FAQ's
Lion DTF Transfers — FAQ
1. DTF Basics
What are DTF transfers? DTF (Direct-to-Film) transfers are full color heat transfers where a design is printed onto a special film using a printer with white ink capability, coated with a powdered adhesive, cured, and then heat-pressed onto fabric.
What's the difference between DTF and UV DTF? DTF transfers are applied with heat — they're designed for fabric and go through a heat press. UV DTF is a sticker/decal product cured with UV light and applied with peel-and-stick adhesive — designed for hard surfaces like tumblers, laptops, and cup wraps, not fabric
What are the advantages of DTF transfers?
- Vibrant, full color that holds up over time
- Soft hand-feel on the garment
- Durable through repeated washing
- Works on cotton, polyester, blends, and more
- No weeding required (unlike vinyl)
- Reproduces fine details and thin lines
- No setup fees, screens, or minimums
What fabrics can I use DTF transfers on? Cotton, polyester, blends, canvas, and most light or dark-colored fabrics, and more.
2. Ordering & Artwork
How do I place an order? For 2 or more designs, the most cost-effective route is the online gang sheet builder — upload your images, size them, set quantity, and hit apply to build your sheet.
Can you help me with my images or designs? Yes — email your files to Orders@LionDTF.com and the team can help.
Can you remove a background from my image? In most cases, yes, without lowering resolution. Email the design to Orders@LionDTF.com.
What file format and resolution should my artwork be? Vector artwork is best, but PNG with a transparent background work great. Aim for at least 300 DPI at the final print size — lower-resolution files may print blurry or pixelated. (Confirm exact specs before publishing — I didn't want to guess at a number your team hasn't actually set.)
Is there a minimum order quantity? No minimums or setup fees — you can order one transfer or a full gang sheet.
Do you offer a color matching guide? Yes — see the Color Matching Guide to check how colors will translate to print.
What payment methods do you accept? All credit/debit cards, Paypal, ShopPay, Amazon Pay, Google Pay.
3. Gang Sheets
What is a DTF gang sheet? A single sheet of transfer film with multiple designs (or multiple copies of one design) arranged together. It's the "buy in bulk, print in bulk" option — it saves money on film, speeds up printing, and cuts down on wasted material versus printing each design separately.
Do you save my gang sheet layout for reordering? Yes, when using the gang sheet builder it keeps everything in your account. Just make sure you are logged in.
4. Pricing, Bulk & Wholesale
Do you offer bulk discounts? Yes — fill out the wholesale inquiry form for bulk pricing.
Is there a reseller or wholesale program? Yes, you can setup a wholesale account with special tiered pricing discounts.
5. Shipping & Turnaround
What are your turnaround times? Orders print and ship within 1 business day, as long as artwork is print-ready. Shipping time depends on the service you choose.
What shipping options do you offer? Full UPS lineup: UPS Ground, UPS 3rd Day, UPS 2nd Day, UPS Next Day, and UPS Next Day AM. Saturday delivery must be requested — UPS doesn't pick up or deliver to business addresses on weekends.
Do you ship internationally? Sorry, not currently.
How do I track my order? You should have recieved an email with the tracking # when your order shipped.
Do you offer rush or same-day production? Yes, we do. It's a $50 same day rush fee, if placed before noon on a business day.
6. Applying Your Transfers
How do I apply a DTF transfer?
- Pre-press the garment for 5 seconds to remove moisture and wrinkles.
- Place the transfer and cover completely with teflon or parchment paper.
- Heat press with medium pressure for 10 seconds.
- Peel immediately (hot peel) or let it cool fully first, then peel. (treat as cold peel, if you have small fonts or fine lines)
- Reuse the teflon/parchment paper, place back over the design, and press again for 5–6 seconds.
Recommended heat press temperatures (temps may vary by press model):
| Fabric | Temperature |
|---|---|
| 100% polyester | 240°F |
| Cotton/poly blend | 260°F |
| 100% cotton | 280°F |
What is a "hot peel" transfer? You peel the film off while it's still hot, right after pressing — this helps the bond set and keeps colors vibrant.
What's the difference between hot peel and cold peel? Hot peel is removed immediately after pressing while still warm. Cold peel means letting the transfer cool completely before removing the film — some designs (especially with more texture or coverage) benefit from cooling first. Both work, and it can come down to preference and film type.
Can I apply DTF transfers with a home iron or Cricut EasyPress instead of a heat press? Yes, you can, just keep consistent pressure and time. Usually the hottest temp, with no steam.
7. Care & Durability
How long do DTF transfers last? With proper application and care, typically 100+ washes.
Can I wash garments with DTF transfers? Yes — turn inside out, use mild detergent, wash cold, and tumble dry low or hang dry.
How durable are Lion DTF transfers specifically? With proper care, they hold vibrant color and durability through 100+ washes, thanks to the inks and films used.
8. Troubleshooting
Why are my transfers cracking after washing? Usually incorrect heat press settings (time/temperature/pressure), lower-quality materials, garment shrinkage, or improper washing.
Why aren't my transfers sticking to the fabric?
- Pressing: Wrong time, temperature, or pressure for the film/fabric — these are hot peel transfers, so overheating causes problems. Test your specific press and settings.
- Fabric: Pre-press garments first, and adjust settings by fabric type (polyester presses cooler than cotton). Pre-shrunk fabrics are recommended.
Why are my prints fading after washing?
- Pressing: Too much heat or too little pressure can keep ink from bonding properly, leading to a dull, washed-out look.
- Washing: Harsh detergent, hot water, and rough washing all accelerate fading — wash cold, gentle, inside out.
- Fabric: Synthetics tend to hold color better than natural fibers.
9. Returns & Reprints
What's your return policy? No returns, since everything is custom-printed to order. If there's a mistake on Lion DTF's end, contact within 48 hours of receiving your order with photos. After review, approved reprints ship within 1–2 business days. Reprints are not issued for low-resolution or poor-quality source files, artwork with backgrounds, or the item you pressed onto.
10. Why Lion DTF
What makes Lion DTF different from other suppliers? Speed and color managment are at the top of the list. We only use high-quality inks and films chosen for color vibrancy, fine detail, and wash durability
- A quality-control process applied before every order ships
- A dedicated online gang sheet builder for fast, custom layouts
- 1-business-day turnaround on print-ready orders
- Direct, responsive support from a team that specializes in DTF — not a general print shop
How durable are Lion DTF transfers? 100+ washes with proper application and care, using the inks and films described above.
Contact
Text or Call: 833-350-5466 Email: orders@liondtf.com Press jobs: press@liondtf.com Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Saturday by appointment. Closed New Year's, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.