DTF printing stands for "Direct-to-Film" printing. It's a relatively new printing technology used primarily for transferring designs onto various fabrics and materials. The process involves the following steps:

1. Design Printing: The design is first printed onto a special film using a DTF printer. This printer uses special inks that are different from those used in traditional inkjet or laser printers.
2. Powder Application: After printing, a special adhesive powder is applied to the wet ink on the film. This powder helps the design adhere to the fabric.
3. Curing: The film with the adhesive powder is then heated to cure the powder and ink, making them bond together.
4. Transfer: The film is placed onto the target material (such as a t-shirt or tote bag) and heat is applied to transfer the design from the film to the fabric.

DTF printing offers several advantages, including vibrant colors, flexibility in the types of materials it can be used on, and the ability to produce high-quality, detailed designs. It’s often used for custom apparel, promotional items, and more.

Sublimation involves printing a design onto special transfer paper using sublimation inks, then using a heat press to transfer the image onto a compatible product. The heat and pressure cause the ink to turn into a gas and permeate the material, creating a permanent, vibrant print.

DTF printing is quite versatile and can be used on a variety of materials, including:

1. Cotton: Ideal for t-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel.
2. Polyester: Works well for sportswear, jackets, and other synthetic fabrics.
3. Blends: Cotton-polyester blends are also compatible.
4. Nylon: Suitable for items like backpacks or activewear.
5. Canvas: Great for tote bags and other accessories.
6. Leather: Useful for custom designs on leather goods.

UV DTF printing is like a sticker and can be applied permanently to various hard, smooth surfaces.

1. Wood: Can be used for custom decorative items or promotional products.
2. Ceramic: For custom mugs and other ceramic items.
3. Metal: Ideal for personalized metal products like flasks or signs.

SUBLIMATION is best used on 100% polyester fabrics or at least 65% poly blend. We offer a range of suitable fabrics for products such as sportswear, blankets, athleisure wear and more.

The key is to ensure that the material can withstand the heat and pressure of the transfer process. Some materials might require specific settings or treatments to achieve the best results.

Lead Time

Our current turnaround is approximately 2-3 business days not including weekends or holidays with an average of 2 business days. If you place an order today, the following business day is considered the first business day. Although we do our best to process orders sooner, please note there is no guarantee. For urgent orders please contact us to see if we can assist you.

Exchange Policy

We have a no return policy. However, if the fault is ours, we will contact you to try and fix the issue. If you cancel or want to change your order and we have not run the prints yet then we are happy to accommodate that for you.

DTF:

• Set heat press to 140-160 degrees Celsius
• Press for 10 seconds with medium high pressure (approx50-60psi pressure)
• Let items cool down completely
• Carefully peel from corner downward after transfer is cooled
• Cover with Teflon sheet and repress for 10 more seconds to seal in the design

SUBLIMATION:

• Check the pressing guidelines for your chosen substrate, eg. Fabric, Ceramics, Stainless Steel, etc
• Trim your prints to size (if pressing individually)
• Ensure the substrate is clean and free of any lint or dust. 
• If working with fabric, consider placing a sheet of butcher paper or parchment paper inside the garment to prevent ink from bleeding through to the back. 
• Place the printed sublimation paper face down onto your substrate, aligning it carefully. 
• Secure the paper with heat-resistant tape to prevent shifting during pressing.
• For added protection, place a sheet of Teflon or parchment paper on top of the sublimation paper. 
• Preheat your heat press to the recommended temperature for your substrate (typically 190-205°C). 
• Press the design for the recommended time (usually 35-60 seconds for fabrics, longer for other materials). 
• Once the pressing time is complete, open the heat press and carefully remove the substrate. 
• Immediately peel away the sublimation paper using a tearing motion, while it's still hot, to avoid ghosting (a blurred effect). 
• Allow the finished product to cool completely before handling it.

The key is to ensure that the material can withstand the heat and pressure of the transfer process. Some materials might require specific settings or treatments to achieve the best results.

Caring for DTF-printed garments properly will help maintain the vibrancy and longevity of the print. Here’s a guide to ensure your printed items stay looking great:

Washing

1. Turn Inside Out: Wash the garment inside out to protect the print from friction and potential damage.
2. Cold Water: Use cold water to prevent the print from fading or peeling.
3. Gentle Cycle: Opt for a gentle or delicate cycle to minimize agitation.
4. Mild Detergent: Use a mild detergent. Avoid bleach or harsh chemicals, as these can degrade the print.

