If you’re a crafter or small crafty business owner who works with a printer, chances are you’ve heard the term “gang sheet.” A gang sheet is simply a single large image that lets you squeeze as many designs as possible onto one single file. It’s a total game-changer for saving time, materials, and money—especially when doing multiples of the same project.

In today’s post, I’ll walk you through how to make a gang sheet using Canva, one of the most beginner-friendly design tools out there. We’ll create two examples together:

• An 11×17 gang sheet, while I will use to print at home with my white toner printer
• A 22×84 gang sheet ready to upload to Ninja Transfers (or other printer) for professional DTF printing

Whether you’re batching t-shirt designs for your kid’s school, making dozens of products for a craft fair, or organizing a seasonal product drop, making a gang sheet in Canva is an easy and approachable way to waste less and print more. Let’s dive in!

Watch the Video

Want to get a video overview of making a gang sheet in Canva? Just hit play below! Or keep reading for a written tutorial.

Why Use a Gang Sheet?

The primary reason you’ll want to use a gang sheet is cost! Instead of uploading your designs individually, you’ll create one large design made up of individual images. If you’re doing this at home for your own printer, this will save you money in supplies. White toner film, for example, is about $3 for a 11×17 a sheet. You could get one design per sheet for $3…or you could get several designs for $3.

Then when it comes to using a printing service like Ninja Transfers, it’s less expensive to upload a gang sheet than it is individual images, because it’s cheaper for the company to print one long sheet vs. a bunch of individual sheets.

What Types of Printing Work with a Gang Sheet?

Gang sheets aren’t just for one type of printer. They’re versatile and can be used across a wide range of printing methods:

• DTF Printing (Direct to Film for soft surfaces)
• UV DTF Printing (Direct to Film for hard surfaces)
• White Toner Printing
• Sublimation Printing
• VersaFlex Printing (Sawgrass)
• Inkjet or Laser Printing (Regular Printing)

Why Use Canva?

So I’ll be honest. Canva is not my go-to program for making gang sheets! I actually find it easier to do within Adobe Illustrator. That being said, I know that not many of my readers have the Adobe programs, so we’re going to use Canva. There are a few ways that make Canva perfect for making gang sheets, especially for beginners:

• Free version allows you to make gang sheets easily
• User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
• Easy import of PNGs, JPGs, and SVGs
• Simple design duplication and alignment tools

If you want to use another program, like Adobe Illustrator, you will most likely be able to tailor the instructions in this post to your own needs.

What You’ll Need to Make a Gang Sheet

• A Canva account (Free or Pro)
• Images (transparent-background PNGs are preferred, but JPG and SVG also work)
• Your printer and/or a Ninja Transfers account (you can use other transfer services as well)

Making an 11″ x 17″ Gang Sheet for Printing at Home

I am going to use my white toner printer for this project, but it would also work if you have a sublimation printer, DTF printer, or other printer at home as well.

Start by opening Canva and clicking on Create a Design in the upper left corner.

In the pop-up, choose “custom size” and enter 11″ x 17″. Make sure to change your units to inches.

Click Create New Design to go to the Canvas.

On the left, click “Uploads.” Here you can upload any files you’d like to use in your project. I am uploading a bunch of summer-themed files as an example, but of course you can upload whatever files you have.

Once your files are uploaded, you’ll see them under Uploads on the left side of your screen.

Now you can start adding your images to your file by clicking on them. I am making some Summer Camp Squad youth shirts, so I added that file to my Canvas.

NOTE: If your image has a white background, us the “BG Remover” tool at the top to remove the background. For most of these printing processes, white WILL print and you want to make sure your image doesn’t have a weird white square around it.

To resize a file, click on Position in the bar at the top. A new set of tools will open on the left. Here you can change the width and the height. Make sure to click the little lock to keep your dimensions the same.

Once I had the size I wanted, I moved my first image to the top left of my Canvas. I always leave a small margin around the edge of my design, just to be safe that it won’t get cut off.

Then I duplicated my image twice and used the Alignment tools on the left to make sure the three images were center aligned.

Now that is great, but I have quite a bit of extra space. I will always try and fill in space with other images, even if I am not planning on using them at that time. I have a big folder of all sorts of prints that I can use for smaller projects or future examples. So for this one, I am going to fit more images on this page by rotating them.

Now you can see that I’ve used the entire sheet and I haven’t wasted any space!

Now we’re going to export this Canvas of many designs into one single PNG file. Click Share in the upper right. Then keep the sizing where you have it and choose “transparent background” (remember, you should have removed any white backgrounds above using the background remover tool).

Then click download! Now you can use this file to print at home!

Making an 22″ x 84″ Gang Sheet for Uploading to a Transfer Company

For this project, I am using Ninja Transfers as an example, but there are a ton of transfer companies out there that all function similarly. The main difference between this gang sheet and the one above is the size. Most people do not have a big enough printer to make a 22″ x 84″ gang sheet at home, and I wanted to show you the process of uploading your file to a transfer company.

We’re going to start by going to Ninja Transfers and clicking on the DTF Transfers dropdown. Here you’ll see three options. Printing individual DTF transfers, using their gang sheet builder (another good option!) or uploading your print-ready gang sheet. Choose the third option.

You’ll be taken to the DTF Gang Sheet page. Here, you’ll see some options for sizing below the upload box, starting at 2 feet and going all the way up to 30 feet. Things get less expensive the longer your gang sheet!

Now there is one limitation to using Canva to print your designs and that is the size. The maximum size of a Canva document is 83.328″ tall. 7 feet is 84″ so this really is the maximum size you’ll be able to make using Canva. If you want to make a larger gang sheet, you’ll have to use a different program, like Adobe Illustrator or use their gang sheet uploader.

I’m going to make a 7-foot gang sheet, but you could also do 2 or 5 feet using this method.

Because 84″ is too tall for the height, choose 83.328. This is very close to 84″—you’re only losing about half an inch at the bottom.

Then upload your files in the same manner as above, trying to fit what you can on your sheet. The nice thing about the 22″ width is that you can fit two 11″ designs side by side if you’d like. Perfect for adult tees and totes!

Now when I zoom out in Canva using the zoom slider at the bottom, you can see my entire 7-foot gang sheet. The “summer camp squad” image is the same size on both gang sheets I designed, but you can see just how much more I can fit on a larger gang sheet!

We’re going to export in the same way, by going to Share in the top right and choosing transparent background.

Then we can upload our file to Ninja Transfers. You can see here how it looks. If you see any white boxes around your images, make sure to go back to Canva and remove the background from those images because white WILL print for DTF transfers.

