Sjekkliste for DTF- og trykkerifiler
Trykk tilgir ikke skitne kanter. Lever i ønsket oppløsning, hold alfa ren eller bruk ønsket platefarge, og avklar pantone/CMYK om det gjelder.
Send en liten prøve hvis shoppen tillater det. Én sjekk sparer en hel mislykket opplag.
1. Confirm the shop’s current requirements
Ask for the shop’s file guide before making a delivery version. Requirements may differ by material, printer, software, underbase method, and finished size.
Confirm:
- accepted file formats
- preferred color profile, if specified
- minimum pixel dimensions or recommended resolution
- maximum printable area
- whether transparency is supported
- whether they need artwork at final physical size
- whether they add a white underbase automatically
- whether fine lines, gradients, or translucent pixels need special treatment
Do not rely on an old order or a generic tutorial. A concise answer from the person producing this job is more useful.
2. Preserve a transparent master
Keep one clean PNG containing only the intended subject and transparency. Do not flatten it onto a white rectangle unless the production instructions explicitly call for a white background.
Open the exported PNG in a viewer that displays transparency. A white screen does not prove the file has a white background, and checkerboard does not prove it is transparent unless the viewer is actually interpreting alpha. Place the file over a temporary color to test it.
Check for:
- a full rectangular background that should not be there
- semi-transparent haze around the subject
- accidental holes within solid artwork
- detached dots beyond the main design
- a shadow that was kept unintentionally
For the general cleanup process, see Sticker and print-ready cutouts.
3. Inspect the perimeter at two scales
First review the file at normal use size. Does the design read cleanly? Then zoom in enough to inspect the perimeter.
Look especially at:
- light artwork removed from a light wall
- dark fabric removed from a dark room
- hair, fur, and fuzzy textile edges
- loops, straps, laces, and small gaps
- reflective products carrying background color
Avoid polishing every soft pixel into a hard staircase. Photo-based artwork naturally contains anti-aliased edge pixels. The practical question is whether those pixels create a visible fringe on the garment or substrate color.
Preview the design over one light and one dark background. If the target garment color is known, include that too.
4. Check actual pixel dimensions
Write down the isolated subject’s pixel width and height, not just the dimensions of a large empty canvas. A small design centered inside a huge transparent file still contains only a small amount of subject detail.
Then compare those pixels with the intended physical print size. If the artwork must be enlarged heavily, request a better source or reduce the size. Editing a metadata value does not create new detail.
Pixels vs print size for cutouts explains this relationship without treating DPI as a quality switch.
5. State the finished size plainly
Do not make the production team infer size from a screenshot or filename. Include intended width and height with units, plus any rule about preserving proportions.
Example handoff note:
Print artwork at 260 mm wide. Preserve aspect ratio. Transparent outside the subject. No added background. Please confirm if the smallest text is below your reliable limit.
If exact placement matters, supply a separate mockup marked as a reference. Keep it distinct from the production artwork.
6. Treat color as a production conversation
Screens emit light; printed ink sits on material. A bright display preview is not a promise that the transfer will look identical. Garment color, underbase, ink behavior, heat, fabric texture, and color management can all affect the result.
For color-sensitive work:
- avoid judging from one uncalibrated screen
- tell the shop which colors are critical
- request a small test or proof when the order justifies it
- keep gradients and translucent areas only when the process supports them
- do not silently convert files unless the shop asks
If black, white, or a brand color must match closely, say so in writing.
7. Review tiny and translucent details
Very fine lines can disappear, break, or feel rough after transfer. Semi-transparent pixels may interact with an underbase in unexpected ways.
At final size, inspect:
- tiny text and punctuation
- isolated single-pixel specks
- narrow gaps between shapes
- soft drop shadows
- low-opacity smoke, glow, or hair
- narrow projections that may not adhere well
Ask the shop for its reliable minimum line and gap sizes. Simplifying a fragile detail before production is better than discovering the limit in a full order.
8. Send clean files and clear notes
Use versioned filenames and remove obsolete drafts from the delivery folder. Include only what the recipient needs:
- transparent production master
- reference mockup, clearly labeled
- dimensions and units
- quantity and substrate information, if relevant
- notes about intentional transparency or shadows
- contact name for approval questions
Do not call a file final-final-new.png. A simple version number and date are easier to track.
Copyable preflight checklist
- [ ] Current shop specification received
- [ ] Correct file format used
- [ ] Real transparency confirmed
- [ ] No unwanted rectangle, halo, holes, or stray dots
- [ ] Edges checked on light, dark, and target-color previews
- [ ] Subject pixel dimensions checked
- [ ] Intended physical size and units supplied
- [ ] Fine lines, text, and translucent details reviewed
- [ ] Critical color expectations communicated
- [ ] Mockup labeled as reference only
- [ ] Transparent master archived
- [ ] Delivery version opened once after export
Need to create the transparent master first? Get started with Easy Background Remover, then return to this checklist before handoff.