DTF Transfers
Made to Be Seen
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Applies All Fabrics
Cotton, Polyester, Blends
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Full-Colour Printing
Super Vibrant Transfers
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Rush Service Available
Quick Production! when needed
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Heat Press Ready
No-Weeding, No-Pre Treatment
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Wholesale Prices
Wholesale Pricing, Gang Sheets
5 Star Reviews on Google
Proofs Sent Before Production
Trusted by Lululemon, UBC, Red Bull & more
Volume Discount
Ready to Press DTF Transfers, Printed in Vancouver
You have the heat press and the blanks. You need the film. We print custom DTF transfers in Vancouver and ship them across Canada, ready to press the moment they arrive, no weeding, no pre treatment, no screens.
Full colour artwork on a single sheet, with a white ink base that keeps colours accurate on black and navy as easily as on white. Order one design or nest a dozen on a gang sheet. Press them today or store them for a run three months out.
What Is a DTF Transfer?
DTF stands for direct to film. Instead of printing ink onto the garment, the design is printed onto a PET carrier film, backed with white ink, coated in hot melt adhesive powder and cured. What you receive is a finished transfer that bonds to fabric under a heat press whenever you are ready to use it.
That separation between printing and pressing is the whole point. A screen printed transfer needs a screen per colour. A DTG print has to happen on the garment, at the moment of the order. A DTF transfer is printed once, digitally, in full colour, and pressed whenever the order actually comes in.
How DTF transfers are made
- Colour layer: the mirrored design is printed onto PET film in CMYK.
- White base: a white ink layer goes down behind the colours for opacity on any garment colour.
- Adhesive powder: hot melt polyurethane powder is applied while the ink is wet, sticking only to printed areas.
- Curing: heat fuses the powder into the ink, creating the bonding layer.
The transfer is then trimmed, checked and packed flat. Nothing else is needed until it meets your press.
Who Orders Ready to Press DTF Transfers
The common thread is control over timing. You decide what gets pressed, and when.
- Print shops outsourcing transfer production or absorbing overflow without adding equipment
- Apparel brands printing a design once and pressing across t-shirts, hoodies and totes as orders land
- On-demand sellers holding blank stock instead of finished inventory
- Event organisers pressing close to the date, when final numbers are known
- Schools and teams applying the same crest across a mixed garment order
Transfers press cleanly onto cotton, polyester, blends, fleece and most performance fabrics, on light and dark garments alike. For a full breakdown of how DTF behaves on each fabric type, see our DTF printing service page.
Wholesale, Bulk and Gang Sheets
Cost per transfer drops as the sheet fills. The most efficient way to order is to nest multiple designs onto a single sheet rather than running them separately, DTF gang sheet printing covers the sizes and layout options.
Volume pricing is available for resellers, print shops and brands ordering repeat runs. If you are placing regular orders, tell us your typical volume and we will set up pricing that reflects it rather than quoting each job cold.
Printed in Vancouver, Shipped Across Canada
Production runs from our East Vancouver facility. Orders ship Canada wide and to select U.S. cities, and local pickup is available in Metro Vancouver.
Because your transfers are printed in Canada, nothing clears customs on the way to you, no brokerage fees, no duties, no cross-border delay on a deadline. Every file is checked before it goes to print, and every order is inspected before it ships.
DTF Transfers vs DTF Printing Service
Two different products. This is the quickest way to tell which one you need:
DTF Transfers
With DTF transfers, you receive the printed film only, ready to apply with a heat press. You press the transfers yourself using your own equipment and supply the blank garments or products.
This option is best for print shops, resellers and on demand sellers that already have a heat press and want to handle production themselves.
- What you receive: Printed DTF film, ready to press
- Who applies the transfer: You
- Garments: You supply your own blanks
- Best for: Print shops, resellers and on demand sellers
DTF Printing Service
With our DTF printing service, you receive finished, professionally printed garments. We handle the printing and heat pressing for you. You can provide your own garments, or we can supply the blank apparel.
This option is best for businesses, schools, events and brands that need ready to wear custom apparel without managing the printing process themselves.
- What you receive: Finished, printed garments
- Who applies the transfer: Firebird Prints
- Garments: Supplied by you or by us
- Best for: Businesses, schools, events and brands
Don’t have a heat press? Choose our DTF printing service. We print and apply the designs to your garments, so you receive finished apparel that is ready to wear or distribute.
DTF Transfers FAQ
What does DTF stand for?
Direct to film. The design is printed onto a PET carrier film with CMYK inks, backed with white ink, coated in hot melt adhesive powder and cured. The finished transfer is heat pressed onto a garment whenever you are ready to apply it.
How do DTF transfers work?
Position the transfer on the garment, press at the specified temperature and pressure for the specified time, then peel the carrier film at the stage listed on your batch sheet. The adhesive layer bonds the design to the fabric. No pre treatment and no weeding is required.
What fabrics can I press DTF transfers onto?
Cotton, polyester, cotton-poly blends, tri blends, fleece and most performance fabrics, on both light and dark garments. Heavily coated or waterproof fabrics can resist adhesion, send us a sample if you are unsure.
How long can I store DTF transfers before pressing?
Months, if stored correctly. Keep them flat, cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. This is the main advantage of transfers over printing on demand: you can produce artwork in advance and press only when an order is confirmed.
Do I need a special heat press?
No. A standard heat press with reliable temperature and even pressure across the platen is sufficient. Consistency matters more than the machine, uneven pressure is the most common cause of edges lifting after a wash.
Do you offer wholesale pricing on bulk DTF transfers?
Yes. Pricing improves with volume, and gang sheets lower your cost per transfer further by nesting multiple designs on one sheet. Tell us your typical order size and we will set up pricing for repeat runs.
What is the difference between DTF transfers and DTF printing?
Transfers are film only, you press them yourself onto your own garments. The DTF printing service is the full job: we print, press and hand back finished apparel. Order transfers if you have a heat press; order the printing service if you want to receive wearable product.
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info@firebirdprints.com
+1 778 368 0288