DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing is a process where designs are printed onto a special transfer film, coated with adhesive powder, and heat-pressed onto fabric. It creates vibrant, durable prints that work on cotton, polyester, blends, and more.

A gang sheet is a single sheet of DTF film that contains multiple designs arranged together for efficient printing and transfer. Instead of printing each design individually, multiple designs are "ganged up" on one sheet to maximize space and reduce costs.

How Gang Sheets Work:

• Multiple designs are arranged on one DTF film sheet

• Each design can be different sizes, colors, and styles

• After printing and curing, you cut apart the individual transfers

• Each piece can then be applied to separate garments

Benefits of Gang Sheets:

• Cost-effective: Lower per-design cost when printing multiple items

• Efficient: Less waste and faster production

• Flexible: Mix different designs, sizes, and quantities on one sheet

• Perfect for variety: Great for sample packs, small business inventory, or multiple custom orders

Gang Sheet Options:

• Use our online builder: Upload your designs and let us arrange them optimally

• Create your own: Design your own layout and upload the completed gang sheet

Example: You could have 5 small logos, 2 large graphics, and 3 text designs all on one gang sheet, then cut them apart and apply them to different garments as needed.

Print sizing is very user-specific to personal taste, but here are our shop's tried-and-tested recommendations:

Adult Sizing (Width):

• Standard S-XL: 10"-11" (with 10.5" being the sweet spot)

• Oversized 2XL-3XL: 12"

• 4XL and larger: 13"+ depending on application

Youth & Kids Sizing (Width):

• Youth: 8"

• Toddler: 6"

• Infant: 4"

Specialty Applications:

• Pocket/Left Chest: 3"

Don't Forget Height Considerations! Width isn't everything - pay attention to height restrictions too:

• Tall, skinny artwork may need height adjustments

• Hoodies require smaller height due to front pockets

• Overall proportions matter as much as width

Names and Numbers:

• Youth: 2" height for names, 6" height for numbers

• Adult: 3" height for names, 8" height for numbers

Pro Tip: Our online gang sheet builder includes a dedicated names and numbers option that automatically sizes everything correctly, making the process much easier!

Remember: These are starting points - always consider the specific garment, design style, and customer preferences when finalizing your print sizes.

DTF gang sheets are perfect for starting a custom apparel business with minimal investment! The beauty of DTF is that you need no expensive machinery beyond a basic heat press - making it incredibly accessible for new entrepreneurs.

Getting Started:

1. Order your DTF gang sheets from us with your custom designs

2. Purchase blank garments (t-shirts, hoodies, etc.)

3. Apply transfers using a heat press

4. Sell completed custom apparel to your customers

Don't Want to Buy Equipment? No problem! We can handle the entire process for you. Simply provide us with:

• Your DTF designs

• Blank garment specifications

• We'll print the DTF, source the blanks, press the transfers, and ship completed garments directly to you

Contact us for quotes on completed apparel services.

Expand Your Business: Once established, you can add other profitable services to your offerings:

• Custom stickers and decals

• Banners and signage

• Embroidered items

• Custom hats and accessories

• And many other products we produce

The Business Model: You focus on sales and customer service while we handle production and fulfillment. You sell the items, we make them and ship directly to you, then you deliver to your customers.

Ready to Start? Contact us for quotes on any of these services and let's build your custom business together!

DTF vs. Screen Printing: Unlike screen printing, DTF doesn't require screens or color separations, making it perfect for small runs and complex, full-color designs. While screen printing requires specialized equipment and setup for each color, DTF transfers only need a heat press—making it much more accessible and cost-effective for smaller orders.

DTF vs. Sublimation: DTF offers far more versatility than sublimation. DTF works on any fabric type, including 100% cotton, and prints beautifully on both dark and light garments. Sublimation, on the other hand, requires garments with at least 50% polyester content and only works on light-colored fabrics.

DTF vs. Vinyl: DTF transfers feel softer and more natural than vinyl, with excellent durability and the ability to capture fine details and gradients that vinyl simply can't achieve. Plus, there's no tedious weeding process—just print, powder, cure, and press!

The Bottom Line: DTF combines the best features of all these methods while eliminating their limitations, giving you professional results with minimal equipment and maximum flexibility..

Best File Types:

• Vector files (AI, PDF, SVG, EPS) - These provide the cleanest edges and can scale to any size without quality loss. If you use vector artwork ensure all font is converted to outlines to prevent any font issues.

