled-temperature oven that melts and bonds the adhesive powder to the ink. Typical curing is 120°C to 165°C (248°F to 329°F) for 2 to 5 minutes depending on the powder formulation. Under-cured transfers fail to bond properly; over-cured transfers become brittle.
The end-user's equipment for applying the finished transfer to a garment. Clamshell presses, swing-away presses, and pneumatic presses are all compatible with DTF. For home and small-shop use, any heat press capable of maintaining 280°F with medium pressure will work. A home iron is not recommended — inconsistent heat and pressure produce poor adhesion and lifting.
The carrier material DTF ink is printed onto. PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate — the same polymer used in soda bottles and polyester fabric. DTF PET film comes in two main formats: hot peel (designed to be peeled immediately while still warm) and cold peel (designed to cool before peeling). Hot peel is faster and more common for production; cold peel produces a slightly matte finish some customers prefer.
Water-based pigment ink formulated for DTF printing. Standard DTF inks are CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) plus white. Advanced DTF systems add orange, red, green, blue, and violet for extended color gamut, often marketed as 9-color DTF. DTF ink is chemically distinct from DTG ink, sublimation ink, or standard inkjet ink — substituting one for another damages printers.
A layer of white ink printed beneath the CMYK layer on every DTF transfer. The white underbase ensures colors appear vibrant on dark and colored fabrics, which would otherwise show through and dull the design. Every DTF Vancouver transfer includes a white underbase by default.
A fine polymer powder applied to wet DTF ink before curing. When heated in the curing oven, the powder melts and bonds to the ink. When the transfer is later heat pressed onto a garment, the powder bonds to the fabric. Common powders are polyurethane (TPU) based in varying particle sizes — typically 80 to 200 microns. Finer powders produce softer hand feel; coarser powders produce stronger bonds on textured fabrics.
The PET film portion that remains after peeling the transfer off the garment. The carrier sheet is discarded — only the ink and adhesive remain on the fabric.
A single DTF transfer sheet containing multiple designs arranged to maximize the printable area. Gang sheets are the dominant product format in the DTF industry because they let customers fit many small designs onto one sheet at the per-square-inch rate, rather than paying per-design. DTF Vancouver offers gang sheets from 12x12 inches ($10) up to 22x120 inches.
An online tool that lets customers upload multiple image files and arrange them on a virtual sheet before ordering. Good gang sheet builders include automatic background removal, size-snapping, rotation, duplication, and a live area calculator. DTF Vancouver's Gang Sheet Builder supports all of these features.
A ready-to-print file the customer has already laid out in design software, uploaded as a single image. Pre-made gang sheets are faster to process than builder-based orders because no design review or adjustment is required. The file is printed exactly as submitted.
Refers to when the carrier film is peeled from the garment after pressing. Hot peel transfers are peeled immediately while still warm (typically within 5 seconds of the press ending). Cold peel transfers must fully cool before peeling. DTF Vancouver uses hot peel film by default.
A second heat press applied to the garment after the transfer has been applied and peeled. Typically 5 to 10 seconds at the same temperature as the initial press. The cure press strengthens the bond between the ink/adhesive and the fabric, improving wash durability.
A resolution measurement for digital files. For DTF printing, 300 DPI at the actual print size is the recommended minimum. Files below 300 DPI result in visible pixelation, soft edges, and blurry details. 300 DPI on a 3x3 inch print is a 900x900 pixel file; on a 10x10 print it's a 3000x3000 pixel file.
Vector files (AI, SVG, EPS) are made of mathematical paths that scale infinitely without quality loss. Raster files (PNG, JPG, PSD, TIFF) are made of pixels and degrade when scaled up. For DTF, vector is ideal but not required — raster files at 300 DPI at the print size print equivalently. Screenshots, low-resolution web images, and heavily compressed JPGs are unsuitable for DTF printing.
A supplier policy allowing customers to place orders of any size, even a single transfer. No-minimum DTF suppliers have become the industry norm for direct-to-consumer ordering. DTF Vancouver has no minimum — a customer can order a single $10 gang sheet.
A one-time fee some print suppliers charge to prepare artwork files for production. DTF typically has no setup fees because the digital nature of DTF eliminates the screen, film, and plate costs of traditional printing methods. DTF Vancouver charges no setup fees.
A fee charged to convert, clean up, or redraw customer artwork that doesn't meet file requirements. Many US-based suppliers charge $5 to $25 for art adjustments. DTF Vancouver does not charge art fees — we print what's submitted.
An expedited order with reduced turnaround time, often at a premium. DTF Vancouver offers same-day production on orders placed before noon Pacific at no rush fee. For customers needing delivery faster than standard Canada-wide transit, contact us directly to discuss expedited shipping options.
