I am so excited to share this DTG time and temperature cheat sheet with you guys.
I'm gonna be real honest. I made this for myself because I was tired of repeatedly having to look back at my own tutorials just to remember what temperature my heat press or curing oven needed to be on to press transfers. I can't be the only one...so I created this printable DTF and DTG transfer time and temp chart that you can print and keep close by.
DTF heat press settings, quick answer
If you just need the number and you're standing at your press right now: press DTF transfers at 320 F to 356 F (160 C to 180 C) for 10 to 20 seconds, then peel and post press at the same time and temperature.
You don't need a cover sheet for the initial press. Full settings, including the powder curing step, are below.
DTF settings chart
These work for any garment color, which is one of the nice things about DTF. There's no separate setting for lights and darks the way there is with DTG.
| Step | Setting |
| Powder curing temperature | 250 F / 120 C |
| Powder curing time | 120 seconds in a curing oven |
| Pre press the garment | Yes |
| Application temperature | 320 F to 356 F / 160 C to 180 C |
| Application time | 10 to 20 seconds |
| Post peel press | Yes, same time and temperature |
| Cover sheet | Not needed |
| Garment color | Any |
The powder curing step only applies if you're printing your own transfers. If you ordered them, they arrive cured and ready to press, so you skip straight to pre pressing the garment.
DTG heat press settings
DTG is a different animal because pretreatment and garment color both change what you do.
| Garment | Pretreat | Temp | Time | Pressure |
| White | No | 338 F | 30 to 45 seconds | 5 (50 psi), medium |
| Black | Yes | 338 F | 75 to 90 seconds | 5 (50 psi), medium |
| Dark | Yes, if white ink is used | 338 F | 75 to 90 seconds | 5 (50 psi), medium |
All three need a pre press and a fixing or heat set step, and all three use parchment paper as a cover sheet.
The big difference is time. A white shirt with no pretreatment presses in about half the time of a black one, because there's no pretreat and no white ink underbase to cure.
Why your settings might be different
A few things will change the numbers above, so don't treat any chart as gospel, including mine.
Film brand matters most. Different DTF film and powder want different settings. If your supplier gives numbers, start with theirs and use this chart as a sanity check.
Your press probably isn't accurate. Most heat presses read a few degrees off and some are off by a lot. If transfers are lifting at the recommended setting, that's the first thing I'd check.
Bought transfers beat my numbers. If you ordered your transfers, whoever printed them knows exactly what film they used. Their instructions win.
When in doubt, press one on a scrap and wash it before you run a whole order.
Get the free printable chart
Want all of this on one page you can print and stick next to your press? Tell me where to send it and I'll email it over.
Want More DTF help?
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Weighing DTF against sublimation? Here's the full side by side comparison.
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