DTF Film
Nanodroplet DTF transfer film - EU-manufactured, sheets and rolls for every printer size
From £16.67 ex. VAT
About Nanodroplet DTF Film
DTF film is the starting point of every Direct to Film transfer. It's a specially coated PET (polyethylene terephthalate) sheet that carries your printed design - holding DTF ink and adhesive powder in place until you heat press the finished transfer onto fabric. Without the right film, nothing else in the process works properly.
This film is EU-manufactured using formaldehyde-free, non-toxic materials, with a double matte coating on both sides for consistent ink adhesion and powder hold. Press at medium to high pressure for 10 seconds and peel hot or cold - you get a clean release either way, giving you flexibility to match your workflow. We use this exact film in our own print shop every day, so we know how it performs under production conditions.
Whether you're a hobbyist printing a handful of custom tees at the weekend, a small business running orders through a converted Epson, or a production shop pushing hundreds of transfers a day on a dedicated DTF printer, there's a format here that fits. Sheets come in A4, A3, and A3+ for smaller batches, testing, and getting started. Rolls run from 30cm up to 60cm wide and are 100 metres long - load one into your roll feeder and print continuously without stopping to swap sheets.
All sizes ship from UK stock. If you're not sure which format or width you need, the buying guide below walks you through it. For the full engineering breakdown of this film's substrate chemistry, thermodynamic profile, and micro-layer architecture, see the Industrial Material Data Sheet further down the page.
Which DTF Film Size Do You Need?
Choosing between sheets and rolls - and picking the right roll width - comes down to how much you're printing and what printer you're using. Here's a straightforward breakdown to help you decide.
Sheets or Rolls?
Sheets are pre-cut and ready to feed into your printer one at a time. They're the sensible starting point if you're:
- New to DTF printing and still dialling in your settings
- Printing fewer than 20-30 transfers a week
- Running test prints before committing to a production run
- Using a printer without a roll feeder attachment
Rolls make sense once you're printing regularly. You load a roll into your printer's roll feeder, and it feeds film continuously - no stopping to insert sheets. For anything more than a handful of prints per day, rolls save time and reduce your cost per transfer significantly.
Matching Roll Width to Your Printer
The roll width needs to match your printer's maximum print width. Here's a quick reference:
- 30cm - Desktop printers like the Epson L1800 and similar A4-width DTF conversions
- 33cm - Wider desktop models, including some dedicated desktop DTF printers that print slightly beyond A4
- 40-42cm - A3+ printers such as the Epson XP-15000, ET-8550, and many dedicated A3+ DTF machines with i3200 or XP600 heads
- 60cm - Wide-format dedicated DTF printers, typically dual-head i3200 machines used in production environments
If you're unsure, check your printer's spec sheet for the maximum printable width. The roll should be equal to or slightly wider than that measurement.
How Many Transfers Per Roll?
Each roll is 100 metres long. Your yield depends on design size:
- Small designs (left chest, 10x10cm) - 500+ transfers per 30cm roll when gang-sheeted efficiently
- A4-sized prints (roughly 20x29cm) - approximately 330 transfers per 30cm roll
- Full chest prints (30x30cm) - around 100-150 transfers per 30cm roll
Gang sheeting - arranging multiple smaller designs side by side on the film - is the key to getting the most from every metre. Most RIP software supports this, and it can easily double your yield compared to printing one design at a time.
Hot or Cold Peel?
This film peels cleanly both hot and cold, giving you full control over your workflow. Hot peel means peeling the film immediately after opening the press - the thermal release agent is still fully activated, so the carrier lifts away with minimal resistance. Cold peel means waiting until the transfer has cooled to room temperature before peeling. Both methods produce excellent results with this film. Hot peel is faster for high-volume production; cold peel can give a slightly smoother matte finish on certain fabrics. Try both and use whichever suits your application.
Cost Efficiency: Rolls vs Sheets
Sheets are convenient but cost more per square metre of film. Once you're printing regularly, switching to rolls brings the cost down noticeably. For example, a 30cm roll gives you roughly 30 square metres of printable film - equivalent to hundreds of individual sheets - at a fraction of the per-sheet price. If you're running a business, rolls are where the margins improve.