One other cool thing about ordering from a place like Ninja Transfers is that they have more options for film styles. So instead of just clear film, you can choose other styles like glitter or glow in the dark.

For this one, I did not get it printed because it was just an example for the sake of this post. But I have used this process so many times to order transfers for my side hustle shop Chapter and Craft! Getting these larger gang sheets means I can pack them full of designs and save money in the printing process!

If you have any questions about creating a gang sheet in Canva, please let me know in the comments! If you found this post helpful, make sure to pin it and share it with friends!

The post How to Make a Gang Sheet in Canva appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.

I am completely in love with DTF transfers. I’ve used them on glasses, bookmarks, keychains, and more. They are way more durable than adhesive vinyl and you can get vivid, full-color transfers. You can see more in my post How to Use UV DTF Transfers.

But if there’s one thing they also are, it’s STICKY. UV DTF transfers are made to be really durable which means they have to adhere really well to your blank. The adhesive on a UV DTF transfer is very strong, so one you have it down on your glass, there’s no going back.

Which means that if you mess one up, fixing it isn’t super straightforward. Your transfer is definitely ruined and you may think your blank is as well.

But I’ve done some testing and I’ve found that it’s actually not too difficult to remove a UV DTF transfer from a hard surface, like glass or plastic. Let’s check out how to do it!

Watch the Video

Want to get a video overview how to remove a UV DTF transfer? Just hit play below! Or keep reading for a written tutorial.

For this tutorial, I am using a glass can wrap where I messed up the seam. Not only was it not even, but I tore the transfer pretty significantly.

Step 1: Soak in Hot Water with Soap

Step one is get a large pot of water boiling. I like having enough water in my pot to cover all or most of the transfer. Once it’s boiling, remove from the stove and dribble in a bit of dish soap. I used Dawn specifically because it’s designed to break down oils and adhesives. Stir the pot gently—you don’t need to create a ton of bubbles.

Then remove the lid and straw, and soak your tumbler. I did about 10 minutes and then used tongs to rotate my glass so the other side was facing down.

Remove from the hot water using tongs and allow it to cool for a minute or two.

Step 2: Scrape Off the Transfer

Depending on the brand of transfer you’ve used, this may be easy or difficult.

Place your cooled tumbler on a paper towel. Using a Cricut scraper or another type of scraper (I am using the one that came with my Goo Gone order…it’s great!), scrape off the transfer. Depending on the brand of transfer, this may be easy or difficult. Mine was relatively easy for most of it.

Step 3: Soak in Hot Water with Soap Again

If you still have pieces of the transfer that don’t want to scrape off, I suggest soaking again For some reason, a bit of mine didn’t want to scrape off so I put it back in my soapy water for another 10 minutes. I didn’t bother to reheat the water—it was still really hot.

Remove from the hot water using tongs and allow it to cool for a minute or two.

Step 4: Scrape Off the Transfer Again

Now try scraping again. You should be able to get most of the transfer off. If you have a particularly stubborn transfer, try soaking overnight—you won’t hurt the glass!

Then wash, rinse, and dry your glass, removing any traces of soap.

Step 5: Use GooGone

If you have any residue at all, GooGone is my favorite adhesive remover. Add some GooGone to a microfiber cloth and work it over your residue. If necessary, you can also let the transfer with with some GooGone on top of it and the GooGone should eat its way through that adhesive.

Step 6: Final Wash

Wash your glass one more time. You can use the dishwasher, if you’d like (don’t wash the lid or the straw!). Basically you want to make sure there is no remaining GooGone or soap on your tumbler.

Step 7: Use Again!

Once you’ve fully cleaned your glass, you can use it again with another UV DTF transfer!

I hope you found this tutorial helpful! If you have any questions or need help troubleshooting, let me know in the comments!

Print

HOW TO REMOVE A UV DTF TRANSFER FROM GLASS

UV DTF transfers are great, but if you apply one incorrectly they are hard to get off! Here's how to remove a UV DTF transfer from glass easily, so you can use your blank with another transfer!

Author Cori George

Equipment

• Cricut scraper
• Goo Gone
• Large Pan
• Dawn Dishwashing Soap
• Paper Towels
• Tongs

Instructions

• For this tutorial, a glass can wrap is being used where the seam was messed up. Not only was it not even, but the transfer tore pretty significantly.
  
• Step 1: Soak in Hot Water with Soap

  Step one is get a large pot of water boiling. Put enough water in the pot to cover all or most of the transfer. Once it's boiling, remove from the stove and dribble in a bit of dish soap. Dawn was used, specifically because it's designed to break down oils and adhesives. Stir the pot gently—you don't need to create a ton of bubbles.
  
• Then remove the lid and straw, and soak your tumbler. for about 10 minutes and then use tongs to rotate the glass so the other side is facing down.
  
• Remove from the hot water using tongs and allow it to cool for a minute or two.
  
• Step 2: Scrape Off the Transfer

  Depending on the brand of transfer you've used, this may be easy or difficult.

  Place your cooled tumbler on a paper towel. Using a Cricut scraper or another type of scraper (Use the one that came with the Goo Gone order…it's great!), scrape off the transfer.
  
• Depending on the brand of transfer, this may be easy or difficult. This one was relatively easy for most of it.
  
• Step 3: Soak in Hot Water with Soap Again

  If you still have pieces of the transfer that don't want to scrape off, soak it again For some reason, this one didn't want to scrape off so put it back in the soapy water for another 10 minutes. Didn't bother to reheat the water—it was still really hot.

  Remove from the hot water using tongs and allow it to cool for a minute or two.
• Step 4: Scrape Off the Transfer Again

  Now try scraping again. You should be able to get most of the transfer off. If you have a particularly stubborn transfer, try soaking overnight—you won't hurt the glass!

  Then wash, rinse, and dry your glass, removing any traces of soap.
  
• Step 5: Use GooGone

  If you have any residue at all, GooGone is the favorite adhesive remover. Add some GooGone to a microfiber cloth and work it over your residue. If necessary, you can also let the transfer with with some GooGone on top of it and the GooGone should eat its way through that adhesive.
  
• Step 6: Final Wash

  Wash your glass one more time. You can use the dishwasher, if you'd like (don't wash the lid or the straw!). Basically you want to make sure there is no remaining GooGone or soap on your tumbler.
• Step 7: Use Again!

  Once you've fully cleaned your glass, you can use it again with another UV DTF transfer!
  

The post How to Remove a UV DTF Transfer from Glass appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.