• High-resolution PNG files with transparent backgrounds - Perfect for detailed designs and photographs

Quality Requirements: Low-quality files will result in blurry or pixelated prints, so resolution matters! Our online gang sheet builder automatically displays your image's DPI and warns you if quality is too low, helping you avoid disappointing results.

Gang Sheet Options:

• Using our online builder: Upload your individual designs and let our system optimize them

• Uploading completed gang sheets: We prefer vector artwork for best results in our own shop, but high-resolution PNG files with transparent backgrounds work equally well. In fact most of the DTF prints that we print are high quality PNG files.

Pro Tip: When in doubt, bigger is better! High-resolution files give you more flexibility and ensure crisp, professional-looking DTF Transfers every time.

Need help with your files? Send them over and we'll let you know if they're print-ready or need adjustments.

What is vector artwork and how can I identify it?

What is Vector Artwork: Vector artwork is made up of mathematical paths, points, and curves rather than pixels, which means it can be scaled to any size without losing quality—perfect for everything from business cards to billboards. Vector files are ideal for DTF printing because they produce crisp, clean lines and smooth colors.

Common Vector File Formats:

• AI (Adobe Illustrator)

• EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)

• SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)

• PDF (when created from vector programs)

Easy Identification Test: Zoom in closely on the edges of your artwork:

• Vector file: Edges remain smooth and crisp no matter how much you zoom

• Non-vector file: You'll see pixels or rough, jagged edges when zoomed in

Why Vector Matters for DTF: Vector files ensure your designs print with sharp, professional edges at any size, making them the gold standard for high-quality DTF transfers.

Don't have vector files? No problem! We can often recreate your design as vector artwork or work with high-resolution raster images (PNG, etc.) to achieve great results.

Common Misconception: Simply saving a non-vector file (like a PNG) with a vector file extension (like .SVG) does NOT create true vector artwork. The file remains pixel-based regardless of what you name it.

How File Conversion Actually Works:

• Vector to raster: ✅ You can save vector files as PNG, JPG, etc. (but you lose scalability)

• Raster to vector: ❌ Requires actual conversion/recreation, not just renaming the file

Why This Matters for DTF: True vector files can be scaled infinitely—from business card size to billboard size—without any quality loss. This flexibility is why we prefer vector artwork for all our DTF projects.

The Bottom Line: If you start with a pixelated image, changing the file extension won't magically make it vector. You need either:

1. Original vector artwork created in programs like Adobe Illustrator

2. Professional conversion of your raster image to true vector format

Need vector conversion? We can help recreate your designs as true vector artwork to ensure the best possible print quality at any size. Contact us for a quote.

Absolutely not! In fact, the majority of DTF printing we do uses PNG files, and they work fantastic as long as they're high-resolution with transparent backgrounds.

Why We Mention Vector Files: We recommend vector artwork not because it's required for DTF, but because it gives you incredible versatility for future projects. If you ever decide to expand into:

• Stickers or decals

• Banners and signs

• Screen printing

• Vehicle wraps

• Any large-format printing

Vector files can be scaled to match these requirements perfectly, making them a smart investment for your brand. Vector files will need all font to be converted to outline to prevent any font mismatches.

The Bottom Line: High-quality PNG files with transparent backgrounds are perfect for DTF printing and will give you excellent results. Vector files are simply a bonus that provides flexibility for other applications down the road.

Our Advice: Use what you have! Great PNG files = great DTF prints. If you're creating new artwork and want maximum flexibility for future projects, then consider vector format.

The most important factors for quality DTF printing are resolution and background Transparency.

Resolution Requirements: The ideal resolution is 300 DPI, though slightly lower can still work. Understanding how image size affects DPI is crucial:

• Shrinking images increases DPI - If you have a large PNG and reduce its size, the DPI improves

• Enlarging images decreases DPI - If you take a small PNG and increase its size, the DPI drops and quality suffers

Best Practice: Always purchase the largest file size available, even if it's bigger than you need, then scale it down to your desired size. This ensures maximum quality and flexibility. Avoid buying smaller files and trying to enlarge them unless the size increase is minimal.

Background Requirements: When purchasing PNG files, ensure they have transparent backgrounds. This allows your design to blend seamlessly with your garment color without unwanted background boxes or colors showing through.

Quick Tip: If you're unsure about your file quality, send it to us! We can assess whether it will print well or if adjustments are needed before production.

We print on three different film widths to optimize your costs and design layouts:

22.5" Width - Standard option, great for smaller designs and traditional layouts

24.5" Width - Our most popular choice! The extra 2" width can deliver significant cost savings by fitting larger designs side-by-side that would otherwise stack vertically on narrower film. For example, two 12" designs can fit across instead of stacking, potentially saving you 20-30% on material costs per job.

