Use our gang sheet builder & receive DTF transfers at Just £8.50 +VAT per linear metre. Free delivery on orders over £150 +VAT
FABRIC GUIDE
Which fabrics DTF transfers work on, and where they struggle
Our transfers go onto most garments and fabrics without any trouble. The one material to avoid is nylon, and here is what we would expect on the fabrics our customers press most often, where a test is worth running first, and what to check before a full run.
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The short version
Generally speaking, DTF transfers can be applied to most materials. Cotton is the most straightforward fabric we print for, plain polyester is fine with one adjustment at the press, and most blends sit somewhere between the two. The one material to avoid is anything containing nylon. Beyond that, the fabrics that need more care are coated, performance, stretch, and very coarse fabrics, and each of those is covered below.
Cotton and cotton blends
Cotton is the most straightforward thing we print on to, and a standard cotton T-shirt, polo shirt, hoodie, or sweatshirt is where our transfers are used most. There is nothing in the fabric itself to catch anyone out. If a print on cotton ever lifts, the cause is almost always in the pressing or in how the garment has been cared for since, rather than in the fabric.
Cotton-rich blends such as polycotton are generally no different. Where a blend is mostly polyester, treat it as polyester at the press, as described next.
Polyester, softshells, and hi-vis
Plain polyester does not normally cause any problems. Ordinary polyester softshell jackets, hi-vis vests, and poncho material all take our transfers well, as long as the fabric does not contain any nylon. The one thing to bear in mind is dye migration: polyester takes a lower press temperature than cotton, and the figure is on the instruction sheet that comes with every order. Please note that the lower figure is specifically for polyester, not the general setting, which is a point customers sometimes misread.
On hi-vis vests, please measure the garment before you build your sheet. When we print the back of a hi-vis vest ourselves, we would ordinarily go no wider than 220 mm, and a back print sized for a T-shirt is often too large for a vest.
Nylon: the one to avoid
DTF transfers should never be used on any material that has any nylon content. They do not adhere to nylon, however well they are pressed, and will start to flake off. If there is any nylon in the fabric at all, DTF cannot be used.
Nylon turns up in places you might not expect, including some gym wear, sports kit, and outerwear, often as part of a blend. We would always recommend checking the composition label of the garment before going ahead, and if the label is unclear, running a test before committing to the run.
Fabrics that need a test first
Anything with a waterproof or water-repellent coating can cause problems, so it is worth a test first.
Gym wear and stretch fabrics are something many of our customers print on, and generally speaking our transfers work well on them. As with any garment that is new to you, it is worth pressing a test first and giving it a stretch and a wash, so you know how it will hold up in normal use. Do check the label for nylon, though, as it is common in sportswear.
Very coarse or textured fabrics can also be tricky, so they are worth a test as well.
In every one of these cases our advice is the same: carry out a test on the actual garment you intend to use before committing to a full run, including stretching and washing it as it would be in normal use. That is the only way to know how the transfers will hold up on a specific garment.
Bags
Cotton tote bags, drawstring bags, and shopping bags are a common use for our transfers, and jute bags can be printed as well, with success. The thing that matters with any bag is pressure. The bag has to sit on the press so that the transfer receives good, firm, even pressure across its whole area, which usually means making sure that no seams or handles are being squashed in the press. As with any new material, we would encourage a test on a bag or two before committing to a customer's order.
What DTF transfers are not for
Our transfers are produced for application to garments and fabrics, not to hard surfaces. Stickers for glass, windows, or vehicles are a vinyl CAD-cut product, and a signage specialist would be the right place for those.
The transfers are also made for use with a commercial heat press, where temperature, pressure, and time can be held steady. Some customers have used a household iron, but we are not able to promise adhesion or durability when they are applied that way.
Not sure about a fabric? Ask before you order
If you are working with a garment that is not covered here, or a label that lists a blend you are unsure about, email us with the garment and its composition before you build your sheet and we will tell you what we would expect. That is an opinion rather than a promise, and a test on the actual garment is still the thing to do, but it may save a run that was never going to work.
We are also always happy to take a look over your artwork before it goes to print and let you know if we think anything will cause a problem. There is no charge for advising on artwork suitability. What we look for is on our Artwork requirements page.
Ordering
Know your garment? Use the gang sheet builder
If you already press our transfers on the fabric in question, upload your artwork to our online gang sheet builder, set the sizes and quantities you need, and check out. The file prints exactly as supplied, at the flat rate of £8.50 plus VAT per linear metre. Please remember that the grey background in the builder preview is not printed; it is only there so the transfers are visible on the page.
New fabric? Test first, then build
If the garment is new to you, request a free sample pack and press it on the actual garment, or email us at info@raptorprinters.co.uk with the garment and your artwork and we will tell you what we think. Once you are happy with how the transfers hold up, go back to the builder to place your order.
Full pricing is on our DTF Transfer Printing page.
Ready to order? Open the gang sheet builder.
If you already press our transfers on the fabric in question, upload your artwork to the builder and check out. If the garment is new to you, email us first and we will tell you what we would expect, with no charge for the advice. If you have not pressed our transfers before, request a free sample pack and test them on your own garments.
Open the gang sheet builder Email your artwork Request a free sample pack