If there’s one thing I can tell you how to do on my channels, it’s how to decorate a t-shirt. T-shirt decoration has gone from the realm of handcrafting using tie-dye and puff paint to a huge world filled with technology. And much of that technology is becoming easier and easier for the everyday crafter to access.

But each type of technology has its advantages and disadvantages. And it’s important to know what you can do—and what you can’t do—with each type of t-shirt decorating method.

So in today’s post, we’re going to be comparing four different types of decorating methods: HTV (heat-transfer vinyl), sublimation printing, DTF (direct to film) printing, and white toner printing. These are all topics I’ve covered here on my blog and on my YouTube channel, but I’ve never done a big direct comparison of all four. I’ve linked to a lot of other tutorials through this post, if you’d like more information.

Watch the Video

Want to get a video overview all of these processes? Just hit play below! Or keep reading for a written overview.

The Best T-Shirts for Decorating

You all know that I am a HUGE fan of BELLA+CANVAS tees, so that’s what I’m using in my examples for t-shirt decorating in this post. I love that their tees are so soft and come in a wide range of colors and styles. I also love that they have eco-friendly business practices that make me feel confident in using their garments. They are the preferred tee of many small businesses as well as customers!

Check out their new HEAVY line, which features heavy-weight tees. These tees have a more boxy shape which is super trendy right now!

Did you know you can buy BELLA+CANVAS garments at wholesale pricing without a reseller license? Get a BELLA+CANVAS Maker’s Account! This account allows you access to the wholesale side of their business without the need for any permits or licenses. Even better? It’s free! Learn more in my post Buying Wholesale Blanks without a Resale License!

For sublimation, I am using a 100% polyester tee from another brand. This is because BELLA+CANVAS tees are primarily cotton so they don’t sublimate well. I did try sublimating their EcoMax tee, which worked pretty well, but I wanted to show what 100% polyester can do when it comes to color and vibrancy.

Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)

Heat transfer vinyl is a heat-activated transfer product that is cut on a cutting machine (like a Cricut or Silhouette) and then applied to a garment or other soft textile using a heat press. You may also hear this referred to as iron-on vinyl. It usually comes on a roll or in sheets. The most popular type of HTV is solid colors, but there are specialty HTVs, including patterned, holographic, glitter, etc.

HTV Process

Many crafters start with HTV if they get a cutting machine. You’ll create a design or use a design that has already been created. Your cutting machine will cut out your HTV. Then you’ll use a special tool called a weeding hook to remove the excess material so that only your design remains. The final step is to apply the HTV to a garment using a heat press or even a household iron.

HTV works best on garments and other soft textiles, however you can also use it on wood, canvas, and paper, making it somewhat versatile.

You can see the results of using the Plant Mom file on this BELLA+CANVAS dark gray heather tee. The single color pops off the dark gray shirt. A single color is cute, but wait until you see the more colorful versions below.

HTV Advantages

There are many advantages to using HTV, especially for beginners.

• It’s very easy to get started if you have a cutting machine and there are an incredible number of tutorials online for using HTV.
• Compared to the cost of the printers I’ll discuss in this post, a cutting machine and HTV are relatively inexpensive.
• It’s is great for making one-off projects, like a shirt for your kid’s school spirit day or matching shirts for a family reunion.
• With proper application and care, you can get up to 50 washes out of some HTV.
• Can be used on dark colors and most fabrics, including cotton, polyester, and blends. There are specialty versions like Stretch HTV for fabric with more stretch.
• Low time/temp brands, like Gimme5 from B-Flex, are particularly quick and easy to press.

HTV Disadvantages

Of course, no product is perfect so here are the disadvantages to using HTV.

• Cutting can be time-consuming, especially for detailed designs.
• Weeding can be time-consuming, especially for detailed designs.
• The HTV sits on top of the fabric and depending on the brand, can have a “bulky” feel.
• If not applied or cared for correctly, HTV can crack and peel up.
• You are limited to the colors and styles of HTV found on the market.
• Designs are usually single-color, though you can layer.

Best Uses for HTV

HTV is best for at-home users who want to cut and apply simple designs and text. While you can start a business using HTV, it does best for small-scale production. As your business grows, you will probably want to look at one of the following t-shirt decorating methods.

Sublimation Printing

Sublimation is a printer craft. You print out a design using a printer with sublimation ink and then you’ll use a heat press to transfer the design from the paper onto your substrate.

Sublimation can be used for way more than just garments. It’s a huge industry that just hit the at-home crafter a few years ago and many companies have taken advantage of the boom by creating fun and innovative sublimation blanks. You can find sublimation shirts, onesies, hoodies, hats, aprons, flags, mugs, tumblers, coasters, tiles, bookmarks, jewelry, pens, ornaments, and more.

There are two things you need for a substrate to work for sublimation: at least 65% polyester content or a poly coating on a hard blank, as well as a light color. The poly content allows the sublimation process to take place. And the light blank is because the ink is actually transparent. So putting it on a dark tee causes it to basically disappear.

Sublimation Process

The sublimation process is simple. Print out your design using a printer with sublimation ink (you can buy a sublimation-specific printer or you can convert a regular Epson EcoTank). Clean your substrate and tape your design face down. Then use a heat press to transfer the design to your blank.

Sublimation Advantages

Sublimation solves many of the problems that people have with HTV, while creating a few new ones. Let’s look at the advantages of sublimation first.

• Bright, vibrant full-color prints.
• A huge variety of blanks and new blanks hit the market daily.
• Compared to the other printing methods, you can get started with sublimation relatively inexpensively. You just need a sublimation printer and a heat press.
• The design becomes part of the substrate—you can’t feel it on the surface
• It’s extremely durable and washable. It will never crack or peel.
• It allows for all-over printing if you have the right equipment.
• No messy process.

Sublimation Disadvantages

I think the advantages of sublimation are some of the best, but the disadvantages might also help you decide whether or not its’s right for you.

• It’s limited to polyester and poly-coated surfaces. Not everyone wants to wear polyester garments.
• Dark-colored garments aren’t suitable for sublimation. Not everyone wants to wear white.
• It can smell. For some reason, sublimation tends to have sort of a fishy smell that some people find off-putting. It’s only while pressing, however—the final project doesn’t smell.

Best Uses for Sublimation

Sublimation is great for everyone from an at-home crafter with a converted printer to huge sublimation businesses running enormous printers and presses. If you are tired of HTV peeling and cracking and you want to make gorgeous full-color designs at a reasonable price at home, sublimation might be right for you.

