Heat Press Instructions for DTF Transfers

Set your Heat Press to 310°F / 155°C with medium to high pressure. Press for ~13 seconds. Peel after 5 seconds, hot or cool. Second Press for 13 seconds.

We recommend watching the video for step-by-step pressing instructions

Position your transfer in the desired location and make sure you are not pressing over large wrinkles. Heat-resistant tape is recommended when pressing on hats or when using a household iron to prevent the transfer from moving. You'll learn when it's needed with experience.

Pro Tip: Instead of laying your shirt on the press with the collar away from you, simply flip it around to have the collar closer to you. This may seem unnatural at first, since the transfer will be facing away from you, but once you switch to this technique, you'll never go back to the old way. Learn more about the advantages of this technique here.

Press the transfer at 310°F / 155°C with medium to high pressure for 13 seconds. It is always recommended to test one piece first. Use a Silicone Upper Platen Cover & Garment Protector to protect your garment from touching the iron directly. You cannot damage the transfer by pressing with more heat, pressure, or time, however, it could scorch the garment.  

If your settings are scorching the garment, the first step would be to reduce pressure. If that doesn’t work, retain the reduced pressure and reduce the heat by 10-15°F.  With a little practice, you’ll find the right settings for each garment and material.

Pro Tip: Using the Silicone Upper Platen Cover & Garment Protector will speed up your production by 2-4 times. Click here to learn how.

With our proprietary Easy Peel Technology, you can peel hot or cool. Wait a few seconds (or more) and peel! If parts of the design are not sticking, lay it back down and press again with added pressure and heat (+15°F).  If unsuccessful, increase heat by 15°F increments until it works. Remember, the great thing about NinjaTransfers is that repeated pressing won't damage the transfer.

Important: While the majority of other DTF companies advise you to press it just once, this is improper. After hundreds of wash tests, we have found that a final press is imperative to create a superior product.

After the design is transferred onto the garment, with the film peeled off, cover the design with provided parchment paper or a single layer of t-shirt material and press for ~15 seconds. By doing so, it enhances the value of your product by greatly improving the durability and softness as well as reducing the shine. For a glossy look, use a guard sheet for the second and final press instead.

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Tips from The Sensei

Wash Instructions: For best results and longevity, wash the garment inside out in cold water and dry on low heat or hang to dry. Washing it with standard settings is fine, but it lasts longer with more delicate settings.

Avoid Scorching: Always protect the garment and design from the iron with our Silicone Upper Platen Cover & Garment Protector. If you notice permanent scorching on nicer materials, which is different than temporary heat discoloration, you can reduce the pressure as well as the heat by 15°F (~9°C). Click here to learn more about how you can prevent scorch marks.

Holding the Silicone Cover Steady: You can use magnets to hold the silicone cover to the iron platen. Cover the whole iron so your garment is always protected. We provide a free set of heavy duty magnets with each order of our Silicone Upper Platen Cover & Garment Protector.

Positioning Your Transfer: Use our DTF Alignment Ruler to ensure you never mess up a placement. Click here for our full DTF size and placement guide.

Reducing the Plastic Feel of DTF Transfers: Optimizing artwork, application techniques, and choosing a textured cover sheet all play a role in how your transfer will feel once pressed. Click here to learn how to get a softer and more durable DTF garment.