Material
Carrier Film
The clear or coated plastic sheet that holds the printed design until it is heat applied to the garment.
Definition
Carrier film is the plastic sheet that holds a printed transfer until the decorator applies it to a substrate. In DTF the carrier is PET film. In screen-printed transfers it is a release paper. The carrier serves two roles: it holds the ink during shipping and handling, and it transfers the printed image to the garment under heat and pressure. After the press cycle the decorator peels the carrier off (hot, warm, or cold depending on the formulation), leaving the printed design bonded to the fabric. Carrier film is consumed and discarded after one use.
Related Terms
PET Film
A polyester terephthalate carrier film used as the printing substrate for DTF and UV DTF transfers.
Hot Peel
Removing the carrier film from a transfer while the film is still hot, immediately after pressing.
Cold Peel
Removing the carrier film from a transfer only after the film has cooled to room temperature.
DTF
Direct-to-film transfer printing process used to produce full-color heat-applied graphics for apparel decoration.