Sublimation is also good for small businesses because you can easily make professional-level products at home. Being able to make a wide variety of projects can also be a great advantage for small businesses using sublimation.

DTF (Direct to Film) Printing

DTF printing is a printing method for transferring full color designs onto a variety of soft substrates, like t-shirts, tote bags, hats, and more. It involves printing your design onto a special film, applying and curing a powder adhesive, and then transferring the design onto your blank using a heat press.

DTF printing allows you to create vibrant, detailed, and durable custom apparel and other projects. The direct-to-film transfers are thin and soft and are really nice to the touch. It’s a super easy press, the peel is easy, and the feel of the transfers is so soft compared to HTV.

And because DTF printers use white ink, you can use these prints on any color garment, and you can use it on most fabric contents. This is definitely an advantage over sublimation, however DTF really only works on soft blanks. I’ve tested it on hard blanks and the only one I had good luck with was wood.

DTF Process

The process for DTF printing is much more involved than HTV or sublimation printing. You’ll use a specialized printer to print your design on film. Then you’ll carefully “powder” the wet ink by sifting a powdered adhesive over the wet ink. That adhesive then needs to be cured in a specialized oven. But after all of that, the press is super easy!

There are two ways you might go about DTF printing—having a printer in your home or ordering DTF prints online. Obviously the advantages and disadvantages will be different for these two options, so I’m going to do them both.

Ordering DTF Print Advantages

• No need to own an expensive printer.
• Easy to order from a wide variety of sites online.
• Transfers are ready to press.
• Bright, vibrant full-color prints.
• Works on a variety of fabrics, including cotton.
• Suitable for both light and dark fabrics.
• Soft feel when transferred.
• DTF prints can last 50 to 100 washes when applied properly.

Ordering DTF Print Disadvantages

• Time! You have to wait for your order to be printed and shipped to you before you can use the prints.
• Prints can be expensive.

Owning a DTF Printer Advantages

• Ability to print what you want, when you want.
• Bright, vibrant full-color prints.
• Works on a variety of soft materials, including cotton.
• Suitable for both light and dark fabrics.
• Soft feel when transferred.
• Good stretch to transfer.
• DTF prints can last 50 to 100 washes when applied properly.
• Great for small businesses.

Owning a DTF Printer Disadvantages

• There are safety concerns you’ll want to consider.
• Overall it’s a messy process that involves wet ink and powder.
• Takes up quite a bit of space for the printer, powdering station, and oven.
• The printer is expensive and requires a lot of maintenance.
• The printer can be temperamental and difficult to use.
• There’s a learning curve to get optimal results.
• Printing is slower than the other printing methods I discuss here.
• Software only works with Windows-based computers.
• Only good for soft textiles.

Best Uses for DTF

Owning a DTF printer is probably not for an at-home crafter who only wants to print occasionally. Because the printer requires nearly daily maintenance, owning a printer is better for small businesses that need a steady number of prints. But if you do have a small business, investing in a DTF printer setup might be great for creating both prints to use on all sorts of garments, as well as selling the prints themselves.

If you just want to give DTF a try without buying a printer, I would definitely order DTF prints from a DTF print seller! This is what I do.

White Toner Printing

White toner printing is similar to DTF printing in that you can print full-color images on film for use on most fabrics and all colors. The difference is in how the adhesive is applied. With white toner printing, instead of adding the adhesive as a powder, you combine your printed transfer with an adhesive sheet in a heat press.

White toner printing allows you to create vibrant, detailed, and durable custom apparel and other projects, including hard blanks and even things like mylar balloons. White toner transfers are thin and soft and are really nice to the touch. The feel of the transfers is so soft compared to HTV.

Process

Let’s look at the white toner process in more detail. Using a special toner-based printer (toner is powder vs. ink which is liquid), you’ll print your design. The printer is very fast and the ink is dry when it comes out of the printer. You’ll use your heat press to then “marry” your print with a sheet of adhesive in your heat press. The pressing itself is fairly simple as well—a press in your heat press and then a second press with a finishing sheet.

White Toner Advantages

• Bright, full-color prints.
• Works on a variety of fabrics, including cotton.
• Suitable for both light and dark fabrics.
• Can be used on more than just soft textiles, including hard blanks.
• Soft feel when transferred.
• White toner prints can last up to 50 washes when applied properly.
• Great for small businesses.
• Safer than DTF printing.
• No messy process.
• Takes up minimal space.

White Toner Disadvantages

• White toner printing tends to be the most expensive option of the bunch.
• Learning curve when it comes to the marrying process and pressing.
• Software only works with Windows-based computers.
• No black ink and it’s hard to get the blackest blacks using just cyan, magenta, and yellow.
• Transfers are less stretchy and may break down over time.

Best Uses for White Toner Printing

Because a white toner printer is expensive, the everyday at-home crafter is probably not the ideal customer. These printers are more for small businesses that want to make a wide variety of projects. That being said, if you have a big budget, then a white toner printer is much easier to have in your home than a DTF printer

What is the Best Method for T-Shirt Decorating?

As you can see, there are pros and cons with every method in this post. There really is no one-size fits all method that I think is the best. I personally have several Cricut machines for HTV, two sublimation printers, a white toner printer, and I order DTF transfers often. It really depends on what type of project I want to make, the amount of time I have, and what supplies I have on hand.

Take a look at what you want to do. If you want to make vibrant, full-color images without spending a lot of money, maybe a sublimation printer is for you. If you want to expand your thriving small business, a DTF or white toner printer might be a good option.

One nice thing is that you can order pretty much all of these types of transfers online at places like Etsy. You can order yourself an HTV transfer, a sublimation print, a DTF print, and a white toner print and do your own comparison to see what you like best.

I hope you found this comparison between t-shirt decorating methods helpful! If you have any questions about the methods I share here or other methods, please leave those down in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer them.

The post T-Shirt Decorating: HTV vs. Sublimation vs. DTF vs. White Toner appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.

I’ve talked a bit about DTF printing here, but there is also another technology that is similar but also totally different: UV DTF. While DTF printing is designed for soft blanks like garments, UV DTF is like a very strong sticker that works well on hard surfaces. Both are printed on a film (DTF = direct to film), but that’s basically where the similarities end.

In today’s post, I’m going to talk about UV DTF printing and how to make a project using transfers you’ve ordered. If you want to learn more about regular DTF printing, see The Beginner’s Guide to DTF Printing.

Watch the Video

Want to get a video overview of DTF vs. UV DTF? Just hit play below! Or keep reading for a written tutorial.

What is UV DTF Printing?

