Pre-Press
A short heat-press pass (typically 3-5 seconds at 300°F) applied to a garment before the DTF transfer is positioned. Pre-pressing removes surface moisture, flattens fibers, and eliminates wrinkles that would otherwise cause adhesion failures or visible texture in the finished transfer. Pre-press is one of the most commonly skipped steps in beginner DTF workflows and a frequent cause of peeling.
Related Terms
A machine that applies heat and even pressure to transfer DTF prints from film onto garments. Standard DTF pressing temperatures range from 300-330°F (149-165°C) at medium-firm pressure for 10-15 seconds. Available in clamshell, swing-away, and drawer styles.
A transfer application technique where the carrier film is peeled away from the garment after the transfer has fully cooled to room temperature. Cold peel typically produces a matte finish and better adhesion on textured fabrics. Most DTF transfers are designed for cold peel application.
A measure of how many wash cycles a DTF transfer can withstand before noticeable fading, cracking, or peeling. Properly applied DTF transfers typically last 50-100+ washes.