Material
PET Film
A polyester terephthalate carrier film used as the printing substrate for DTF and UV DTF transfers.
Definition
PET film is a polyester terephthalate plastic sheet used as the carrier substrate for DTF and UV DTF transfers. The film is coated on one side so that ink and adhesive bond to it during printing but release cleanly when heat or cold peel is applied at the decorator end. PET is dimensionally stable under print heat, chemically inert to most inks, and inexpensive in roll form. Standard DTF PET film ships at 24-inch and 13-inch widths. The film is the physical artifact the decorator receives in the mail and applies to the garment.
Related Terms
Carrier Film
The clear or coated plastic sheet that holds the printed design until it is heat applied to the garment.
DTF
Direct-to-film transfer printing process used to produce full-color heat-applied graphics for apparel decoration.
Polyamide Adhesive
A thermoplastic hot melt powder dusted onto wet DTF ink that bonds the transfer to fabric under heat and pressure.
Hot Peel
Removing the carrier film from a transfer while the film is still hot, immediately after pressing.