UV DTF is a printing process where the printer prints onto a film. And adhesive is then cured (by the manufacturer) to the back using UV light. The film with the printed design can then transferred onto a hard substrate like glass, metal, or plastic. The UV curing process ensures that the image has vibrant colors and good durability, making it suitable for high-quality, long-lasting prints on various materials.

The top layer is glossy, which may be a downside to those of you who want a matte finish to your stickers and decals. I’m hoping that a matte finish will be available soon from some suppliers since I know many folks want that option!

The back of a UV DTF transfer is white. This is because a layer of white is added to all stickers to make the colors pop. Without that white layer, your sticker would most likely look really muddy when applied to a darker colored blank. You can use these transfers on any color blank—a black water bottle? Yes! A pink keychain? Yes!

The adhesive is STRONG on UV DTF transfers and may require a bit of a learning curve. I’ll talk a bit more about this later in this post.

What Can UV DTF Transfers Be Used On?

When thinking about a UV transfer, you’ll want to think about hard blanks. These apply sort of like adhesive vinyl (though they are much more durable) so anything that you might use with adhesive vinyl should work with UV DTF. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Mugs
• Tumblers and water bottles
• Glass cans
• Phone and earbud cases
• Laptops, tablets, e-readers
• Bookmarks (plastic, acrylic, metal)
• Ornaments (plastic, acrylic, metal, ceramic)
• Keychains (plastic, acrylic, metal)
• Tumbler toppers
• Window decals

You can even use these transfers on projects that will be in the sun because they are UV resistant!

Designs

You can turn just about any image into a UV DTF transfer, but I did want to show one issue I had. I wanted to do a full cup wrap of a bookshelf. But I struggled to get my transfer to line up perfectly on the back. I tried three different times and each time it wasn’t straight.

So if you want to do cup wraps or other projects where precision is important, you may want to choose an image like the one I have for you for free today. Instead of needing to line up perfectly, the floating elements can be off just a bit and it will still look good.

Ordering a UV DTF Transfer

There are many places that offer UV DTF transfers. I ordered from Ninja Transfers and that’s what I’ll show here, but the process is similar with most places you might order from.

On the Ninja Transfers website, there are a few ways to order UV DTF transfers, including using a gang sheet. This is where you have more than one design on a single sheet. I will be doing a whole post soon about creating a gang sheet that you can upload, so stay tuned for that.

But for this post, we’re just going to stick to ordering transfers individually by size.

On this page, upload your file. I’m uploading the Half Teacher, Half Coffee file I designed that you can get above, but you could upload any image. You will want your image to have a transparent background or else it will print white.

Because this was a special size for my particular project, I chose custom size. But if you are uploading more of a single image to use like a sticker, then there are also popular sizes to choose from.

Then you can select the number of prints you want. Mine are a little expensive because they are a custom size and quite large. This is where a gang sheet might make things cheaper! Ordering in bulk also lowers the price.

UV DTF Transfer Application

Once you have your prints, it’s time to apply them to your blank! You don’t need any other transfer tape or anything to apply your UV DTF transfer to your blank.

If you’ve ordered more than one transfer, cut them apart using scissors.

With your Ninja Transfers order, you should get a felt-wrapped scraper. If you used another printer and you don’t have one of these scrapers, you can get a felt-wrapped scraper on Amazon. You can also wrap a piece of felt around a Cricut scraper or credit card.

Clean Your Surface

It’s very important that we start with a very clean surface. A lint roller is not enough. You’ll want to use alcohol and a microfiber cloth to pick up any oils, fingerprints, or other things that can get in the way of good adhesion. Allow the alcohol to dry fully before proceeding.

Sticker Application

If your top laminate has any bubbles, run the scraper over the top to make sure that top layer is smooth.

For smaller applications like a sticker, you can just peel off the white backing piece. The inked layer should stick to that clear laminate piece.

Then you can just apply similarly to a vinyl decal. Locate your sticker where you want it, noting that the adhesive is VERY strong. Once you set it down, it’s going to be stuck, so get it right the first time.

Burnish it with the scraper to make sure everything is adhered.

Peel back the clear liner. The liner is very strong and you may need to pull hard—be careful that your transfer is fully stuck down or you can rip it. Peel back against the surface of your blank, vs. pulling up and away from the blank.

See below for troubleshooting tips if your transfer rips.

That’s it!

Wrap Application

If your top laminate has any bubbles, run the scraper over the top to make sure that top layer is smooth.

I’m doing a tumbler wrap so I am going to use the hinge method. I started by taping my transfer to my cup with the backing still on.

Then peel off just one side and cut the backing away from maybe an inch of your wrap.

Making sure your wrap is as straight as possible, place down the edge of the wrap. This stuff is STICKY so you have to get it right the first time. There’s no peeling it up and putting it back down.

Then carefully pull the backing away as you use the scraper to apply the sticker to the surface. Work your way around the cup slowly. Burnish it with the scraper and your fingers.

Then carefully peel back the clear liner. The liner is very strong and you may need to pull hard—be careful that your transfer is fully stuck down or you can rip it. Peel back against the surface of your blank, vs. pulling up and away from the blank.

If your transfer tears, see below for troubleshooting it.

That’s it!

Troubleshooting

I have now done about 150 UV transfers for a craft fair, mostly on keychains and bookmarks. I’ve got the process down, and yet I still occasionally have times when I am peeling back my transfer and it tears.

I have been able to save 100% of my projects by watching the peeling process closely so I can see where the transfer tears as I go. If you see a bit of transfer that didn’t stick, carefully place it back down exactly where it goes. Then burnish with your scraper once again and carefully peel the backing away from the torn area. With this method, you won’t be able to see the rip at all!

UV DTF Transfer Wash Instructions

Many of these transfers say they are dishwasher safe, but there are a lot of people who have actually tried and ended up with a peeling transfer. So my recommendation is to hand wash anything that has a UV DTF transfer.

Pros and Cons

Let’s look at an overview of the pros and cons of using a UV DTF Transfer!

Print

HOW TO USE UV DTF TRANSFERS

UV DTF is a great way to decorate all sorts of hard blanks! Follow the instructions to learn how to do the Wrap Application using this Free Half Teacher Half Coffee design!

Keyword UV DTF Transfers

Author Cori George

Equipment

• felt-wrapped scraper
• rubbing alcohol
• Microfiber cloth

Ingredients

• blank of your choice
• Free Half Teacher / Half Coffee UV DTF File #S36

Instructions

• UV DTF Transfer Application

  Once you have your prints, it's time to apply them to your blank! You don't need any other transfer tape or anything to apply your UV DTF transfer to your blank.

