A DTF transfer is three things stacked on a sheet: film, ink, and adhesive powder. Knowing what each layer does makes it easier to press them right and spot a bad transfer before it hits a shirt.
- Carrier
- PET film
- Ink
- CMYK + white
- Adhesive
- Hot-melt powder
- Bond
- Heat and pressure
Layer 1: DTF film
DTF film is a clear PET plastic sheet with a coating on one side that holds ink. It's the carrier. It never ends up on the shirt. You peel it off after pressing. Film is also why DTF is called direct to film: the design prints onto the film first, not the garment.
Good film peels clean in one pull. Cheap film tears, leaves residue, or grabs the ink so edges come off with it.
Layer 2: DTF ink
DTF printers lay down CMYK color ink, then a layer of white ink on top. The white layer is what makes DTF work on black and colored shirts. It acts as a base so colors stay bright instead of soaking into the fabric.
DTF ink is a water-based pigment ink made to stretch and wash with the garment. It isn't the same as the dye ink in a home inkjet printer, so regular printers can't print DTF.
Layer 3: Adhesive powder
While the ink is still wet, the sheet gets coated in a fine hot-melt adhesive powder. The powder only sticks where there's ink. The sheet is then cured with heat, which melts the powder into a smooth glue layer.
That glue is what bonds the design to fabric when you press it. It's also why DTF works on cotton, polyester, blends, and fleece with one set of settings.
How the layers come together on press
- Heat melts the adhesive and presses it into the fabric fibers.
- The ink sits on top, locked in by the adhesive.
- You peel the film away, leaving only ink and glue on the shirt.
- A post-press pushes everything deeper into the fabric for a softer feel.
Full settings are in our DTF heat press settings guide.
Is DTF film the same as transfer paper?
No. Iron-on transfer paper prints with a home inkjet, and the paper itself carries the image onto the shirt, often with a visible box around it. DTF prints only the design, so nothing but your artwork lands on the garment.
FAQ
Can I print DTF on a regular printer?
No. DTF needs white ink, pigment ink, and a powder and curing step that home printers don't have.
Does the film stay on the shirt?
No. The film peels off after pressing. Only the ink and adhesive stay.
How long do unpressed DTF transfers last?
Stored flat, cool, and dry, they last 6 to 12 months.
Skip the printer, ink, and powder
Send us your designs and we'll print them in-house in Los Angeles. Orders placed before 1PM PT ship the same business day.