What file formats do you accept?

PNG with transparent background is preferred. We also accept PDF, AI, EPS, and SVG. JPG is accepted but only when the background is intended to print. We convert all files into print-ready format on intake, so you do not need to flatten or rasterize before submitting.

What resolution should my file be?

300 DPI at final print size. If you submit a 600 DPI file we downsample on intake. If you submit a lower-resolution file we will flag it before printing and offer a vector trace through our Vector Credit Pack so the result is clean.

Do you accept CMYK files?

Yes. CMYK files are converted to sRGB on intake because our print engine renders in an extended RGB gamut with a white channel. If color match is critical, send a Pantone reference or a physical sample and we will tune the file to match.

What is the minimum stroke weight?

1.5 pt for hairlines and 6 pt minimum for text on dark garments. Strokes below 1.5 pt may break apart during the powder step on DTF or fail to build height on raised UV. Text smaller than 6 pt is hard to read after the white underbase prints behind it.

Do you remove backgrounds from JPGs?

Our system runs automatic background removal on transparent-eligible uploads. You can also preview the cutout before checkout and approve it. For complex edges like hair, fur, or smoke effects, our team manually cleans the alpha channel before production.

File Requirements for DTF and UV Transfers — Decorator Prep Guide

File Requirements

The definitive prep guide. Hit these and your file is production-ready on first submission.

Best for:decorators preparing client artworkagenciesin-house designersproduction prep

Definition

File Requirements for DTF and UV DTF production at Long Island DTF Printing. Every transfer line prints from a 300 DPI raster file with a clean alpha channel. Preferred format is PNG with transparent background sized to the actual print dimension. PDF, AI, EPS, and SVG vectors also accepted. Common failure modes and the submission checklist below.

File prep is where most decorators lose hours. The fixes are not complicated, but they have to be done before submission, not after the proof comes back wrong. Every transfer line at Long Island DTF prints from a 300 DPI raster file with a clean alpha channel. Get those two facts right and most other issues disappear.

Submission checklist

Final file is 300 DPI at the actual print size, not scaled up from low resolution.
Background is transparent. No white box around the artwork.
Color mode is RGB, sRGB profile embedded.
All text is converted to outlines or rasterized.
All effects, smart filters, and adjustment layers are flattened.
No spot colors. No Pantone references unless previously discussed with production.
Hairline strokes are 1.5 pt or thicker at final size.
Smallest text is 6 pt or larger when going on a dark garment.
File is named clearly: jobname_size_v01.png. No spaces.

Rules reference

Spec	Value	Notes
Resolution	300 DPI at final print size	Lower resolutions cause edge pixelation and banding on full-tone fills.
Preferred format	PNG with transparent background	Transparent alpha removes the need for manual knockout.
Accepted formats	PNG, PDF, AI, EPS, SVG	Vector files are rasterized at 300 DPI on intake.
Color profile	sRGB	CMYK files are converted at intake. Convert in-house if exact match matters.
Color mode	RGB 8-bit	16-bit and 32-bit files are flattened to 8-bit before RIP.
Minimum stroke	1.5 pt at final size	Hairline strokes under 0.75 pt drop out during the white underbase pass.
Minimum text height	6 pt on dark, 4 pt on light	Below this point size, fine serif details lose legibility.
Alpha channel	Premultiplied or straight, both accepted	Anti-aliased edges over transparent backgrounds reproduce cleanly.
Bleed	None required	DTF and UV transfers cut to the artwork edge, no trim needed.
Layer flattening	Required before submission	Live text, smart objects, and effects must be rasterized.

White knockout on dark garments

Standard DTF includes an automatic white underbase. The RIP generates the white channel from the alpha and the color data. No manual knockout is required for standard DTF. For Crystal White DTF on dark garments, the entire white underbase is replaced with a tuned bright-white formulation, also generated automatically by the RIP. The decorator does not need to supply a separate white plate.

Foil-ready DTF is the one exception. The base DTF transfer carries the foil-receptive adhesive layer, and the foil sheet applied on top determines the final color. Submit the artwork as a solid black silhouette of the area that should foil. The black is the trigger for foil adhesion. Mixed-fill files where part of the artwork is foil and part is full color require two separate files clearly labeled.

Alpha channel handling

Soft edges, drop shadows, and feathered halos reproduce cleanly because the RIP reads the alpha channel directly and applies a matching gradient to the white underbase. The shadow lifts off the garment with the same softness it has in the file. The common mistake is exporting from Photoshop with a hidden white background layer turned on, which produces a hard white halo around the entire design. Always preview the file against a transparency grid before submitting.

Vector files

AI, EPS, PDF, and SVG submissions are rasterized at 300 DPI at intake. The vector is preserved as the source of truth. If you anticipate resizing the same artwork across multiple jobs, submit vector. If the file already contains photographic content, submit the highest-resolution PNG or TIFF available. Mixed files with embedded raster inside vector are accepted, but the embedded raster must already be at print resolution at the intended placed size.

Related Reference

How DTF works — understand how the RIP uses your file to generate color and white layers

Frequently Asked Questions

What file formats do you accept?: PNG with transparent background is preferred. We also accept PDF, AI, EPS, and SVG. JPG is accepted but only when the background is intended to print. We convert all files into print-ready format on intake, so you do not need to flatten or rasterize before submitting.
What resolution should my file be?: 300 DPI at final print size. If you submit a 600 DPI file we downsample on intake. If you submit a lower-resolution file we will flag it before printing and offer a vector trace through our Vector Credit Pack so the result is clean.
Do you accept CMYK files?: Yes. CMYK files are converted to sRGB on intake because our print engine renders in an extended RGB gamut with a white channel. If color match is critical, send a Pantone reference or a physical sample and we will tune the file to match.
What is the minimum stroke weight?: 1.5 pt for hairlines and 6 pt minimum for text on dark garments. Strokes below 1.5 pt may break apart during the powder step on DTF or fail to build height on raised UV. Text smaller than 6 pt is hard to read after the white underbase prints behind it.
Do you remove backgrounds from JPGs?: Our system runs automatic background removal on transparent-eligible uploads. You can also preview the cutout before checkout and approve it. For complex edges like hair, fur, or smoke effects, our team manually cleans the alpha channel before production.

Last updated 2026-05-12