Industrial Material Data Sheet
Standardised technical specifications for EU-manufactured 75µm Direct-to-Film transfer media. Engineered for pneumatic commercial presses and high-speed dual-head printers. Formaldehyde-free substrate.
Substrate Chemistry
| Base Polymer | Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) |
|---|---|
| Molecular Formula | (C10H8O4)n |
| Caliper (Thickness) | 75µm ± 2µm |
| Surface Finish | Double matte (both sides coated) |
| Density | 1.38 - 1.40 g/cm³ |
| Tensile Strength | ≥ 150 MPa (machine direction) |
| Optical Clarity | Translucent (matte diffusion coating) |
Applied Thermodynamics
| Glass Transition (Tg) | ~70°C (69 - 80°C range) |
|---|---|
| Optimal Melt Phase | 145°C - 155°C |
| Crystallisation Onset | ~137 - 148°C |
| Substrate Melting Point (Tm) | 250 - 260°C |
| Max Service Temperature | ~175°C (short-term exposure) |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.15 - 0.40 W/(m·K) |
| Dwell Time | 10 seconds (medium-high pressure) |
Pneumatic & Kinetic Data
| Pneumatic Pressure | 2.8 - 3.4 BAR |
|---|---|
| Manual Pressure | 40 - 50 PSI (medium-heavy) |
| Kinetic Release Force | < 15 N/m (hot peel) / < 10 N/m (cold peel) |
| Peel Method | Hot or cold peel (operator preference) |
| Coefficient of Friction | 0.3 - 0.5 (static, coated surface) |
Electrostatic Profile
| Surface Resistance | 109 - 1011 Ω/sq |
|---|---|
| Powder Repellency | High (non-printed areas) |
| Printer Feed Friction | Optimised for i3200 / i1600 / XP600 roller assemblies |
| Static Dissipation | Anti-static base coat (layer 4) |
Ink Absorption & Colour Performance
| Ink Reception | Micro-porous top coat (instant CMYK pigment absorption) |
|---|---|
| Colour Restoration | ≥ 90% colour accuracy (vs. digital source) |
| Edge Bleed Control | High (micro-porous structure prevents lateral wicking) |
| White Ink Opacity | Optimised for single-pass white underbase |
| Drying Compatibility | IR / convection oven curing (80 - 120°C pre-cure) |
Micro-Layer Architecture
"Double matte" is more than a surface texture. It is a 4-tier engineered stack designed to control ink surface tension, manage thermal release, and eliminate static bridging across the entire film width.
Layer 1: Ink-Receptive Top Coat
A micro-porous structure that traps wet CMYK and white pigment on contact. The pore geometry is calibrated to prevent lateral ink migration (edge-bleeding) while maintaining a surface energy that allows TPU adhesive powder to bond only to wet ink areas. This selectivity is what stops powder from sticking where it shouldn't - and it's the layer most responsible for sharp, clean transfer edges.
Layer 2: Thermal Release Agent
Activates at approximately 145°C. Once the press reaches optimal melt phase, this layer drops the kinetic release force to below 15 N/m, allowing the PET carrier to separate cleanly from the cured transfer. This film releases well both hot and cold - hot peeling at full activation gives the lowest release force, while cold peeling after cool-down produces a marginally smoother surface finish on certain knit fabrics.
Layer 3: 75µm PET Structural Core
The high-tensile PET backbone of the film. At 75 microns, it provides the rigidity needed to prevent warping, curling, and head-strikes as the film travels through the printer's platen and oven assembly. PET's glass transition temperature of approximately 70°C means the structural core remains dimensionally stable throughout the printing and pre-curing stages - it only becomes pliable at press temperatures, which is exactly when you want it to conform to the garment surface. The ± 2µm caliper tolerance ensures consistent feed behaviour across the full 100-metre roll length.
Layer 4: Anti-Static Base Coat
Dissipates surface charges in the 109 - 1011 Ω/sq range. In production environments - particularly during winter months or in air-conditioned workspaces with low humidity - static charge accumulation causes TPU powder to migrate onto unprinted areas of the film. This is known as "static bridging" and results in visible powder residue on the finished garment (the white haze or speckle you sometimes see around a transfer). The anti-static base coat prevents this by bleeding off charge before it can attract stray powder particles.
