DTF printing file requirements (and how to meet them)
Direct-to-film printing is forgiving on fabrics but unforgiving on files. A design that looks fine on a phone can print with a white box, soft edges or banding. This checklist covers what the file needs.
1. Transparent PNG, always
Only PNG (or TIFF) keeps transparency. JPG fills the background with white, and the printer will lay white ink over that whole area. Use the Remove background tool to get a clean cut-out.
2. 300 DPI at the final print size
A 28 × 35 cm (11 × 14 in) front print needs about 3300 × 4200 px. If the design is smaller, upscale it with AI before you remove the background.
3. RGB color mode
Most DTF RIPs expect RGB and convert to the printer's inks with their own profile. Only use CMYK if your RIP documentation asks for it.
4. Clean, hard edges
Semi-transparent or blurry edges print as a faint white halo. AI background removal produces crisp alpha edges; avoid feathering or soft shadows unless intended.
5. Check before you print
Preview the PNG over a dark color to spot leftover background pixels. The checkerboard preview in the tool makes stray pixels easy to see.
Transparent background in one click
Remove background