Direct to Film (DTF) Terminology

If you're new to DTF printing, the terminology can feel overwhelming fast — PET film, gang sheets, hot peel, dye migration. This glossary covers every term you'll encounter when ordering or applying Direct-to-Film transfers, explained in plain language from our team at Rankin Textile Printing in Danbury, CT.

Already know the terms? Jump to The DTF Process guide to see exactly how we run transfers in our shop, or compare methods in our DTF vs DTG guide.

The Complete DTF Terminology Glossary

DTF — Direct-to-Film

The printing method itself. A design is printed onto a PET transfer film using specialized inks, coated with adhesive powder, cured, then heat-pressed onto fabric. Works on virtually any material without pre-treatment. See the full process in our DTF Process guide.

PET Film

Polyethylene terephthalate film — the clear, coated transfer sheet your design is printed onto. Once cured, the film carries the design to your garment. We use hot peel instant film, meaning it peels immediately off the press while still warm.

Hot-Melt Adhesive Powder

A fine powder applied to the wet ink immediately after printing. It only sticks where there's ink — blank areas stay clean. When heat is applied during pressing, this powder melts and creates a permanent bond between your design and the fabric.

Curing

The process of heating the printed film to melt the adhesive powder into the ink layer. After curing, the transfer is stable and ready to press — it can sit on a shelf for weeks without degrading. Curing happens in our shop before the transfer ships to you.

Gang Sheet

A single print sheet with multiple designs arranged together to maximize space and reduce cost per print. The more you fill the sheet, the lower your cost per design. You can build a gang sheet online using our free tool, or upload your own file if it's already laid out.

White Ink Base Layer

DTF printers lay down a white ink layer beneath the CMYK colors. Without it, colors look washed out or invisible on dark garments. This is one of DTF's biggest advantages over DTG — vibrant colors on black, navy, red, and any dark fabric without extra steps. See how this compares to DTG.

Hot Peel vs Cold Peel

Hot peel film is removed immediately after pressing while the transfer is still warm — fast, clean, no waiting. Cold peel film must cool completely before the carrier film is lifted. At Rankin Textile, we use hot peel instant transfer film exclusively, so you can move straight from the press to the next garment.

Heat Press

The machine that applies precise, even heat and pressure to bond the DTF design from film to fabric. Household irons don't apply consistent enough pressure — a dedicated heat press is essential for professional results. See heat press settings by fabric type in our DTF Process guide and on the DTF Academy page.

Pre-Press

Pressing the blank garment for 3–5 seconds before applying the transfer. This removes moisture and wrinkles from the fabric — two of the most common causes of poor adhesion. Never skip this step, especially on freshly washed garments.

Dye Migration

A polyester-specific issue where heat causes the fabric's dye to bleed up through the transfer, creating discoloration — especially common on red, maroon, and royal blue polyester. Prevented by pressing at the lower temperature range for polyester (275–290°F) and using polyester-safe transfer settings.

Teflon Sheet / Cover Sheet

A non-stick protective sheet placed over the design for a second press after peeling. Running a 3–5 second second press through a Teflon sheet improves hand feel (makes prints softer), improves wash durability, and eliminates any sheen on the design surface.

CMYK + W Printing

DTF printers use Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black) inks — the standard color model — plus White (W). The white ink is printed last and acts as the base layer. This combination allows DTF to produce accurate, vibrant color on any fabric color.

300 DPI

Dots per inch — the resolution of your artwork file. 300 DPI is the minimum we recommend for sharp, professional-quality prints. Lower resolution files produce soft, blurry edges that look amateurish on the finished garment. Always submit PNG files at 300 DPI with a transparent background for best results.