THE TNT DTF PLAYBOOK

DTF transfers made for a clean first press.

TNT Print House makes DTF transfers in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Choose your order format, prepare your file and learn how to press.

Choose your transfers Learn to press ↓

Ready for pickup or shipped within 24–48 hours

Your design, printed as a DTF transfer.

Which DTF transfer format do you need?

Choose a gang sheet for multiple designs, or order individual images in the sizes you need.

MULTIPLE DESIGNS

24″

24-inch gang sheets

Build a DTF gang sheet with multiple designs or repeat logos. Arrange your artwork online for your next run.

24 inches wide. Choose your length.

Build a 24″ sheet

LARGER LAYOUTS

30″

30-inch gang sheets

Choose a wider DTF gang sheet for larger layouts. Get vivid colour and the same clean hot peel.

30 inches wide. Choose your length.

Build a 30″ sheet

A SIMPLE FIRST ORDER

BY SIZE

DTF print sizes

Order DTF transfers by finished dimensions and quantity. Upload your artwork without laying out a sheet.

Your image. Your dimensions. Your quantity.

Order images by size

Transfers only. Bring your own garments and heat press. No minimum order.

TNT Print House · DTF press & care card · tntprinthouse.com · support@tntprinthouse.com

PRESS WITH CONFIDENCE

Set it. Press it. Peel it hot.

Optional: pre-press the garment for 3–5 seconds. Press for 10–12 seconds, peel immediately while hot in one quick pull, then use a cover sheet for a 5-second post press.

Start with your fabric.

Cotton, blends & most fabrics

295–305°F
Press time
10–12 seconds
Pressure
Medium to high
Peel
Hot peel
Finish
5-second post press

Polyester & sensitive fabrics

275–285°F
Press time
10–12 seconds
Pressure
Medium to high
Peel
Hot peel
Finish
5-second post press

These settings are for TNT hot-peel DTF transfers. Test your garment first and follow the instructions supplied with your order. Heat-sensitive fabrics may need an adjusted setup.

Your first press, step by step.

  1. Pre-press (optional, recommended)

    Press the blank garment for 3–5 seconds to remove moisture and wrinkles. A flat, dry surface helps the transfer bond evenly.

  2. Position it with care

    Lay the garment flat. Position the transfer with the printed design against the fabric and the carrier film facing up. Keep the print area flat so pressure is even.

  3. Press for your fabric

    Use the settings shown for your material. Check your temperature and time, and use medium to high pressure. Firmer pressure only helps the transfer. Test one garment before a full run.

  4. Peel while it’s hot

    Hold the garment steady and peel immediately while hot — fast, in one quick, smooth pull, like ripping off a Band-Aid. A slow peel can lift the print. If it lifts, pause and ask TNT to check your setup.

  5. Cover. Post press. Finish.

    After peeling hot, cover the print with a cover sheet and give it a 5-second post press. Follow TNT’s care guidance and your garment’s care label.

Wash & care

  • Turn the garment inside out.
  • Wash in cold water.
  • Tumble dry on low.
  • No bleach.
  • Don’t iron directly on the print.

FROM UPLOAD TO FINISHED PRINT

A little know-how. A better result.

See how each step works, with practical guides to keep beside your press.

DTF transfer positioned on a black T-shirt on an open heat press, cover sheet ready beside it

01 / PRESSING

Set up for a confident press

The small checks that make the first press feel less like guesswork.

Your quick guide
  1. Use a proper heat press on a flat, stable work surface.
  2. Choose the settings for your garment in the pressing guide above.
  3. Lay the garment flat and position your transfer.
  4. Press for the recommended time with even pressure.
Hands hot-peeling the clear film off a freshly pressed DTF transfer in one quick motion

02 / HOT PEEL

That clean-peel moment

Know when to peel, how to move and when to pause.

Your quick guide
  1. Open the press after 10–12 seconds at the temperature for your fabric.
  2. Hold the garment steady. Peel immediately while hot, fast in one quick pull; a slow peel can lift the print.
  3. If artwork lifts, pause and ask TNT for help.
  4. Use a cover sheet for a 5-second post press.
A DTF gang sheet filled with colourful designs, with several transfers cut apart beside it

03 / GANG-SHEET DESIGNER

Build a sheet you can press with pride

For both 24-inch and 30-inch gang sheets. A final check now saves a surprise later.

Your quick guide
  1. Choose your sheet width and length, then open the designer.
  2. Upload your original artwork. Remove any background you do not want printed.
  3. Set each design to its finished print dimensions. Add the number of copies you need.
  4. Keep designs inside the printable area, with room to cut them apart. Review any artwork warnings.
  5. Check every design, dimension and quantity before completing the designer and reviewing your cart.
Measuring a DTF transfer with a ruler on the front of a black T-shirt

04 / IMAGE BY SIZE

One image. The size you actually need.

Order individual transfers without arranging a full gang sheet.