Why This Data Matters
We provide pneumatic BAR data, kinetic release forces, electrostatic resistance metrics, and the full micro-layer breakdown because commercial DTF production requires strict environmental and mechanical tolerances. Understanding the 4-tier architecture allows operators to diagnose common production issues - static bridging, ink pooling, premature release, and poor powder adhesion - that frequently occur with inferior single-coated or non-EU-regulated films. If you're running a production shop and seeing inconsistent results, the problem is almost always in the film's coating stack, not your printer settings.
Formaldehyde-Free Manufacturing
This film is manufactured without formaldehyde at any stage of production. Formaldehyde (CH₂O) is a volatile organic compound classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In textile manufacturing, formaldehyde has historically been used as a cross-linking agent in coating resins and as a preservative in release layers. When present in transfer media, it can off-gas during heat pressing at temperatures above 150°C - exactly the operating range of DTF production - exposing operators to airborne formaldehyde in concentrations that accumulate over a working shift.
Chronic occupational exposure to formaldehyde is linked to nasopharyngeal cancer, respiratory sensitisation, and contact dermatitis. The EU's REACH regulation restricts formaldehyde in textile articles to 75 mg/kg for direct skin contact (Class II) and 20 mg/kg for infant clothing (Class I). OEKO-TEX Standard 100 applies similar thresholds across its certification tiers.
Our EU-manufactured film meets these standards by design - not through post-production testing and filtering, but by excluding formaldehyde from the raw material inputs entirely. The coating resins use alternative cross-linking chemistry that achieves the same ink-receptive and release properties without introducing formaldehyde into the production chain. This matters for two reasons: operator safety during daily pressing, and end-product safety for the garments your customers wear against their skin.
If you are producing transfers for children's clothing, babywear, or any application marketed as skin-safe, formaldehyde-free film is not optional - it is a regulatory and ethical baseline. We recommend verifying formaldehyde status with any DTF film supplier, as many lower-cost imports do not disclose coating chemistry or test for formaldehyde content in the finished film.
Technical Specifications
| Material | PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | (C₁₀H₈O₄)ₙ |
| Coating | Double matte (both sides) - 4-tier micro-layer architecture |
| Thickness | 75µm ± 2µm |
| Press temperature | 145°C - 155°C (optimal melt phase) |
| Press time | 10 seconds at medium to high pressure |
| Pressure (pneumatic) | 2.8 - 3.4 BAR |
| Pressure (manual) | 40 - 50 PSI (medium-heavy) |
| Peel type | Hot or cold peel |
| Formaldehyde | Formaldehyde-free (EU manufactured) |
| Sheet sizes | A4 (210 x 297mm), A3 (297 x 420mm), A3+ (330 x 482mm) |
| Roll widths | 30cm, 33cm, 40cm, 42cm, 60cm |
| Roll length | 100 metres |
| Ink compatibility | DTF pigment ink (CMYK + White) |
| Printer compatibility | Epson-based DTF, dedicated DTF (i3200, i1600, XP600) |
| Storage | Cool, dry place. Avoid humidity. 12+ month shelf life |
| Origin | EU manufactured |
Key Features
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DTF film and how does it work?
What's the difference between sheets and rolls?
What roll width do I need for my printer?
Is this hot peel or cold peel film?
Why is your film EU-manufactured and formaldehyde-free?
How many transfers can I get from one roll?
How should I store DTF film?
What printer do I need to use DTF film?
What temperature, time, and pressure should I use for pressing?
Can I use DTF film on any fabric?
What does double matte mean and why does it matter?
What is static bridging and how does this film prevent it?
Learn More About DTF Film
How to Start DTF Printing: Beginner's Guide 2026
Everything you need to start DTF printing in the UK. Equipment list, realistic startup costs, your first print walkthrough, and common mistakes to avoid.
DTF Heat Press Settings: Temperature, Time & Pressure Guide
DTF heat press settings for every fabric type. Temperature, time, and pressure guide with troubleshooting tips for common pressing problems. From experience.
DTF Printing Troubleshooting: Common Problems & Fixes
Fix common DTF printing problems. White ink clogging, banding, poor adhesion, colour issues, and more. Practical solutions from working DTF printers.
.webp)