How to Create & Apply UV DTF Cup Wraps

What you'll need:

✔️ Ruler

✔️ Blank Glass Cup (we used: 16 oz cup & 20 oz cup)

✔️ Ninja Transfers UV DTF Transfers

✔️ Squeegee (free with your UV DTF purchase)

Nice to have:

✔️ Cup Cradle (we used: via amazon)

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Create a Template & Design

1. Measure

Measure both the height and the circumference of your glass. We recommended using a clothing/soft measuring tape, but you can always use a shoelace or cable to measure the circumference and lay it on a rigid ruler to get the length.

2. Create a Template

Using your above measurements, create a boundary/template in your preferred design tool.

3. Start Designing

Create your design to fit in your sized template, making it perfect for the item you’re wrapping.

4. Order Your UV DTF Transfer

Upload your design as a DTF transfer by size, or create a gang sheet with all your designs!

Preparation

1. Confirm Sizing

Wrap your UV DTF transfer around your blank cup before cleaning to confirm sizing and placement.

2. Prepare your Transfer

Place your transfer on a flat, stable surface. Use your hand or your squeegee to apply firm, even pressure across the entire transfer, while smoothing it from top to bottom and left to right. This step ensures proper adhesion, so the permasticker separates with ease.

3. Clean

Wash your hands and your glass cup thoroughly with soap and water. Dry completely, ensuring the surface is free of dust, debris, fingerprints, and/or moisture.

4. Trim to Size

Trim the clear edges of your UV transfer to avoid overlapping during application.

Application

1. Peel

Peel back 1/2 - 1 inch of your UV DTF transfer backing to expose the adhesive along the vertical edge.

2. Position and Place

Carefully align the exposed vertical edge of your UV DTF transfer to the cup, ensuring that it’s straight and well-positioned.

3. Apply your Transfer

Using your hand or a squeegee, smooth the exposed transfer into place and secure it to the glass. Continue to slowly peel the film backing away in small sections while simultaneously using your other hand to carefully roll and smooth the transfer around the cup. Maintain steady, even pressure to avoid bubbles or wrinkles.

4. Squeegee

Once the wrap is fully applied, inspect for air bubbles or imperfections. Use the squeegee and the warmth of your hands to press and smooth the entire wrap, ensuring it is firmly adhered and without imperfections.

5. Remove Carrier Sheet

Slowly and carefully peel the top layer (carrier sheet) away from your glass, mindful of any tears or imperfections while peeling to minimize any errors. Gently hand wash with soap and water to remove any excess adhesive and enjoy!

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6 Most Common Mistakes:

Improper Prep: In UV DTF application, the phrase ‘burnishing’ refers to applying firm pressure to the UV DTF transfer film. See Preparation, Step 2. Smoothing or burnishing the transfer before application ensures proper adhesion. Skipping this step may contribute to air bubbles or small tears during application.
Cleanliness: Cutting corners on cleaning and drying your cup prior to application may contribute to imperfections like air bubbles or tears, and can impact the longevity of your cup wrap over time. Avoid letting the exposed adhesive make contact with any surfaces other than what you’re pressing on, including your fingers.
Poor Design Choice: Edge-to-edge, all-over cup wrap designs should only be attempted by crafters who are experienced with application and ultimately may be better suited for a print method like sublimation. Choose a design with transparencies, or negative space. The density of your design (aka how much surface area it covers), influences the difficulty level of application.
Air Bubbles: Air bubbles aren’t uncommon, especially during Application. It’s essential to squeegee or smooth out your UV DTF Transfer while applying. Burnishing from an outer edge, towards the interior, may trap air bubbles with no escape route during application. We recommend applying the transfers from the inside out.
Small Tears: Peeling the top layer, or the carrier sheet, away from your UV DTF Transfers (Application, Step 5) requires tension. It’s not uncommon for the tension to pull from a larger surface area than anticipated, which can result in tears. Use one hand to carefully peel the carrier sheet away in a small section, while using the other hand to secure the surrounding sections with light pressure. This will help to prevent tears during the reveal.
Misalignment: It may be possible to adjust for misalignment during application, so long as you’re using a transfer design with negative space that would allow you to trim the unadhered transfer away with small scissors or a cutting blade. Simply trim the unadhered section of the transfer away from the cup, and reposition before you continue.