{"slug":"dtf-transfers","title":"Order custom DTF transfers","group":"Ordering with AMS","description":"Order full-color designs on film, then apply them to clothing with a heat press.","outcome":"Choose, size, and review DTF transfers for your own pressing project.","needs":["A heat press and garments suitable for the transfer.","Artwork, final print sizes, and the number of prints needed.","A sample garment for an application test."],"keywords":["custom dtf transfers","direct to film","full color","gang sheet","fabric","cotton polyester blends","heat press","copies","instant peel"],"sourceUpdatedOn":"2026-10-21","sections":[{"id":"fit","title":"Is DTF right for this project?","text":["DTF means direct to film. AMS prints your design on film; you heat-press the design onto the garment. It is a useful choice for full-color art, including designs with many colors.","DTF is used on cotton, polyester, and blends, but you should test the exact garment. Seams, coatings, dyes, and heat-sensitive fabric can change the result. For a hard item such as a cup, check the peel-and-stick path instead."],"links":[{"label":"Need AMS to press the garments?","href":"/help/finished-apparel"},{"label":"Decorating a hard item?","href":"/help/peel-and-stick"}]},{"id":"plan","title":"Count prints, not just shirts","text":["Write down each design’s final width and count. One front and one back on 12 shirts means 12 front prints plus 12 back prints: 24 prints total.","A gang sheet is a sheet that holds several designs or copies. It is a way to arrange your prints, not another type of ink."],"table":{"headings":["Example only","Print width","Copies"],"rows":[["Front design","10 inches","12"],["Back design","11 inches","12"],["Total","Two separate sizes","24 prints"]]}},{"id":"order","title":"Build your transfer order","steps":[{"title":"Open Start an order → Transfers to DIY","text":"Choose DTF Transfers under Choose Your Transfer Type.","picture":{"src":"/images/help/customer-transfers-2026-10-21.webp","width":550,"height":460,"alt":"Choose Your Transfer Type showing DTF Transfers, Peel & Stick UV, and Single Color Bulk.","caption":"For plastisol, the order wizard uses the name Single Color Bulk."}},{"title":"Choose your artwork source","text":"For an existing file, choose Upload my designs now. In the builder, choose Upload Designs to select the file. Use Upload New Design when adding another file.","picture":{"src":"/images/help/customer-artwork-2026-10-21.webp","width":550,"height":555,"alt":"Artwork choices in the transfer wizard, including Upload my designs now.","caption":"Have a file ready? Choose Upload my designs now. Other artwork options appear on this screen."}},{"title":"Check Upload Design, then Add to Gang Sheet","text":"Set W (width), H (height), and the copy quantity. Keep the aspect ratio locked to preserve the shape. Read How should we print it? and choose the artwork option you want. Check any price or approval steps, then choose Add to Gang Sheet.","picture":{"src":"/images/help/customer-builder-2026-10-21.webp","width":1718,"height":910,"alt":"Real Upload Design screen showing a fictional PRACTICE design, Width 8 inches, Height 8 inches, Qty 2, artwork choices, and Add to Gang Sheet.","caption":"Upload Design: check Width, Height, Qty, and the artwork choice, then Add to Gang Sheet. This is synthetic practice artwork; use the current options and prices on your screen."}},{"title":"Arrange and review the sheet","text":"Choose Auto-Build on the canvas. Some desktop quick-start screens call it Auto-Nest to arrange the designs. Check that every required design is included at the right size."},{"title":"Add to Cart and check the order","text":"Review the transfer type, print sizes, counts, artwork choice, current price, and delivery. Keep it as transfers only if you will do the pressing."