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LI DTF PRINTING
Decorator Reference

DTF and UV Printing Glossary

Reference definitions for professional decorators. 48 canonical terms covering DTF, UV DTF, gang sheets, raised UV, file specs, substrates, and press settings.

  • Key Facts

  • DTF: Direct-to-film transfer. CMYK plus white underbase printed onto PET film with polyamide adhesive that bonds into fabric fibers under a heat press.
  • UV DTF: UV-cured acrylate peel-and-stick transfer for rigid hard goods. Different chemistry than standard DTF.
  • White underbase: A generated white channel jetted under or over CMYK ink that allows full-opacity color on any garment shade.
  • Polyamide adhesive: Hot melt powder dusted onto wet DTF ink that melts under press heat and penetrates fabric fibers to lock the print into the weave.
  • Gang sheet: A large DTF transfer that tiles multiple designs onto a single film for maximum square-inch efficiency at flat per-square-inch pricing.
  • Raised UV: Layered UV-cured acrylate that builds 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm of tactile dimensional height for patches and dimensional graphics.

Jump to Category

Process(10)Product(8)Material(7)Tool(3)Concept(11)Spec(9)

Process

10 terms
Removing the carrier film from a transfer only after the film has cooled to room temperature.
Splitting an artwork file into individual ink channels for each color the press will print.
The full spelling of DTF, referring to the production method of printing ink directly onto a transfer film before heat applying to fabric.
Direct-to-film transfer printing process used to produce full-color heat-applied graphics for apparel decoration.
Removing the carrier film from a transfer while the film is still hot, immediately after pressing.
A short heat press cycle on the bare garment before applying the transfer, used to remove moisture and flatten fibers.
A UV printing technique that builds dimensional height by layering and curing multiple ink passes on top of each other.
Convert a vector file into a pixel-based raster image at a specified resolution.
A UV-cured direct-to-film transfer designed for rigid substrates and applied with a cold-peel adhesive instead of a heat press.
Convert a raster image into a vector file made of resolution-independent paths and shapes.

Product

8 terms
A gang sheet where uploaded designs are arranged automatically by software for maximum film coverage.
A large-format raised UV print used to brand drinkware, hard goods, and rigid panels with tactile relief.
An embroidery-style transfer that uses textured printing to mimic stitched thread without an actual digitized embroidery file.
A single large DTF transfer film tiled with multiple designs to maximize cost efficiency per square inch.
UV-printed branding components designed to be integrated into rigid manufactured goods such as drinkware, journals, and assembled hardware.
A heat-applied patch with a synthetic leather face surface printed with raised UV branding.
A premium heat-applied transfer that combines raised UV dimension with refined finishes for high-end apparel and accessory branding.
A heat-applied apparel patch decorated with layered UV cure passes to deliver embroidery-grade tactile height.

Material

7 terms
A heat-activated bonding layer on the back of a patch that attaches the patch to a garment under a heat press.
The clear or coated plastic sheet that holds the printed design until it is heat applied to the garment.
Any thermoplastic adhesive that softens and bonds under heat, then re-solidifies on cooling.
The bonding layer on the back of a patch that attaches it to the garment, available in heat-activated or sew-on formats.
A polyester terephthalate carrier film used as the printing substrate for DTF and UV DTF transfers.
A thermoplastic hot melt powder dusted onto wet DTF ink that bonds the transfer to fabric under heat and pressure.
A patch with no adhesive that is attached to a garment with perimeter stitching.

Tool

3 terms
A machine that applies controlled heat, pressure, and time to bond a transfer to a substrate.
The heated upper surface and the cushioned lower surface of a heat press, between which the garment and transfer are compressed.
Raster image processor software that converts artwork files into the press-specific instruction set for printing.

Concept

11 terms
A decoration technique where a separate fabric or material piece is bonded onto a garment as a layered design element.
The four-color subtractive print model (cyan, magenta, yellow, key/black) used by most production print engines.
Sublimated polyester dye bleeding through a transfer and discoloring the printed design.
Full-size apparel decoration placement spanning the back of a shirt, typically 11 to 12 inches wide.
Any rigid non-textile material a transfer can be applied to, including glass, metal, ceramic, acrylic, and wood.
An area of a design where the white underbase is removed so the substrate color shows through the print.
The standard logo or brand placement on the left chest area of a shirt, typically 3 to 4 inches wide.
An artwork file that meets all the technical specifications required to send directly to the production press.
Any material onto which a transfer or print is applied. Includes apparel, hard goods, leather, and rigid surfaces.
Any fabric-based material a transfer can be applied to, including cotton, polyester, blends, and synthetic knits.
A layer of white ink printed beneath color ink so the design reads correctly on dark or colored fabric.

Spec

9 terms
The transparency channel in a raster image that controls which pixels print and which stay clear.
Extra design area extending past the trim line to prevent white edges on a cut transfer.
An ICC file that maps colors between a source color space and the print engine output for consistent reproduction.
Dots per inch. The resolution measurement for raster images, with 300 DPI as the production standard.
The thinnest line or outline that can be cleanly reproduced in a transfer production process.
The pixel density of a raster image, typically measured in DPI at the intended physical print size.
A standard RGB color space used as the source gamut for most digital print workflows including DTF.
The thickness of a line or outline in a design, measured in points or pixels.
A PNG file with a transparent alpha background so only the design prints and the surrounding film stays clear.

Production Reference

See the Technology Behind the Terms

Deep technical references on how DTF works, how UV cures, raised dimension, file requirements, substrate compatibility, and heat press settings.

Production Technology