Take your small business to the next level by ditching those sublimation transfers and opting for vivid, long-lasting DTF transfers that your customers will love.
With a soft feel and bright, vibrant colors, DTF transfers are the new standard in the t-shirt business. We at Sweet and Sassy take great pride in offering superior direct to film transfers (DTF) that are produced on commercial printers and use the highest quality inks, film and adhesive available.
WHAT ARE DTF TRANSFERS?
DTF transfers are a type of heat transfer produced using a special printer and ink. They are also known as direct to film transfers, dream screens, and digital screen print transfers.
The transfer design is printed on a pretreated film using high-quality ink. Once the color ink is printed, a second layer of white ink is applied on top. This white underbase allows application to dark colors (unlike sublimation transfers) without sacrificing how vivid the design is.
DTF transfers can be applied to a variety of fabric and substrates such as 100% cotton, canvas, and even wood. The ending result is a soft, stretchable and vivid design that will withstand numerous washing and normal wear. DTF transfers will not fade, peel or crack if applied correctly.
HOW TO APPLY OUR DTF TRANSFERS
To apply our DTF transfers to apparel, follow the instructions below:
* applying your DTF transfer, press your item for 7 seconds to remove any wrinkles and moisture.
* Heat your press to 280 F -330 F (you need to determine which temperature is best for your environment). We also suggest using a temperature gun to check your heat press setting.
* Position the transfer on your t-shirt.
* Cover with parchment paper or a Butcher sheet (always protect your heat press)
* Using HEAVY pressure (60 psi / 8-9), press the transfer for 15 seconds.
* After pressing for 15 seconds, open the heat press and remove the shirt from the heat press platen. If you do not apply HEAVY Pressure there will be lifting.
* (For cold peel)Allow the transfer to cool completely(approximately 30-45 seconds or until cool to the touch). For warm to touch peel you can remove film after a few seconds. Please peel slowly at a Turtle speed pace)
* Gently remove the film from the shirt. Grab at one corner and slowly pull the film from the design. Note: If you notice the image is still attached to the film, stop and return the shirt to the heat press. Repeat the process.
* Use a cover sheet and repress for 15 seconds.
* OPTIONAL: If you would like to matte the design more, return the t-shirt to the heat press, cover the design with butcher or parchment paper, and press for an additional 15 seconds.
* In order to know these are applied properly, you must be able to see the shirt fabric lines through the shirt. DTF Direct To Film transfers. It's essential to achieve the desired outcome, where the fabric's pattern is visible within the DTF Direct To Film design. In fact, you should feel like you've had a real arm workout to ensure you've applied the correct pressure for optimal results. Ultimately, every customer will need to experiment and find the precise settings that work best for their specific heat press and applications.
WHAT IS A SUBLIMATION?
Sublimation is one of the newer (some have used it for 20 years) garment decoration techniques available to those who have a heat press.
Sublimation is the process of turning a solid (in this case ink) into a gas using a heat press at a temperature of 400 degrees.
The process of sublimation allows the dye to become part of the fibers of the fabric. Sublimation can be used on polyester fabrics or on materials with a polymer coating.
For the very best results, use a shirt that is at least 70% polyester. A lower percentage of polyester can yield a slightly vintage look with less vibrant colors.
HOW TO APPLY A SUBLIMATION TRANSFER
There are a few rules one must follow to use and apply a sublimation transfer:
*users must ensure the targeted material is at least 50% polyester. Material 100% is the most desirable and will give a vibrant image on the garment. The less polyester percentage the more of a vintage look the garment will have. The garment must also be a lighter color for sublimation. Sublimation cannot print a “white” color therefore must be transferred onto a light colored garment. Black or dark color garments will absolutely not transfer correctly.
*user must use a heat press capable of pressing the entire design onto the garment. It should be all in one press.
*It is recommended the heat press be able to reach and sustain a temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit for best results. This temperature may vary due to the environment in which the garment is pressed, and the type of material, manufacturer and color of garment used.
*when pressing white or lighter color garments you MUST use a lint roller for awesome results.
*the heat press must also be able to achieve a medium pressure for approximately 60 seconds. Again, these settings may vary from type of material , manufacturer and color of the garment.
*User MUST use butcher or parchment paper as a barrier while transferring the design to prevent the effects of unnecessary ink transfer.
*No special washing instructions with sublimation shirts other than to love and wear forever.
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