Fabric
100% cotton
Cotton is the fabric DTF is bought for. A photograph, a full-colour name, a design with white in it: the transfer carries the ink, including the white, and the cotton does not have to be polyester.
| Transfer | Temperature | Time | Pressure | Peel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold-peel standard | 150–160°C (302–320°F) | 10–15 seconds | Medium | Cold |
| Warm peel | 150–160°C (302–320°F) | 10–15 seconds | Medium | Warm |
| Hot peel | 155–160°C (311–320°F) | 8–12 seconds | Medium | Hot |
| Glitter | 150–160°C (302–320°F) | 10–15 seconds | Medium | Cold |
The packet supplied with your transfers wins over this table. Where a named film publishes a different press, the lookup shows that example beside the starting point.
For a ready-made cold-peel transfer, start at 150–160°C (302–320°F) for 10–15 seconds, medium pressure. Peel when the film is cold, off the hot platen, then press again under a silicone sheet, Teflon or parchment. Xpres publish that common press, and their Evolution cold-peel sheets use the same heat and time, with a second press of 10–15 seconds.
Hot peel is a different film. A typical ready-made hot-peel start on cotton is still around 155–160°C, for 8–12 seconds, peeled straight away. Amaya ProPeel is much shorter: 160°C for 3 seconds, medium-heavy, peel instantly, then 5 seconds again. Use 3 seconds only when that is your film. The lookup keeps the two cards apart.
Pre-press cotton. It holds moisture, and a damp patch is a common reason a transfer lifts after a wash that looked fine in the press. See pre-pressing. Glitter uses the cold-peel row unless the packet says otherwise, with a lighter second press so the sparkle is not crushed.
A one-colour name is often simpler in heat transfer vinyl. Those temperatures are on Heat press settings, not here. Sublimation will not print ordinary cotton, however white the shirt is. The comparison is on the DTF, HTV and sublimation page.
The blank kids’ sets below are 100% cotton, about 200 gsm, with a white chest. Press that chest, not the raglan seam. Placement and a suggested design width are on the children’s clothing page.
Common questions
Should I press cotton hotter than 160°C?
Not from the pages this site uses. Xpres say heavier cotton may need a slightly higher temperature and they do not print a new number. Creep up on a spare, inside the instructions you were given, rather than jumping past the sheet.
Can I sublimate a white cotton shirt instead?
No. Sublimation dye needs polyester. DTF is the full-colour route on cotton. Heat press settings explains the sublimation limit, and the vinyl charts if you only need a one-colour name.
Sources
- Xpres, how to DTF — common press 150–160°C for 10–15 seconds, medium, cold peel
- Xpres DTF Evolution cold-peel sheets — 150–160, 10–15 seconds, cold peel, second press 10–15 seconds
- Amaya ProPeel DTF film — instant peel; cotton 160°C for 3 seconds, blends 150°C for 10 seconds, polyester 130°C for 15 seconds