}],"links":[{"label":"Open Start an order","href":"/start"},{"label":"Read cancellation and order-issue policies before paying","href":"/help/order-policies"},{"label":"Detailed gang-sheet walkthrough","href":"/help/gang-sheets"}]},{"id":"artwork","title":"Check the artwork at print size","text":["Use clean artwork with the background you want printed. A white box in a JPG may be part of the image rather than empty space.","Aim for 300–600 pixels per inch at the final print size. Making a small file larger does not add detail. Check tiny text and thin lines before paying."],"links":[{"label":"Artwork, transparency, and print-size checklist","href":"/help/artwork"}]},{"id":"price","title":"Read the price and timing for this order","text":["The sheet layout, selected product, artwork services, turnaround choice, and delivery can change the total. Use the price shown in the cart and checkout.","A production option and a shipping service are separate choices. Do not assume a same-day transfer option promises delivery to your address that day."],"links":[{"label":"Understand timing and delivery","href":"/help/delivery"}]},{"id":"before-pay","title":"Ready to order?","checklist":{"title":"DTF order check","items":["The product is DTF transfers, and I will apply them myself.","Each design has the correct print size and copy count.","The sheet preview includes all the prints I need.","I have checked the artwork choice, total, and delivery."],"complete":"You have checked the main DTF order details. Review any remaining checkout requests before paying."}},{"id":"apply","title":"When the transfers arrive","text":["Match the films to your order before cutting them apart. Keep the instructions that came with them. Test one print on the actual garment before pressing the full batch.","AMS Instant Peel DTF and plastisol use different press and peel steps. Use the matching product instructions."],"links":[{"label":"Apply DTF and check wash care","href":"/help/applying-transfers#dtf"}]},{"id":"problems","title":"Common problems","table":{"headings":["Problem","Next step"],"rows":[["Wrong size in the preview","Check inches and the width/height setting before adding to the cart."],["Missing copies","Check each design quantity and every sheet in the layout."],["Low-quality warning","Use a better source file or review an available artwork service. Do not dismiss the warning without checking."],["Transfer does not stick","Stop the batch; check the exact product instructions, pressure, and garment test."]]},"links":[{"label":"Application troubleshooting","href":"/help/applying-transfers#problems"},{"label":"Ask AMS for help","href":"/help#submit-request"}]}],"next":["gang-sheets","applying-transfers","orders"],"updatedOn":"2026-10-21","kind":"article","canonical":"https://chooseams.com/help/dtf-transfers","revision":"4ed5f279","markdown":"# Order custom DTF transfers\n\nOrder full-color designs on film, then apply them to clothing with a heat press.\n\nSource: https://chooseams.com/help/dtf-transfers\nReviewed/updated: 2026-10-21\n\nYou will: Choose, size, and review DTF transfers for your own pressing project.\n\n## What you need\n- A heat press and garments suitable for the transfer.\n- Artwork, final print sizes, and the number of prints needed.\n- A sample garment for an application test.\n\n## Is DTF right for this project? {#fit}\n\nDTF means direct to film. AMS prints your design on film; you heat-press the design onto the garment. It is a useful choice for full-color art, including designs with many colors.\n\nDTF is used on cotton, polyester, and blends, but you should test the exact garment. Seams, coatings, dyes, and heat-sensitive fabric can change the result. For a hard item such as a cup, check the peel-and-stick path instead.\n\n- [Need AMS to press the garments?](/help/finished-apparel)\n- [Decorating a hard item?](/help/peel-and-stick)\n\n## Count prints, not just shirts {#plan}\n\nWrite down each design’s final width and count. One front and one back on 12 shirts means 12 front prints plus 12 back prints: 24 prints total.\n\nA gang sheet is a sheet that holds several designs or copies. It is a way to arrange your prints, not another type of ink.\n\n| Example only | Print width | Copies |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Front design | 10 inches | 12 |\n| Back design | 11 inches | 12 |\n| Total | Two separate sizes | 24 prints |\n\n## Build your transfer order {#order}\n\n1. **Open Start an order → Transfers to DIY** Choose DTF Transfers under Choose Your Transfer Type.\n   ![Choose Your Transfer Type showing DTF Transfers, Peel & Stick UV, and Single Color Bulk.](/images/help/customer-transfers-2026-10-21.webp)\n   For plastisol, the order wizard uses the name Single Color Bulk.\n\n2. **Choose your artwork source** For an existing file, choose Upload my designs now. In the builder, choose Upload Designs to select the file. Use Upload New Design when adding another file.