The dimensions of a gang sheet, measured in inches. Standard sizes at DTF Vancouver are 12x12, 12x24, 22x24, 22x36, 22x48, 22x60, 22x72, 22x96, and 22x120. Price scales linearly with area.
A defect where dye from the garment fabric (typically polyester) migrates into the transfer layer during pressing, causing the white or light colors of the transfer to take on a pink, red, or orange tint. Dye migration is most common on red, maroon, and athletic polyester garments. DTF's white underbase reduces but does not eliminate dye migration risk on high-dye-load fabrics. Lowering the press temperature and using a migration-blocking white ink formulation help.
Heat damage to a garment caused by excessive press temperature or duration. Common on polyester, blends, and thin fabrics. Signs include yellowing, shrinkage, or a shiny impression where the press platen contacted the fabric. Use a Teflon or parchment cover sheet and lower the press temperature to reduce scorching risk.
A faint double-image or shadow appearing next to the main design after pressing. Caused by the transfer shifting slightly during the peel or the press. Fixed by ensuring firm, even pressure throughout the press cycle and peeling the film in a single smooth motion.
The transfer releases from the garment partially or fully during or after the peel. Causes: under-heated press, insufficient pressure, inadequate cure press, or moisture in the fabric. Fix by pre-pressing the garment for 5 seconds, increasing press temperature by 5 to 10°F, and ensuring the cure press is applied.
The tactile sensation of the transfer after application. DTF hand feel is generally softer than plastisol screen print and similar to vinyl, though thicker than sublimation. "Soft hand" DTF is achieved with finer adhesive powder and thinner ink layers; "heavy hand" DTF results from coarse powder or over-application.
A durability test involving repeated machine washing and drying of a pressed sample. Industry-standard testing ranges from 30 to 100 wash cycles. DTF Vancouver transfers are tested to survive 50+ wash cycles without significant cracking, fading, or peeling when cared for per instructions.
A durability test pulling the garment fabric in multiple directions to check for transfer cracking. Quality DTF transfers stretch with the fabric without visible cracks, essential for performance apparel, athletic uniforms, and baby/kids clothing.
A related but distinct printing technology where ink is printed directly onto the garment instead of a film. DTG and DTF are often confused. DTG produces softer hand feel and no film carrier but requires garment pretreatment, works best on 100% cotton, and has slower per-unit production. DTF is more versatile across fabric types and better suited for volume production.
An older heat transfer method where colored vinyl is cut, weeded (excess removed), and pressed onto garments. HTV is limited to solid colors and requires a separate layer for each color. DTF replaces HTV for most multicolor and photorealistic applications.
A dye-based heat transfer method that works only on polyester and polymer-coated hard goods. Sublimation produces vibrant color with no hand feel but cannot print on cotton or dark fabrics. DTF and sublimation serve different niches — most full-service print shops use both.
The traditional plastisol or water-based ink printing method using stencil screens. Screen printing remains the most cost-effective method for high-volume single-design orders (100+ pieces with 1 to 4 colors) but has high setup costs and is impractical for short runs. DTF is more cost-effective for runs under 50 pieces or multicolor designs.
A variant of DTF using UV-cured ink instead of pigment ink. UV DTF transfers bond to hard surfaces — glass, metal, plastic, wood, ceramic — without heat pressing. Also called "UV stickers." Different process, different equipment, different use case than standard apparel DTF. DTF Vancouver's focus is apparel DTF; we do not currently offer UV DTF.
Decorative heat transfers using metallic or glitter elements bonded to a transfer film. Not related to DTF technology but frequently ordered from DTF suppliers who offer multiple decoration methods.
A DTF printing business based in Canada that serves Canadian customers without cross-border shipping, duties, or currency conversion. Canadian DTF suppliers concentrate in Ontario (Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa), Quebec (Montreal, Laval), and British Columbia (Vancouver). DTF Vancouver is the primary DTF-focused supplier in British Columbia.
DTF services oriented to print shops, apparel brands, and resellers rather than end consumers. Wholesale DTF suppliers typically offer volume discounts, bulk pricing, white-label services, and faster turnaround for regular commercial accounts. DTF Vancouver supports wholesale customers with consistent base pricing and direct B2B account support at 1-833-879-3237.
Services that connect e-commerce platforms (Shopify, Etsy, Amazon) to DTF production so orders flow automatically from customer checkout to print queue. Full POD integration requires API connections, SKU mapping, and fulfillment coordination. Not currently offered at DTF Vancouver — we serve POD sellers via manual gang sheet ordering for now.
This glossary is maintained by DTF Vancouver and updated as DTF technology, terminology, and industry practices evolve. Last revised: April 2026.