You press transfers every week. You know your press, your fabrics and your customers. So when a new carrier turns up, the only question that matters is practical: what changes at my press, and is it worth trying? Here's the straight answer on DTF and DTP—what's the same, what's different, and how to test both without wasting a run.
The short version
DTF (direct-to-film) prints your design onto a PET film carrier. DTP prints the same design onto a paper carrier with a release coating. Everything in between is the same workflow: the design is printed in colour with a white-ink layer, adhesive powder is applied, the transfer is cured, and you press it onto the garment with heat.
So this isn't a question of which technology is "better". It's a question of which carrier you want in your hands at the press—film or paper—and which settings suit your equipment.
What stays exactly the same
- Your artwork. One file, no re-export, no separate colour setup.
- Sheet sizes. 58 cm wide, 1 m to 5 m in 10 cm steps.
- Ordering routes. Build individual designs in the online builder, or upload a finished print-ready sheet.
- Garment colour. Both use a colour layer backed with white ink, so light and dark garments are both on the table.
- The peel. Both are hot peel, with a short second press.
- The savings. Trade pricing, VIP Gift Card credit and VIP Lifetime Cashback apply to both.
What's different
| DTF | DTP | |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier | PET film | Paper with a release coating |
| Workshop reference temperature | 150°C | 130°C |
| First press | 5 seconds | 4 seconds |
| Pressure | Medium | 3.0 bar |
| Second press | 5 seconds | 4 seconds |
| Cover sheet | Not needed | Not needed |
| Retail per metre (at time of writing) | $23 | $26 |
| Trade per metre (15% off) | $19.55 | $22.10 |
These are workshop settings, not rules
The press numbers above are what we run in our own workshop, as a reference. If you already have settings that work on your press and fabric, keep using them. Every press and every garment is a little different—test one piece before the batch.
What the paper carrier looks like after the peel
This is the part people notice first when they try DTP. With DTF, what's left after the peel is a sheet of PET film. With DTP, what's left is a sheet of paper. In our workshop it crumples and tears in the hand like paper does.
Dispose of used carriers the way your local council asks for this kind of waste.
How to choose: five real situations
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your settings are dialled in for film and you're happy with them | DTF | It's the workflow you already know. Nothing to relearn. |
| You prefer to work at a lower press temperature | DTP | Our workshop reference for DTP is 130°C for 4 seconds, against 150°C for 5 seconds for DTF. |
| You'd rather handle paper than film at the peel | DTP | The carrier is paper, so it handles like paper. |
| You're pricing a large run and every cent per print counts | DTF | DTF is $3 per metre less at Retail (at time of writing). |
| You're not sure | Both | Order 1 m of each and press them side by side on your garments. |
Test both properly—on your press, not ours
- Put the same design on both sheets. Use artwork you actually sell, with fine detail and a solid area.
- Order the minimum. 1 m of DTF and 1 m of DTP is enough for a fair comparison.
- Use your own garments. The same blank, the same print location.
- Record your settings. Temperature, time, pressure and when you peeled.
- Check after pressing and after a wash. Look at edges, fine lines and how the print feels on the garment.
Then choose on evidence from your own bench—and keep both options in mind for different jobs.
Your first DTP press: a quick checklist
- Start from a reference. Our workshop runs DTP at 130°C for 4 seconds at 3.0 bar. If you have settings you trust, start there instead.
- Pre-press the garment briefly to remove moisture and flatten the print area.
- Position the transfer face down, flat, away from seams and zips.
- Press, then hot peel smoothly in one motion.
- Second press—4 seconds in our workshop.
- Inspect edges and fine detail before you press the rest of the run.
What the carrier choice means for your pricing
On a 1 m sheet of 10 × 10 cm logos (45 per metre), the difference between carriers is small per print:
| 45 logos on 1 m | DTF | DTP |
|---|---|---|
| Retail per logo | $0.51 | $0.58 |
| Trade per logo | $0.43 | $0.49 |
About 6–7 cents a logo at these prices. For most jobs, choose the carrier that suits your press and your customer, then price accordingly. Worked examples use prices at the time of writing.
Order DTP gang sheets →Order DTF gang sheets →
Quick answers
Is DTP the same process as DTF?
Yes. Both are printed in colour with a white-ink layer, powdered with adhesive, cured and then pressed onto the garment with heat. The difference is the carrier: DTF is printed on PET film, DTP on a paper carrier with a release coating.
Can I use the same artwork file for DTF and DTP?
Yes. One file works for both. The sheet width (58 cm) and the length options (1 m to 5 m in 10 cm steps) are also the same.
What press settings should I use for DTP?
If you already have settings that work on your press, keep using them. For reference, our workshop runs DTP at 130°C for 4 seconds at 3.0 bar, hot peel, with a 4-second second press. For DTF the workshop reference is 150°C for 5 seconds at medium pressure, with a 5-second second press.
Do Trade pricing, VIP Gift Cards and cashback apply to DTP?
Yes. The public Trade rate (15% off Retail for verified ABN holders), VIP Gift Card credit and VIP Lifetime Cashback all apply to DTP as well as DTF.
Which one should I order first?
If you're not sure, order 1 m of each and press them side by side on the garments you actually use. That comparison on your own press tells you more than any spec sheet.
Keep reading: How to prepare a print-ready gang sheet · Application guide