  If you've ordered more than one transfer, cut them apart using scissors.

  With your NInja Transfers order, you should get a felt-wrapped scraper. If you used another printer and you don't have one of these scrapers, you can get a felt-wrapped scraper on Amazon. You can also wrap a piece of felt around a Cricut scraper or credit card.
• Clean Your Surface

  It's very important that we start with a very clean surface. A lint roller is not enough. You'll want to use alcohol and a microfiber cloth to pick up any oils, fingerprints, or other things that can get in the way of good adhesion. Allow the alcohol to dry fully before proceeding.
  
• Wrap Application

  If your top laminate has any bubbles, run the scraper over the top to make sure that top layer is smooth.
  
• For this project, the design is for a tumbler wrap so the hinge method will be used.
  
• Start by taping the transfer to the cup with the backing still on.
  
• Then peel off just one side and cut the backing away from maybe an inch of your wrap.
  
• Making sure your wrap is as straight as possible, place down the edge of the wrap. This stuff is STICKY so you have to get it right the first time. There's no peeling it up and putting it back down.
  
• Then carefully pull the backing away as you use the scraper to apply the sticker to the surface. Work your way around the cup slowly. Burnish it with the scraper and your fingers.
  
• Then carefully peel back the clear liner. The liner is very strong and you may need to pull hard—be careful that your transfer is fully stuck down or you can rip it. Peel back against the surface of your blank, vs. pulling up and away from the blank.
  
• That's it!
  

The post How to Use UV DTF Transfers appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.

DTF (direct-to-film) printing is taking the crafting world by storm. There are several companies that offer smaller DTF printers designed for home or small business use (see my review of the Prestige A4) which means that more and more everyday crafters and small businesses are jumping on the DTF train.

But with this new printing technology come a lot of safety concerns that I don’t think we as an industry are taking seriously enough. This includes my own content on DTF printing so far. When I learned to use a DTF printer, we took some safety precautions, but I want to expand upon those in this post.

I’ve spoken with some professionals and others who are taking the safety concerns seriously. I will caveat all of this by saying I am not a doctor, scientist, or a safety professional. Any DTF crafting you do is done at your own risk, even with the precautions I talk about in this post.

Watch the Video

Want to see me go over all of these tips in a video? Just hit play below! Or keep reading for a written explanation.

What’s So Great About DTF Printing?

Why do we even go to the trouble to do DTF printing if there are safety concerns? To be frank, DTF transfers are awesome.

They fill in a gap in between other transfer types. They are full-color, unlike most HTV, and require no cutting or weeding. They can be used on any color and most types of fabric, unlike sublimation which requires a lighter colored fabric and a polyester count of 65% or higher. DTF printers are generally less expensive than white toner printers (which give you similar results) and lots of companies are starting their own custom DTF transfer businesses so they are easy to order online.

For me, they allow me to easily and quickly make shirts in way that just so much slower and more tedious with other methods. Pressing a DTF transfer is super easy and the results last 50 to 100 washes when applied properly.

And I can use my favorite brand of shirts, BELLA+CANVAS. I really love sublimation printing, but after a while, I wanted to be able to use cotton and dark colors. When I started ordering DTF prints, I realized I could really dig into my BELLA+CANVAS stash and make shirts that are so much softer and more breathable than polyester shirts. Not to mention I could use their full range of colors!

Did you know you can buy BELLA+CANVAS garments at wholesale pricing without a reseller license? Get a BELLA+CANVAS Maker’s Account! This account allows you access to the wholesale side of their business without the need for any permits or licenses. Even better? It’s free! Learn more in my post Buying Wholesale Blanks without a Resale License!

So DTF printing is awesome and I think the technology is going to improve and hopefully become more safe in the next few years (and I think the costs will come down). But we definitely need to talk about why DTF printing can be unsafe and what we can do to mitigate the risks.

Pressing DTF Prints

Most of my readers will only be ordering DTF prints and pressing them at home. The risk here is much lower than having a DTF printer in your home, where you would be working with wet inks and powdered and melted adhesives.

If you’re just pressing DTF prints, the primary precaution you want to take is increasing ventilation in your workspace. An open window with a fan blowing out and an air purifier work well together to increase air flow and reduce any fumes. This is the same as working with a sublimation printer or a laser machine and is generally easy to do for almost all crafters.

What Makes DTF Printing Unsafe?

Now let’s talk about safety for those of you who have an at-home DTF printer or are thinking about getting one. There are a few primary things that make the process of printing, powdering, and curing a DTF print unsafe.

For any products, you can always go looking for their safety data sheet, like this example for the the DTF powder I used with the Prestige A4.

Some inks and powders may say they are certified safe and nontoxic, but most things are not healthy to breathe in. For example, water is nontoxic, but if you breathe it into your lungs, you’re going to feel terrible or worse. Just because the TPU powder is formaldehyde free, for example, doesn’t mean we want it coating our lungs.

And if you read forums and on YouTube comments, you’ll see people who have all sorts of symptoms from not taking any precautions when working with DTF supplies (including cancer), so let’s err on the side of caution.

Solvent Ink

Solvent ink is used in DTF printing. Unlike the ink used in everyday printers, solvent inks can release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are harmful to breathe in. They may make you feel dizzy, give you a headache, or irritate your eyes. These inks can also irritate your skin.

Note that a mask doesn’t help with these fumes—they go right through because the particles are too small. You’ll want to see the ventilation section below, as well as the PPE section to avoid the solvent inks in your eyes or on your skin.

TPU Powder

The adhesive used in DTF printing is a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This is a microplastic—the same thing that we see warnings about in our oceans, foods, and even our bodies. You do not want to be breathing in plastics! The effects of exposure to microplastics hasn’t been fully studied, especially for kids and pets.

TPU powder is like fine sheetrock dust. And if you’ve ever had wall or plaster work done in your house, it will spread like sheetrock and plaster dust. It can be a nightmare.

Which means that TPU powder is nearly impossible to contain when using a DTF printer at home. You’ll want to basically take all the precautions below to help minimize how much TPU powder ends up where you don’t want it.

Curing Transfers

The curing process is a third place where you will find chemical compounds you don’t want to be breathing in, including isocyanate compounds. Basically you’ll need to use an oven to melt the TPU powder to the back of your transfer and during that process, chemical compounds are released. These compounds can be very irritating to your eyes, your lungs, and your gastrointestinal tract.