Drying

1. Air Dry: It's best to air dry printed garments. Lay them flat on a clean, dry towel or hang them to dry. Avoid wringing out the garment. DO NOT tumble dry.
2. Avoid High Heat: If you must use a dryer, use a low-heat setting to prevent the print from getting too hot and potentially peeling or cracking.

Ironing

1. Low Heat: If you need to iron the garment, turn garment inside out and use a low-heat setting.
2. Protect the Print: Place a piece of cloth or parchment paper between the iron and the print to avoid direct heat on the design.

Storage

1. Cool, Dry Place: Store garments in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.
2. Avoid Overcrowding: Don’t overcrowd your closet to avoid unnecessary friction and pressure on the prints.

By following these tips, you’ll help ensure that your DTF-printed garments remain in great condition and continue to look vibrant over time.

Reselling your garments? - order care cards here.

We courier nationwide providing door to door or a locker collection option.

Delivery Options

A. Delivery Methods

• Choice of: Door to Door Courier, or self collection from our Montague Gardens (CPT) offices.
• UBER: You are also welcome to send an Uber collection to collect your order - please share the driver details with us.

NOTE: we cannot be held liable for collection done using Uber services.

B. Shipping Partners

• Courier Services: Partner with Courier Guy

Delivery Times

A. Estimated Delivery Time

• Delivery times are outside of our control, but when the order is shipped from our warehouse you will receive a notification with tracking info.

DTF & UV DTF:

• Acceptable file types: pdf, png, tif
• Print Area Size: Maximum 57cm/570mm wide
• Resolution: minimum 300dpi for best print quality. Images with lower quality will not print well and may appear pixelated. The printing process needs a high-quality image to have a clean and neat image. Check your edge quality and watch out for pixeled edges in your images and designs.
• Send your artwork at the exact size you want it printed. Please indicate the final image dimensions in writing. *We cannot resize your image
• Remove the background. If you do not want the background around your image to be printed, remove it, otherwise it will be printed.
• Save your artwork as a CMYK file. If you send an RGB file it will be converted to CMYK.
• Spot colour artwork will be converted to CMYK.

SUBLIMATION:

• Acceptable file types: PDF
• Print Area Size: Maximum 150cm/1500mm wide.
• Resolution: minimum 300dpi for best print quality. Images with lower quality will not print well and may appear pixelated. The printing process needs a high-quality image to have a clean and neat image. Check your edge quality and watch out for pixeled edges in your images and designs
• Send your artwork at the exact size you want it printed. Please indicate the final image dimensions in writing. *We cannot resize your image. .

Although we can print any image file for DTF, not all file types will produce great results. For crisp images with no semi-transparent pixels, please use:

• Vector files like .pdf, .svg and .ai (Adobe Illustrator)
• .png files with 300 dpi resolution
• .psd file (Photoshop)
• .cdr file (CoralDraw)

Things look different on screen sometimes. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee exact colour matching. Please check your colours — we do not check colours for you. Most monitors show images in CMYK, be sure your file is saved as CMYK.  Please check your pantone colours as what you see on the screen is not necessarily what will print.

We are not able to print shiny or glittery colours with DTF or Sublimation - colours like gold or silver will not be shiny. DTF has a semi matt finish. Sublimation will appear gloss if pressed onto a shiny substrate.

Yes. You can print as many meters as you need for DTF, UV DTF and Sublimation. Please ensure you remain within the relevant print width for each printing option.

DTF & UV DTF - 57cm/570mm wide

SUBLIMATION: - 150cm/1500mm wide

• Please use WE TRANSFER (www.wetransfer.com) to send your files through to us if over 10MB. Email address: info@dtfcapetown.co.za No artwork will be accepted via WhatsApp.

DTF :

Drop shadows and gradients do not work well for DTF. Please remove any shadow or gradient effects from your designs as it will not print as you see on the screen.

SUBLIMATION:

Yes, no problem.

DTF & UV DTF:

Words less than 3mm will not come out well and will most likely not transfer onto the garment.

Fine, tiny details will not adhere to the transfer. Be sure to add a stroke and make any fine details thicker for best results. We are not responsible for artwork that falls below the minimum requirements.

SUBLIMATION:

No limitations

Yes, you are welcome to print your designs with us to press yourself.

Yes.

DTF - A3

UV DTF - half meter (570x500mm)

Sublimation - 1m (1500x1000mm)

Yes. We can print and press your DTF and Sublimation prints for you.

NOTE: Sublimation pressing to meters of fabric has a minimum order of 5m's. Standard print only minimum order applies for pressing directly to completed garments or products such as mugs, tumblers, etc