DTF output · no screen mesh · breathable holes
DTF halftone generator online
Turn the big solid areas of a DTF design into a fine diamond hole pattern so the transfer breathes and stretches, knock the darkest tones out on black shirts, and preview it before you print the film.
Your artwork or a worked example — load one, then change anything
Design file dtf-breathable-transfer
Print simulation
Free · made in your browser
Pro film pack · screen-ready files
Unlock screen-ready film positives
- 1:1 film PDF, one page per plate, with registration crosshairs, plate headers and a 10-step exposure strip
- 600 DPI 1-bit transparent PNG films with 0 grey edge pixels, including the choked white underbase
- Plate-grouped true vector SVG: real circle, path and polygon dots at print size
- Unlimited designs while your pass is active
Desktop RIP software runs $199–$495. The 7-day pass is $4.99.
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Recommended · Mesh ÷ 4.5 = 34.7
Emulsion and print size
Shadow clip
Knock-out threshold
WASH-OUT SAFE Min Dot Diameter: 146 μm Limit 96 μm = 1.5 × 64 μm thread
- Mesh
- Screen Mesh: 156T
- Output
- Output LPI: 35 LPI @ 22.5°
- Thread
- Thread: 64 μm · Opening: 99 μm
- Emulsion
- Emulsion: Dual-cure
- Risk
- Risk zones: 0 cells
- Vector nodes
- Vector Nodes: 0 dots
- Knock-out
- Knocked out: 0% of artwork
- Output size
- 11.00 × 13.75 in · 6600 × 8250 px @ 600 DPI
600 DPI 1-Bit · Grey pixels: 0Vector SVG ready
Free vs Pro, file by file
- Proof PNG Free
- Opaque shirt mockup up to 1000 px, stamped CLIENT MOCKUP PROOF ONLY — NOT FOR SCREEN EXPOSURE
- Settings TXT Free
- Mesh, LPI, angle, gain and clips to pin next to the press
- 1:1 Film PDF Pro
- One page per plate with crosshairs, plate header and a 10-step strip
- 600 DPI PNGs Pro
- Transparent 1-bit films with 0 grey edge pixels
- Vector SVG Pro
- Plate-grouped circle, path and polygon dots at print size
Settings sheet preview
Settings appear here.
How it works
From artwork to film in four steps
- 01
Load a solid design.
The DTF Soft-Hand Breathable Transfer preset is a badge with large solid fills; upload yours the same way.
- 02
Keep breathable holes on.
Every solid cell is capped at 80% coverage, so a 20% diamond hole stays open in each cell.
- 03
Tune the knock-out.
Tones at or below the threshold vanish so a black shirt shows through; the next 35% of luminance fades in as dots.
- 04
Export the transfer files.
The Pro pack adds a color transfer PNG with binary alpha next to the 1-bit halftone mask.
Hole size
Hole size vs LPI
With holes on, every solid cell is capped at 80% film coverage. The hole is the remaining 20% of the cell.
| LPI | Cell pitch | Hole across | Holes per in² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1.02 mm | 0.51 mm | 625 |
| 30 | 0.85 mm | 0.43 mm | 900 |
| 35 | 0.73 mm | 0.37 mm | 1,225 |
| 40 | 0.64 mm | 0.32 mm | 1,600 |
| 45 | 0.56 mm | 0.28 mm | 2,025 |
DTF vs screen
Starting settings side by side
The same engine runs both, but the defaults differ.
| Setting | DTF transfer | Screen film |
|---|---|---|
| Mesh check | None — no stencil | Min dot ≥ 1.5 × thread |
| Dot gain start | 10% (50% → 40%) | 15% (50% → 36%) |
| Typical LPI | 30–45 | Mesh ÷ 4.5 |
| Dot shape | Diamond for clean holes | Elliptical or round |
| Solid areas | Capped at 80% (holes) | Solid above the shadow clip |
| Output | Color transfer PNG + 1-bit mask | 1-bit films, PDF, SVG |
Workflow
RIP-free notes for DTF printers
What the transfer file already does, and what your printer software still has to do.
- Place at 100%
- The transfer PNG is 600 DPI at the print size in its pHYs header; do not let the printer software fit it to the sheet.
- White layer
- Generate the white from the PNG alpha so it carries the same holes; a solid white under the color would close them again.
- Powder and press
- Fine holes hold less powder; shake off well and press with your film maker's time and temperature.
- Test first
- Press one transfer and stretch it across the print before a run; if holes close, lower the LPI by 5.
Where it fits
Jobs this page is built for
Large chest and back prints
A 10 × 11 inch solid badge is a sheet of glue; holes make it feel like a print, not a patch.
Compare with screen print settingsAthletic and stretch fabrics
Hole patterns flex with the knit instead of cracking across a solid film.
See why diamonds leave clean holesDark garment transfers
Knock the black out so the shirt prints it and the transfer carries less film.
Learn the knock-out logicChecking file size first
DTF films are 600 DPI; a 10 inch transfer is 6000 pixels wide.
Read the film output notes
Shop questions
Frequently asked questions
Why do big DTF areas feel like plastic?
DTF bonds with a layer of white ink and adhesive powder. Over a large solid area that layer is a continuous sheet that does not breathe or stretch, so it feels heavy and can crack. Halftone holes break the sheet into a mesh.
How big are the holes?
Each solid cell keeps a 20% hole. At 35 LPI the cell is 0.73 mm wide and the hole is about 0.37 mm across; at 25 LPI it is about 0.51 mm. Smaller LPI gives bigger, more visible holes and a softer hand.
Is there a mesh check for DTF?
No. DTF prints directly onto transfer film, so there are no threads to wash out. The mesh select is disabled and the preflight reads Screen Mesh: none (DTF film). The minimum dot is still shown for reference.
What dot gain should I use for DTF?
Start at 10%. Pigment ink on DTF film spreads less than plastisol through a screen, so 10% turns a 50% tone into 40% on film. Raise it if midtones print too dark after pressing.
What does the knock-out threshold do in DTF mode?
Pixels at or below the threshold print nothing, and the next 35% of luminance ramps from small dots to solid. On a black shirt this lets shadows dissolve into the garment instead of printing as dark film.
What files does the Pro pack include for DTF?
A 600 DPI 1-bit halftone film of the breathable layer and, with holes on, a dtf-breathable-transfer PNG: your artwork colors with binary alpha and the diamond holes cut out. Both are 1:1 at the print size.
Do I need RIP software for this?
Not for the halftone. The transfer PNG already has the holes cut, so you can place it in your DTF printer software at 100%. Your printer software still controls the white ink density and the color profile.
Which dot shape is best?
Diamond. Above 50% coverage diamond dots leave clean diamond-shaped holes at the cell corners, which stay open after pressing. Round dots leave smaller, star-shaped gaps that can fill in.
Same engine, other jobs