I see many at-home crafters using a heat press to cure DTF prints they’ve done a hacked printer. Other than trying to increase ventilation, there’s no way to contain these fumes. This is why I always recommend getting a curing oven and changing the filter regularly.

DTF Printing Safety Precautions

Here’s how we can limit most (but probably not all) of the risks of DTF printing at home.

Equipment

There is a combined piece of equipment that can really help contain the harmful substances we’re talking about here. I haven’t tried it myself (since the DTF printer I was using is not mine), but I think it looks really promising.

The Miro 13 is a combined powdering and drying/curing machine. It basically combines the hand-powdering and DTF curing oven into a single machine with HEPA and charcoal filtration. You can connect it directly to your Prestige A4, meaning that as you print, your prints are automatically fed into the Miro 13 and finished for you.

This drastically reduces the amount of TPU powder and fumes that are just floating around in your space. You will still need to load the machine so the amount of powder escaping into the air is not zero, but it’s a lot less than it would be with the hand-powdering method. While filling the machine, wear PPE as described below.

And in addition to being safer, it reduces the amount of space you need for DTF printing and of course reduces the mess.

Of course, this is an investment and not cheap (around $2000 in addition to the printer), but if you are doing DTF printing at home with something like the Prestige A4, you really may want to consider how much your health is worth.

You can also get a curing oven separately.

Ventilation

I talked about ventilation for pressing DTF prints you’ve ordered, but we need to take ventilation to another level if you’re printing at home. High volume ventilation is going the be the biggest thing you can do to limit your exposure.

The baseline is a high-quality box or floor fan (set to high) in a window blowing air out. You can add one blowing in as well, creating a cross breeze. Open your other windows and doors too if you’d like.

But my best advice is to do your DTF printing in your garage or shed—somewhere that limits the amount of powder and fumes that may work their way into your home. Open the garage or shed door and have a that powerful fan blowing air out. Think of it similarly to a woodshop where you’re creating a lot of fine particle wood dust. You don’t want to breathe that in either!

With the fan, you want to be able to feel a breeze in your craft space. An air purifier is good, but not strong enough to create that air flow. So combine that air purifier with a fan. The goal is if the powder gets in the air, that the fan will blow the powder outside instead of it going into your lungs or getting tracked into other parts of your home.

Access

You’ll also want to limit access to your DTF printing area, especially for children and pets. A lock on the door and/or locking up your TPU powders and solvent inks so that no one can access them but you.

PPE

You’ll also want to wear your personal protective equipment. Start with a tight-fitting N95 mask (a surgical mask is not good enough—the sides are not tight-fitting). An N95 should catch most if not all powder particles so you aren’t breathing them in. Ink solvent fumes and curing fumes are pretty much impossible to contain, so work on your ventilation to minimize those risks.

Add eye protection that includes a gasket or seal around the edge so the powder and chemical compounds do not get into your eyes. And wear disposable gloves to protect your hands.

For clothing, wear either a disposable lab gown or clothes that you designate for DTF printing only. One thing I wish I’d added when I was testing the DTF printer was a disposable hair cover. The powder definitely settled into my hair which mean that I was tracking it into parts of the house where I didn’t want it.

Once you’re done DTF printing, clean your workspace really well. Then make sure you shower and rinse of any powder that may have settled on other parts of your body.

Isn’t This Overkill?

Honestly, I don’t think so. The more I’ve learned about having an at-home DTF printer, the more concerned I’ve become with the safety risks, particularly when it comes to kids. Exposing yourself and forgoing precautions is one thing. You’re making that choice. But when it comes to your kids—they aren’t making that choice and their lungs are still developing. Don’t risk their health (or your health!) by minimizing the risks with “oh, everything will be fine!”

I think about it like asbestos. One-off exposure to TPU powder is most likely not going to cause any long-term damage to your body. But repeated exposure where your body doesn’t have time to expel it is where you are going to have issues. My grandpa actually died due to lung issues caused by asbestos and I don’t want to see that fate for anyone doing DTF printing without the proper safety precautions.

I hope you found this video on DTF printing safety helpful and not too scary! While there’s no way to eliminate every single risk (there really isn’t any way to do this in most things), you can significantly lower the risk to you and your family when doing at-home DTF printing.

The post Is DTF Printing Safe? appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.

I’ve been writing about DTF (direct-to-film) a bit lately, but while some folks are excited about this new printing technology, many people are like “nope, that’s not for me!” because the actual printer itself is expensive and requires a lot of maintenance.

But DTF transfers are so amazing that I want you to be able to try them out! Luckily, you can buy ready-to-press DTF transfers from a variety of sellers online. There are folks with DTF printers who sell custom transfers on Etsy, and there are now other companies, like Heat Transfer Warehouse, that will print and send you custom DTF transfers.

Today I’m going to walk you through the process of ordering and then pressing custom DTF transfers. I’ll be ordering from Heat Transfer Warehouse, but the pressing part of this tutorial works with any DTF transfers you might buy. I also learned of Limitless Transfers, which offers free shipping on some orders.

I also have this free varsity-style “literally freezing” PNG for you! Use it for DTF, sublimation, or however else you’d like!

Watch the Video

Want to see DTF printing in action? Hit Play below! Or keep reading for a written tutorial.

Ordering Custom DTF Transfers

You can order from many different places online, but I’m going to walk you through ordering from Heat Transfer Warehouse. It’s super easy!

To start, go to their navigation and go to Custom Transfers > Full Color DTF Transfers.

Note: For this order, I chose to create a gang sheet so I could fit multiple images on one sheet. I created my gang sheet design in Illustrator, but you could use other design tools such as Canva. Just be sure to size your design according to the specs you choose on the ordering website.

One quick note about gang sheets. There is an option to purchase gang sheets through Heat Transfer Warehouse. For example, if I needed to make 20 of these Literally Freezing shirts, I could have created a gang sheet order. This would allow me to create as many designs on one sheet as I needed. Often, it’s a bit cheaper to do it this way—especially if you have a small craft business. HTW offers the option of up to 17″ wide and any length you’d like for your gang sheet.

Choose your sheet size. I chose an 8.5″ x 11″ transfer. To determine the sheet size, you’ll want to measure your shirt or apparel item and determine how large you’d like the design to be.

You can ignore the reorder section (unless of course, this is a reorder of a previous order).

Upload your design file. Be aware of maximum file size, as well as the types of files accepted. Below you’ll see I also set a printed size in inches for my order. I chose 10″ because I wanted my design to be 10″ wide.

Finally, add to cart and check out!

