DTF on Polyester: Settings and Dye Migration

Yes, you can DTF on polyester, including 100% polyester. Our transfers press on polyester at the same settings we use for cotton. The real thing to watch is dye migration on dyed performance polyester, so test those blanks first.

Temp

300°F

Time

10 sec

Pressure

High

Peel

Instant hot peel

DTF polyester temperature and settings

Here are the settings for Infynite transfers on polyester:

1. Pre-press 5 seconds. Removes moisture and wrinkles.
2. Press at 300°F for 10 seconds, high pressure. Same as cotton, blends and fleece.
3. Peel instantly. Our transfers are hot peel.
4. Post-press 5 seconds through parchment or a Teflon sheet.

Presses often run cooler than the dial, so check your platen temp. Running hotter than you need is worth avoiding on polyester, which is why the actual reading matters. Other suppliers' transfers may call for different settings, so follow their instructions for their film. Our full guide is in DTF heat press settings.

The real issue: dye migration

Dye migration is when the dye in a colored polyester garment moves into the print. It shows up as a pink, red, gray or blue tint in the white and light areas of your design. Red, maroon and other dark dyed polyester are the usual suspects.

Why it happens

Polyester is usually colored with disperse dyes. Heat can turn some of that dye into a gas, and it rises out of the fibers into whatever is sitting on top. In this case, that's your transfer. It's the same basic process that makes sublimation printing work, just happening where you don't want it. If you want the background, see DTF vs sublimation.

Migration doesn't always show right away. It can creep in over the following hours or days, so a print that looks perfect off the press isn't a full pass.

Which blanks are at risk

• Dyed performance polyester. Athletic tees, jerseys and moisture wicking shirts.
• Dark or saturated colors. Reds and maroons are known for it.
• Lower risk: white polyester and most cotton blanks.

How to test polyester for dye migration

1. Use the exact blank. Same brand, style and color as your run. Dye lots vary.
2. Press one transfer with white or light areas in it, at your normal settings.
3. Look right away, then again after a day or two. Compare the whites to a fresh unpressed transfer.
4. Decide before the full run. If the whites tint, choose a different blank or color. Some suppliers sell blocker products for this, but test those too.

One test shirt is cheap. A box of pink-tinted team jerseys is not.

Scorch and shine marks on polyester

Polyester can show a shiny box, or a darker press mark, where the platen touched it. These are separate from dye migration and easy to prevent.

• Cover with parchment or a Teflon sheet. It keeps the hot platen off the fabric and the print.
• Use a pressing pillow. It raises the print area so the edges of the platen don't leave a hard line. It also helps on seams and zippers.
• Check your real temp. A press running hot is more likely to shine fabric.
• Don't over-press. Stick to the stated time instead of adding extra presses.

Light shine marks often fade after the first wash, but don't count on it. Prevent them instead.

Nylon and coated fabrics

Nylon and coated fabrics are a different case. Nylon is more heat sensitive than polyester, and waterproof or water repellent coatings can stop adhesive from bonding at all. Our listed settings are for cotton, polyester, blends and fleece. For nylon jackets, rain shells or anything with a coating, test first or contact us before you order a run. If a transfer won't bond on a test, our DTF transfer not sticking checklist covers coatings in more detail.

FAQ

Printing on performance wear?

Order a test transfer by size, press it on your blank, then build the full run. No minimums, as low as $0.03 per square inch.

Order by size
How gang sheets work