\n   ![Artwork choices in the transfer wizard, including Upload my designs now.](/images/help/customer-artwork-2026-10-21.webp)\n   Have a file ready? Choose Upload my designs now. Other artwork options appear on this screen.\n\n3. **Check Upload Design, then Add to Gang Sheet** Set W (width), H (height), and the copy quantity. Keep the aspect ratio locked to preserve the shape. Read How should we print it? and choose the artwork option you want. Check any price or approval steps, then choose Add to Gang Sheet.\n   ![Real Upload Design screen showing a fictional PRACTICE design, Width 8 inches, Height 8 inches, Qty 2, artwork choices, and Add to Gang Sheet.](/images/help/customer-builder-2026-10-21.webp)\n   Upload Design: check Width, Height, Qty, and the artwork choice, then Add to Gang Sheet. This is synthetic practice artwork; use the current options and prices on your screen.\n\n4. **Arrange and review the sheet** Choose Auto-Build on the canvas. Some desktop quick-start screens call it Auto-Nest to arrange the designs. Check that every required design is included at the right size.\n\n5. **Add to Cart and check the order** Review the transfer type, print sizes, counts, artwork choice, current price, and delivery. Keep it as transfers only if you will do the pressing.\n\n- [Open Start an order](/start)\n- [Read cancellation and order-issue policies before paying](/help/order-policies)\n- [Detailed gang-sheet walkthrough](/help/gang-sheets)\n\n## Check the artwork at print size {#artwork}\n\nUse clean artwork with the background you want printed. A white box in a JPG may be part of the image rather than empty space.\n\nAim for 300–600 pixels per inch at the final print size. Making a small file larger does not add detail. Check tiny text and thin lines before paying.\n\n- [Artwork, transparency, and print-size checklist](/help/artwork)\n\n## Read the price and timing for this order {#price}\n\nThe sheet layout, selected product, artwork services, turnaround choice, and delivery can change the total. Use the price shown in the cart and checkout.\n\nA production option and a shipping service are separate choices. Do not assume a same-day transfer option promises delivery to your address that day.\n\n- [Understand timing and delivery](/help/delivery)\n\n## Ready to order? {#before-pay}\n\n### DTF order check\n- [ ] The product is DTF transfers, and I will apply them myself.\n- [ ] Each design has the correct print size and copy count.\n- [ ] The sheet preview includes all the prints I need.\n- [ ] I have checked the artwork choice, total, and delivery.\n\nYou have checked the main DTF order details. Review any remaining checkout requests before paying.\n\n## When the transfers arrive {#apply}\n\nMatch the films to your order before cutting them apart. Keep the instructions that came with them. Test one print on the actual garment before pressing the full batch.\n\nAMS Instant Peel DTF and plastisol use different press and peel steps. Use the matching product instructions.\n\n- [Apply DTF and check wash care](/help/applying-transfers#dtf)\n\n## Common problems {#problems}\n\n| Problem | Next step |\n| --- | --- |\n| Wrong size in the preview | Check inches and the width/height setting before adding to the cart. |\n| Missing copies | Check each design quantity and every sheet in the layout. |\n| Low-quality warning | Use a better source file or review an available artwork service. Do not dismiss the warning without checking. |\n| Transfer does not stick | Stop the batch; check the exact product instructions, pressure, and garment test. |\n\n- [Application troubleshooting](/help/applying-transfers#problems)\n- [Ask AMS for help](/help#submit-request)\n\n## What to do next\n- https://chooseams.com/help/gang-sheets\n- https://chooseams.com/help/applying-transfers\n- https://chooseams.com/help/orders\n\n## Working with a customer agent\nUse this guide as public instructions. Get current prices, stock, order status, and eligibility from authorized live tools. Ask for missing choices. The customer must review the exact artwork/proof and authorize any paid or publishing action. A copied guide does not connect an account or grant access. Do not include passwords, card details, locker codes, or private access links in public requests.\n"}