BELLA+CANVAS Apparel

Now let’s talk a little more about the shirt I used for this tutorial. I grabbed the BELLA+CANVAS Unisex Sponge Fleece Pullover Hoodie. It’s so soft and cozy and warm!

This hoodie comes in multiple colors and fabrics, but all of the colors work for DTF transfers because DTF transfers work on a huge variety of fabrics (including 100% cotton, 100% polyester, and any mix of the two!). And because DTF transfers are backed in white ink, you can put them on any color, including black and the dark gray heather I am using for this project! You aren’t limited to white or light colors like you are with sublimation printing.

BELLA+CANVAS hoodies are a staple of my winter wardrobe and with DTF printing I can decorate them in so many ways!

Did you know you can buy BELLA+CANVAS garments at wholesale pricing without a reseller license? Get a BELLA+CANVAS Maker’s Account! This account allows you access to the wholesale side of their business without the need for any permits or licenses. Even better? It’s free! Learn more in my post Buying Wholesale Blanks without a Resale License!

Applying a DTF Transfer

You don’t need much to apply a DTF transfer! Just the transfer itself and a heat press. You may also want to have scissors on hand to cut your sheet if needed and a piece of parchment paper for the post-press.

Set your heat press to 325° at 15 seconds with medium pressure. Cut down the gang sheet if needed.

Place your garment on the base of the heat press. If you can, thread your garment so just the top layer of the garment is on the heat press. Then pre-press your garment for 10 seconds.

Add the DTF transfer to the garment, making sure it’s centered (see T-Shirt Ruler Comparison if you need help with placement on your shirt!). You do not need a cover sheet or anything for a DTF print. Press for 15 seconds.

Once the press is open grab the corner of the film and peel it back while it’s still warm. Peel it back in one quick go without pausing partway through, which can leave an unsightly line through your transfer.

Then do a post-press. If you are using a garment without a pocket, you can fold the bottom of the garment up to cover the DTF transfer and press for 10 seconds more. Because this garment has a pocket, though, I am going to use a piece of parchment paper and press for 10 seconds.

You can use a pressing cloth, but to make it easy, I just fold the bottom of my t-shirt on top of my DTF transfer and press for 10 more seconds to really adhere the transfer.

And that’s it! Your DTF transfer is ready to wear. I absolutely love the bright colors I get with these transfers and how they pop on dark colors!

I wash my garments inside out and so far the transfers have held up beautifully in the wash. When applied correctly, you should get 50 to 100 washes out of a DTF transfer!

Let me know if you plan to order DTF transfers for yourself! Once you’ve used them, you may be more inclined to get a DTF printer yourself!

Print

HOW TO ORDER & APPLY DTF TRANSFERS

Not ready to own a DTF (direct-to-film) printer? You can still get in on the DTF magic by ordering transfers and pressing them yourself! Here's how to order DTF transfers, and how to press them to a garment. It's quick and easy!

Author Cori George

Ingredients

• Free Literally Freezing PNG #S30
• Shirt or Hoodie 100% cotton, 100% polyester, and any mix of the two
• Parchment Paper

Instructions

• The following instructions will walk you through the process of ordering and then pressing custom DTF transfers. The ordering process part will be from Heat Transfer Warehouse, but the pressing part of this tutorial works with any DTF transfers you might buy. Limitless Transfers, also carries DTF transfers and offers free shipping on some orders.

  There is also a free varsity-style "literally freezing" PNG for you! Use it for DTF, sublimation, or however else you'd like!
• Ordering Custom DTF Transfers

  Ordering from Heat Transfer Warehouse:

  To start, go to their navigation and go to Custom Transfers > Full Color DTF Transfers.

  Note: For this order, a gang sheet was created to fit multiple images on one sheet. The gang sheet design was created in Illustrator, but you could use other design tools such as Canva. Just be sure to size your design according to the specs you choose on the ordering website.

  Another quick note about gang sheets. There is an option to purchase gang sheets through Heat Transfer Warehouse. For example, if you needed to make 20 of these Literally Freezing shirts, you could create a gang sheet order. This would allow you to create as many designs on one sheet as needed. Often, it's a bit cheaper to do it this way—especially if you have a small craft business. HTW offers the option of up to 17" wide and any length you'd like for your gang sheet.
  
• Choose your sheet size. I chose an 8.5" x 11" transfer. To determine the sheet size, you'll want to measure your shirt or apparel item and determine how large you'd like the design to be.
  
• You can ignore the reorder section (unless of course, this is a reorder of a previous order).

  Upload your design file. Be aware of maximum file size, as well as the types of files accepted. You can also set a printed size in inches for your order. For this project 10" was chosen because the design needed to be 10" wide.

  Finally, add to cart and check out!
  
• BELLA+CANVAS Apparel

  The BELLA+CANVAS Unisex Sponge Fleece Pullover Hoodie was used for this project.

  This hoodie comes in multiple colors and fabrics, but all of the colors work for DTF transfers because DTF transfers work on a huge variety of fabrics (including 100% cotton, 100% polyester, and any mix of the two!). And because DTF transfers are backed in white ink, you can put them on any color, including black and the dark gray heather being used for this project! You aren't limited to white or light colors like you are with sublimation printing.
  
• Applying a DTF Transfer

  You don't need much to apply a DTF transfer! Just the transfer itself and a heat press. You may also want to have scissors on hand to cut your sheet if needed and a piece of parchment paper for the post-press.
  
• Set your heat press to 325° at 15 seconds with medium pressure. Cut down the gang sheet if needed.
  
• Place your garment on the base of the heat press. If you can, thread your garment so just the top layer of the garment is on the heat press. Then pre-press your garment for 10 seconds.
  
• Add the DTF transfer to the garment, making sure it's centered (see T-Shirt Ruler Comparison if you need help with placement on your shirt!). You do not need a cover sheet or anything for a DTF print. Press for 15 seconds.
  
• Once the press is open grab the corner of the film and peel it back while it's still warm. Peel it back in one quick go without pausing partway through, which can leave an unsightly line through your transfer.
  
• Then do a post-press. If you are using a garment without a pocket, you can fold the bottom of the garment up to cover the DTF transfer and press for 10 seconds more. Because this garment has a pocket, though, I am going to use a piece of parchment paper and press for 10 seconds.
  
• You can use a pressing cloth, but to make it easy, just fold the bottom of the t-shirt on top of the DTF transfer and press for 10 more seconds to really adhere the transfer.

  And that's it! Your DTF transfer is ready to wear.

  Wash the garments inside out! When applied correctly, you should get 50 to 100 washes out of a DTF transfer!
  

The post How to Order DTF Transfers appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.