30.5" Width - Perfect for extra-large designs, wide banners, or maximizing small design quantities on a single sheet

Pro Tip: The 24.5" width often provides the best value. The improved layout efficiency frequently results in using less total material - meaning lower overall costs for your job. Many customers save $10-15+ per order by choosing 24.5" over 22.5" width.

Absolutely! We ship DTF gang sheets nationwide. Getting a shipping quote is easy - simply proceed to checkout, select "shipping," and input your address to see an accurate shipping cost for your order.

Our Shipping Approach: We don't use flat rate shipping because it often means you're overpaying for smaller orders. Instead, we charge only the actual shipping rate, which typically saves you money and ensures fair pricing.

Shipping Notes:

• The checkout shipping rates are specifically calculated for DTF gang sheets

• If you're ordering additional items like blank garments, completed apparel, stickers, or other products along with your gang sheets, please contact us directly for an accurate combined shipping quote

Local Pickup Available: If you're near our Calera, OK location, we also offer convenient 24/7 pickup via our lockbox system right outside our shop.

Questions? Need a shipping quote for a mixed order or have special shipping requirements? Just reach out and we'll provide a custom quote tailored to your specific needs.

Standard Press Settings (All Film Widths):

• Temperature: 325°F

• Pressure: Medium

• Time: 12 seconds for initial press

Two-Step Process for Best Results:

1. First Press: 325°F for 12 seconds at medium pressure

2. Remove film (see peel instructions below)

3. Second Press: 325°F for 5 seconds at medium pressure (no film)

The second press greatly improves the hand feel of the transfer!

Film-Specific Peel Instructions:

• 22.5" Film: Cold peel - Wait 10-15 seconds after pressing before removing the film

• 24.5" Film: Hot peel - Remove film immediately after pressing

• 30.5" Film: Hot peel - Remove film immediately after pressing

Pro Tip: The two-step pressing process is key to achieving that soft, professional feel that makes DTF transfers superior to many other decoration methods. Don't skip the second press - it makes a noticeable difference in quality!

Having Issues? If transfers aren't adhering properly, try increasing pressure slightly or extending the initial press time by 1-2 seconds. Contact us if you need troubleshooting help!

DTF transfers are extremely durable when properly applied and cared for. With our high-quality films and proper heat press application, you can expect:

• 50+ wash cycles with minimal fading when washed in cold water

• Excellent stretch and recovery - transfers move with the fabric without cracking

• Fade resistance - colors stay vibrant much longer than many other transfer methods

• Professional longevity - comparable to screen printing durability

For best results, wash inside-out in cold water, tumble dry on low heat, and avoid bleach or fabric softeners. The two-step pressing process we recommend (12 seconds + 5 second re-press) significantly improves adhesion and extends transfer life.

No minimum order required! You can order as little as a single transfer or as many as thousands. Our pay-by-the-inch pricing means you only buy exactly what you need.

Whether you're:

• Testing a design with just one transfer

• Starting small with 10-20 pieces

• Scaling up with hundreds for events or retail

• Going big with wholesale quantities

We accommodate any order size. Our gang sheet format makes small orders cost-effective since multiple designs can share one sheet, and our online builder optimizes layouts automatically to minimize waste and cost.

DTF transfers are incredibly versatile and work on a wide variety of fabrics and materials with excellent results:

Best Performing Fabrics:

• 100% Cotton - Excellent adhesion and soft hand feel

• Cotton/Polyester blends - Great durability and vibrant colors

• 100% Polyester - Superior color vibrancy and wash resistance

• Tri-blends - Combines the best of both worlds

Fabric Color Performance: DTF works equally well on both dark and light colored garments - no color restrictions! The white ink base layer ensures vibrant colors pop on any background, making it superior to sublimation which only works on light polyester.

Specialty Materials:

• Denim - Works great for custom patches and designs

• Canvas - Perfect for bags and heavy-duty applications

• Leather - Adheres well with proper heat press technique

• Nylon - Great for sports jerseys and activewear

Cotton vs. Polyester Differences:

• Cotton: Slightly softer feel, excellent for comfort-focused apparel

• Polyester: More vibrant colors, better wash resistance, ideal for activewear

• Blends: Best of both - great feel with enhanced durability

Materials to Avoid: Very stretchy fabrics (like spandex-heavy materials) and heat-sensitive synthetics may not be ideal.

Bottom Line: DTF transfers work on virtually any fabric you'd want to decorate, with no color limitations - making them the most versatile decoration method available!