How to Prepare Print-Ready Artwork for DTF Transfers

Properly prepared artwork is essential for producing sharp, vibrant, and professional DTF transfers. Before submitting your order to Southern Girl Customs, review the following DTF artwork requirements carefully.

Orders are printed using the files provided by the customer. Preparing and reviewing your artwork before uploading helps prevent unwanted backgrounds, incorrect sizing, blurry details, spelling errors, and other printing problems.

Recommended DTF File Requirements

For the best possible printing results, your artwork should meet these specifications:

• File format: PNG preferred

• Background: Transparent

• Resolution: 300 DPI recommended

• Color mode: RGB preferred

• Artwork size: Created at the exact intended print size

• Orientation: Normal and readable—not mirrored

• Image quality: Clear, sharp, and free from pixelation

• Text: Proofread and converted to outlines or rasterized when applicable

• Edges: Clean, with no unwanted background or stray pixels

Use a Transparent Background

Artwork should be submitted with a fully transparent background. Any visible white, black, colored, or textured background may become part of the printed transfer.

Saving a file as a PNG does not automatically make its background transparent. Open the file and verify that the unwanted background has been completely removed before uploading it.

Southern Girl Customs prints artwork based on the file received. Background removal and artwork correction are not automatically included with a standard printing order.

Submit High-Resolution Artwork

For clear and detailed printing, submit your design at 300 DPI whenever possible. Low-resolution artwork may appear blurry, jagged, grainy, or pixelated when enlarged.

Downloading an image from social media, taking a screenshot, or increasing the dimensions of a small file does not restore the missing image quality.

Always begin with the highest-quality original artwork available.

Size Your Design Correctly

Your file should be created at the exact dimensions you want printed. For example, if you need a design printed at 10″ × 12″, submit it at 10″ × 12″ rather than expecting it to be resized automatically.

Before ordering, confirm:

• The artwork width and height

• The design proportions

• The intended garment placement

• The available pressing area

• Whether the design will fit the selected apparel size

Southern Girl Customs is not responsible for incorrect dimensions selected or submitted by the customer.

Do Not Mirror Your Artwork

Submit artwork in its normal, readable orientation. Do not mirror or reverse your design unless Southern Girl Customs specifically instructs you to do so.

Always double-check text, dates, names, phone numbers, and spelling before submitting your order.

Remove Unwanted Pixels and Edges

Inspect the entire design at a high zoom level before uploading. Remove:

• White or colored background boxes

• Stray pixels

• Rough or jagged edges

• Unwanted shadows

• Faint marks

• Cropped design elements

• Empty space that changes the intended dimensions

Small unwanted details visible in your artwork may also appear in the finished DTF transfer.

Use Appropriate Line Thickness and Text Size

Extremely thin lines, tiny lettering, faint details, and very small transparent spaces may not print or press consistently.

For stronger results:

• Use clean and readable text

• Avoid extremely thin strokes

• Increase delicate details when possible

• Make sure small design elements are clearly separated

• Review the artwork at its actual printed size

Preparing a DTF Gang Sheet

A DTF gang sheet allows you to place multiple designs on one sheet. Southern Girl Customs offers gang sheets with a fixed width of 22 inches and lengths ranging from 12 to 300 inches.

When building or uploading a gang sheet:

• Set the canvas to the exact purchased dimensions

• Keep every design completely inside the canvas

• Leave adequate space between designs for cutting

• Do not overlap artwork

• Do not place artwork beyond the sheet boundaries

• Maintain the correct proportions of every design

• Remove unnecessary empty space

• Verify the final sheet dimensions before submitting

A spacing of approximately 0.25 inch between designs is recommended to make cutting easier.

Rolling Gang Sheet Builder vs. Uploading a Gang Sheet

Rolling DTF Gang Sheet Builder

Choose the Rolling DTF Gang Sheet Builder when you want to upload individual designs, arrange them online, and let the builder determine the required sheet length.

Upload Your DTF Gang Sheet

Choose Upload Your DTF Gang Sheet when you already have a completed, correctly sized, print-ready gang-sheet file.

Your uploaded canvas must match the size selected when placing your order. Incorrect dimensions may cause scaling, cropping, additional blank space, or a delay while clarification is requested.

Color Expectations

Colors may appear differently between monitors, mobile devices, design programs, printers, and fabrics. Screen brightness and display settings can also affect how colors appear digitally.

While we work to produce vibrant and accurate results, an exact screen-to-print color match cannot be guaranteed. If precise brand colors are critical, contact us before placing a large order.

Artwork Responsibility

Customers are responsible for confirming that submitted artwork is:

• Correctly sized

• High-resolution

• Properly formatted

• Free from unwanted backgrounds

• Accurate in spelling and layout

• Authorized for reproduction

• Ready to print without additional editing

By submitting artwork, you confirm that you own the design or have permission to reproduce it.

Orders requiring background removal, redesigning, rebuilding, vectorization, or other corrections may require an additional artwork fee.

Final Artwork Checklist

Before submitting your DTF order, confirm:

• My artwork is clear and high-resolution

• My file has a transparent background

• My design is set to the correct print size

• My artwork is not mirrored

• All spelling and information are correct

• There are no unwanted pixels or background boxes

• All gang-sheet designs fit inside the selected canvas

• I have permission to print the submitted artwork

• I have saved and reviewed the final file

Ready to Order Your DTF Transfers?

Prepare your artwork using the guidelines above, then select the ordering option that best fits your project:

• Build a Rolling DTF Gang Sheet

• Upload a Print-Ready DTF Gang Sheet

• Order DTF Transfers by Size

Need help before ordering? Contact Southern Girl Customs in Ocala, Florida at southerngcustoms@gmail.com or call (352) 561-8309.