How to Prepare Your Artwork for DTF Printing
How to Prepare Your Artwork for DTF Printing
If you're getting ready to place an order with Houston DTF Transfers, proper artwork preparation is key 🔑. Whether you're creating custom t-shirts, hoodies, hats, or labels, preparing your artwork correctly ensures the sharpest prints and a smoother production process.
In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about preparing your artwork for Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing — from file format to sizing and background transparency. Let's make sure your next gang sheet or print transfer is flawless from start to finish!
🧾 Why Proper Artwork Preparation Matters
DTF printing is incredibly versatile and precise — but only when your design files are correctly formatted. Submitting the wrong file type, using the wrong resolution, or forgetting to remove the background can result in blurry prints, unwanted colors, or delays in production.
At Houston DTF Transfers, we want every customer — whether in Texas or across the USA — to receive clean, vibrant, and professional-quality transfers. Following our artwork guidelines ensures you get exactly that. ✅
📁 Acceptable File Formats
Houston DTF Transfers accepts the following file types:
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✅ PNG (Preferred — with transparent background)
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✅ PSD (Adobe Photoshop)
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✅ PDF (High-res only)
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✅ AI or EPS (Adobe Illustrator vector files)
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✅ TIFF
Important: Always make sure your file is high-resolution (300 DPI) for best results. Anything lower may look pixelated or blurry once printed.
🧼 Remove All Backgrounds (If Needed)
If your design is not intended to have a background, make sure it’s removed before uploading. A transparent background ensures we only print your intended design — not a white box behind it.
You can easily remove the background using tools like Photoshop or Canva. If you need help, you can always reach out to our team or check our helpful video tutorial on uploading a custom gang sheet.
📏 Know Your Print Dimensions
When designing for a gang sheet or single transfer, size matters! Here are some tips:
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For gang sheets, start with the correct canvas size:
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22"x24", 22"x36", 22"x60", etc.
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Ensure your artwork fits within the sheet boundaries
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Don’t place designs too close to the edge — leave at least a 0.25" buffer
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Leave enough space between multiple images for clean cutting
Pro Tip: Use our Build Your Own Gang Sheet DTF tool to visually drag and drop your art on a canvas and preview it before submitting.
🖨️ Use the Right Color Settings (CMYK vs RGB)
While most design software uses RGB by default, DTF printers operate using CMYK. This means some super-bright neon colors in RGB may not print exactly the same in CMYK.
To get the most accurate results:
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Design in CMYK color mode
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Use solid colors — avoid gradients unless you know how they will print
Want the most vibrant results? Our expert UV DTF and DTF printers will ensure crisp and long-lasting color. 🎨
🔠 Rasterized Text & Outlined Fonts
If you’re submitting a vector file (like AI or PDF), always convert your text to outlines. This ensures that your fonts don't change or shift during processing.
In Photoshop, you can also rasterize your text layers. This locks in the look and ensures compatibility across platforms.
📦 Submit Clean, Final Files Only
Here’s what we mean by "print-ready":
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✅ Correct file size
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✅ Transparent background (if needed)
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✅ CMYK color mode
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✅ 300 DPI resolution
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✅ No hidden layers or notes
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✅ Fonts outlined or rasterized
Uploading ready-to-print art saves time and ensures your Upload Ready Gang Sheet goes straight to production!
🔧 Tools We Recommend
Want to design like a pro? Here are tools our Houston-based customers often use:
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🧑🎨 Canva Pro (great for beginners, supports transparent PNGs)
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🎨 Adobe Illustrator (ideal for vector designs)
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🖌️ Adobe Photoshop (perfect for high-res raster files)
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🧩 Our Online DTF Builder (super easy!)
Use our DTF Gang Sheet Builder to place multiple designs and maximize space.
📹 Watch: How to Build and Upload Your Artwork
Need visual help? These quick videos walk you through everything:
💡 For full tutorials, visit our Resources section.
🛒 Ready to Print? Here’s Where to Start
When your artwork is ready, you can place an order in minutes:
Get same-day or 24-hour printing on most orders — just look for our “Fast Turnaround” label.
📬 Need Help? We’ve Got You Covered
At Houston DTF Transfers, our support team is just a call or click away. Whether you’re a first-time user or a seasoned designer, we’re here to help you create professional DTF prints every time.
Got questions? Use our Contact page or shoot us a message on TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram @houstondtftransfers 📲
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🏁 Conclusion: Perfect Prints Start with Perfect Files
Getting your artwork ready for DTF printing is easy when you follow the right steps. By submitting clean, high-res, correctly sized files, you're setting yourself up for a seamless printing experience and professional results.
Whether you're printing one design or hundreds, Houston DTF Transfers is your #1 source for DTF and UV DTF gang sheets in Texas and across the USA. Let’s make magic — one press at a time! 🔥👕🎨