Your quick guide
  1. Measure the space for your print on the garment.
  2. Upload the image in the ordering tool.
  3. Choose the finished dimensions and quantity. Check the preview so the artwork is not stretched or cut off.
  4. Review the price shown by the tool and confirm your artwork, sizing and quantity in the cart.
The same artwork shown sharp on one side of a monitor and pixelated on the other

05 / ARTWORK FILES

Send a file that prints sharp

Get the size, resolution and background right before you order.

Your quick guide
  1. Decide the finished print size first, in inches.
  2. Make raster artwork 300 DPI at that size: multiply each inch by 300. A 10-inch-wide print needs about 3,000 pixels across.
  3. Use a PNG with a transparent background if you don’t want a box printed around your design.
  4. Send the original file. We accept PNG, JPEG, SVG, PSD, AI, EPS and PDF, at least 300 × 300 px. Changing the DPI label or enlarging a small image doesn’t add detail.
  5. Check thin lines, small text and edges on a light and a dark background. Not sure? Ask Taren or Tara to check it.
DTF placement guide: left chest, full front, full back and hoodie front print sizes

06 / PLACEMENT

Where it goes, and how big

Common starting points for adult tees and hoodies. Hold a paper template on the garment before you press.

Your quick guide
  • Left chest: 3–4 in wide. Centre it about 4 in to the wearer’s left of the centre line, with the top about 3–4 in below the collar seam.
  • Full front: 10–12 in wide, top about 3–4 in below the collar seam.
  • Full back: 10–12 in wide, top about 3–4 in below the collar seam. For an upper-back name or logo, start about 2–3 in below the collar.
  • Hoodie front: keep the print above the pocket, about 3–4 in below the neck seam, up to 12 in wide.
  • Sleeve: up to about 3.5 in wide, centred on the sleeve.
  • Youth and fitted styles: scale down; a full front of 8–10 in wide often suits better.
  • Caps: up to 4 × 2.25 in on the front panel.

Keep prints off seams, zips and thick stitching so the pressure stays even.

Close-up of a DTF print edge fully bonded to black fabric next to a heat press handle

07 / TROUBLESHOOTING

If a print lifts, cracks or won’t stick

Most problems come down to heat, time, pressure or the peel. Check these before your next press.

Your quick guide
  • Lifting as you peel: peel immediately while hot, fast in one quick pull. A slow peel can lift the print. Check the temperature for your fabric, 10–12 seconds and medium-to-high pressure.
  • Edges not fully stuck: do the 5-second post press with a cover sheet, and make sure the print isn’t sitting over a seam, zip or thick stitching.
  • Cracking or peeling after washing: check that the full time, temperature, pressure and post press were used, and follow the wash and care steps.
  • Marks or scorching on polyester: use 275–285°F for polyester and heat-sensitive fabrics, and test one garment first.
  • Still not right? Stop the run and contact Taren or Tara with a photo, your fabric and the settings you used.
A printed T-shirt turned inside out with a cold-wash care label, ready for the laundry

08 / WASH & CARE

Keep it looking new

A few simple habits help your print last through 100+ washes.

Your quick guide
  • Turn the garment inside out.
  • Wash in cold water.
  • Tumble dry on low.
  • No bleach.
  • Don’t iron directly on the print.

REAL PEOPLE. REAL PRINT KNOW-HOW.

Need help with your file or first press?

Taren and Tara help with files and press settings. Tell us about your design, garment or setup so we can help you prepare your next order.

Ask the TNT team ↗

Your design. Our care in every print.

What will I receive?

You receive ready-to-press DTF transfers, not finished garments. Supply your own garments and heat press, or order custom apparel separately.

Which DTF order format should I use?

Choose a gang sheet to arrange multiple designs together. Pick 24-inch or 30-inch width to suit your layout. Choose transfers by size to order individual images without building a sheet.

Why is my DTF transfer lifting?

A slow peel can lift the print, so peel immediately while hot, fast in one quick pull. Check temperature and time for your fabric and use medium-to-high pressure. If it still lifts, stop and contact TNT before continuing.

Can I use an iron for DTF?

Use a heat press for consistent heat and pressure across the transfer. Follow TNT’s fabric settings, peel hot and finish with a 5-second press.

What if my artwork looks blurry?

Make your artwork 300 DPI at the size you want it printed. A 2-inch logo at 300 DPI drops to about 50 DPI if you print it 12 inches wide, so set the size first. Ask Taren or Tara to check your file if you’re unsure.

Does the 24–48 hour turnaround include shipping transit time?

No, DTF transfers are ready for pickup or shipped within 24–48 hours. Delivery takes additional time and depends on the destination and carrier. Check an event deadline with TNT before ordering.

How do I wash a garment with a DTF print?

Turn it inside out, wash in cold water and tumble dry on low. No bleach, and don’t iron directly on the print.

Do I need to pre-press the garment?

It’s optional but recommended. Press the blank garment for 3–5 seconds to remove moisture and wrinkles before you position the transfer.