DTF transfers

Transfer sheets for your own press, or a finished print job

The service splits in two. You can order the transfer sheets alone and press them yourself with your own heat press, or leave the printing to us on finished garments as separately agreed work. Neither option carries a general minimum order or a set-up fee.

DTF (direct-to-film) reproduces a detailed, multi-colour image, and the hand usually stays thinner and softer than with the HTV materials we use, that is, vinyl films fixed to the garment with heat. For large personalised runs DTF is a common choice, but the method is only fixed once we have seen the artwork and the garment. T-shirts are printed using DTF or HTV depending on the artwork, material and intended use; we do not offer DTG printing. The differences between the methods are explained on the page DTF vai HTV (in Finnish).

A6, A4 and A3 sizes and prices

Prices include Finnish value added tax of 25.5 per cent and apply to DTF transfer sheets only. A separate contract price can be agreed for a monthly volume above 500 sheets. Printing on finished garments is always priced as its own job and is not calculated from the sheet prices in the table.

The calculator at /suunnittele-ja-tilaa/ (in Finnish) shows the same price as the table for the chosen size and quantity. Only separately stated extras change it, and we confirm the final price after checking the artwork. The same table and tiers also apply to gang sheets: a multi-image sheet is priced by sheet size and number of sheets from the same table as a single-image sheet.

How to press

On cotton, a DTF transfer is applied with a heat press at 130–140 °C for about 15 seconds at a pressure of 4 bar. The PET film is peeled off only once it has cooled, 30–60 seconds after pressing. A lighter consumer press may need 3–5 seconds longer.

You will find the values for other materials on the heat profile card that comes with your order. If your fabric's values are not on the card, ask us for them and give us the material composition from the care label, and we will confirm them. Note that the 85–110 second curing time in production is not a pressing time: curing is done in our production, not on your press. A step-by-step guide is in the article DTF-siirtokuvan prässäys (in Finnish).

Print-ready artwork and proof approval

We accept PNG, JPEG/JPG, TIFF, PDF, SVG, AI and EPS files, in both raster and vector form. We recommend 300 dpi at the final print size. Convert fonts to outlines before sending. The guideline is a minimum of 12 pt for text and 2 pixels for line weight. If your image has text smaller or lines thinner than these guidelines, send it as it is with the artwork and we will check it before the proof.

Tell us the print size and the placement on the garment when you send the file. A transparent background is needed whenever the background is not meant to be printed.

RGB and CMYK are both fine, and production prints in CMYK. We can aim for a Pantone or brand colour when you supply the colour and profile details. We do not promise an exact match before it has been confirmed with your own artwork and your own material, so mention a brand colour that is critical for your company already when you send the artwork.

Every order requires your proof approval before production. The first ordinary correction round is included in the order. Artwork editing after that, and separately ordered vectorising, redrawing and graphic design, cost 45 €/h, with a minimum charge of one hour.

Materials are checked before production

For the assessment we need the full material composition stated on the care label, including the blend ratios. Naming the fabric alone is not enough if the label lists several materials or their proportions.

We have experience with cotton, polyester, cotton-polyester blends, nylon, fleece, hoodies, softshell, waterproof and coated fabrics, high-visibility workwear, technical fabrics and selected stretch materials. The list still does not mean automatic approval. We always assess nylon and softshell case by case, and we test fabric containing elastane, Lycra or otherwise significant stretch before we promise anything. We do not accept silk or wool for printing.

With coated and waterproof garments there is one thing worth weighing before you order: we do not guarantee that the garment's original waterproofing survives the printing.

Production time, delivery and express

Normal production time is 2–3 working days. Transport time comes on top of that, and weekends are not counted as working days, so the figure does not describe the total delivery time.

SmartPOST delivery costs 5.90 €, and standard delivery is free on orders of at least 70 euros. Helsinki express costs 12 €, and express delivery is charged separately. The cut-off for same-working-day express is 11.00, and a valid express order placed after 11.00 is delivered on the next working day. Express requires print-ready raster or vector artwork and advance payment.

DTF Studio produces the transfers in-house in Helsinki and delivers orders across Finland. The only public location is in Lauttasaari. Customer pickup is possible only from Lauttasaari, and visits are always arranged in advance by appointment. We do not publish street addresses on general service pages.

How to order DTF transfer sheets

Do you need the sheets alone for your own press? Send print-ready artwork and tell us the print size or sheet size you want and the quantity. We check the artwork and send a proof for approval, and we confirm the quote and the final price after the check. Payment is handled after the price is confirmed, before the production schedule is fixed. Production time for a sheet order is counted from the order confirmation.

If you estimate your monthly volume will exceed 500 sheets, mention it in your first message. A separate contract price can be agreed with a customer ordering more than 500 sheets a month.

How to order printing on a finished garment

Finished printed garments are ordered through /suunnittele-ja-tilaa/ (in Finnish). You upload an image or describe the idea, choose the garment, the print placement and the size, and enter the quantity, garment sizes and personalisation. In the design tool you can also build a gang sheet, arranging several different images on the same DTF transfer sheet. The plan can be saved without a request for quotation.

The calculator shows a price for DTF transfer sheets and for printing on finished garments, but it does not yet price HTV work. The calculator price is the same as the published price for the chosen product, size and quantity. Only separately stated extras change it, and we confirm the final price after checking the artwork and the garment.

When you send the plan, we go through the artwork, the garment and the method, and we send a quote. Production starts once you have approved the proof and the final price, payment has been received and the production schedule has been confirmed. When your own garments are printed, production time starts only once the garments have been received, intake is complete, testing and suitability have been resolved, the proof has been approved and the required advance payment has arrived. The condition met last decides the start. Attach the care-label details to the plan straight away and you will get the suitability assessment at the same time.

How do I wash a DTF-printed garment?

Polyester and synthetic garments are washed at 30 °C and cotton at 40 °C. Hang the garment to dry if you can; low-temperature tumble drying is also allowed. If your order comes with method- and garment-specific care instructions, follow those first. If a problem appears in the print, make a complaint through the order page linked to your order. Our target is to respond and close the case within 14 working days, but the target does not replace your statutory rights.

Which materials is a DTF transfer suitable for?

We have experience with cotton, polyester and their blends, and also with fleece, hoodies, softshell and technical fabrics. Suitability is always assessed before production from the composition on the care label, and fabrics with significant stretch are tested first. We do not accept silk or wool. The fuller list is above under Materials are checked before production. If you order a finished print, attach the full material composition from the care label to your plan at /suunnittele-ja-tilaa/ (in Finnish), and we will assess the fabric before the quote.

Do I need a heat press, or will an iron do?

Use a heat press. A DTF transfer is applied with a heat press because the application needs even pressure and even heat. An iron can be used, but we give no application instructions for an iron and no guarantee of the result. The press temperature, time and pressure are above under How to press.

How long do transfer sheets keep?

In an unopened package, a DTF transfer sheet stays usable for 12–18 months.

Is there a minimum order?

No. There is no general minimum order or set-up fee, so you can order even a single sheet. The same applies to printing on finished garments.