NINJA TIPS

NINJA TIPS.

The keys here are accessibility and minimal contact. The less your transfers are handled, the better they retain their quality.

Shelving and organizers – Use shelving solutions from office supply stores to keep your DTF transfers organized and accessible. Look for shelving meant for storing letter-size papers or larger ones. This works well for high-turnover businesses where DTF transfers are used regularly.

Storing large quantities – Stacking too many on top of each other can cause the bottom transfers to stick together, resulting in ruined transfers. Even if using the interleaving technique, store them in stacks of 50-100 or less to reduce this risk.

Troubleshooting – If your transfers don’t stick after proper pressing, you have trouble with the peeling process, or the film is wrinkled or warped, that’s usually a sign they’re past their prime. It might be time to order fresh transfers from Ninja Transfers.

Heat Transfer Terminology

Left Chest

The classic left chest placement is back in style. It’s small, modest, and the go to for providing logo shirts for employees, and staff for an event or simply as a stylish option for any custom apparel you’re creating. A left chest design can also be paired with a full back design – particularly common for skater communities. One drawback to this placement is the design can be hidden when wearing a jacket or zip hoodie.

– Size range: 2.5″-4.5″ w, 2.5″-4.5″ h

– Average size: 3.5″ w x 2″ h adult, 2.5″w x 1.5″h youth

– Standard placement: Approx. 3″ down from the bottom of the collar, centered at the edge of the collar, or 4-6″ over from the centerline

– Alternative placement: Right chest is less typical, but sometimes used

Pro tip: Printing on pocket tees is an option, and typically the logo goes above the pocket, a higher placement than normal. If you want to print on the pocket, keep the design smaller than 3″x 3″h.

Center Chest

Size range: 6″-10″ w, 2″-10″ h

– Average size: 8″ w x 4″ h adult, 6″w x 3″h youth

– Standard placement: 3″ down (4 fingers) from the bottom of the collar, centered.

– Alternative placement: A small center chest size print can also go on the bottom left or right.

Pro tip: If your garment sizes range all the way from youth to adult 3XL, you may want to consider using two different print sizes so your design will look proportional. A center chest can look large on extra small shirts and small on extra large ones.

Full Front

Probably the most common print placement is the Full Front. This size is larger than a Center Chest but not completely maxed out. It’s great for featuring artistic graphics, like a concert tee. It may be too big for logos and designs with much coverage (consider a Center Chest instead). This can be particularly useful for intricate designs that need the extra space to really show off all of the details.

Size range: 10″-12″ w, 10″-14″ h

– Average size: 11″ w x 11″ h adult, 9″w x 9″h youth

– Standard placement: 3″ down (4 fingers) from the bottom of the collar– Alternative placement: Full Back with a Left Chest on the front

Pro tip: If your design isn’t very tall, you can print it wider, up to 14″. If it’s a square or circle, consider reducing the overall size. Think about print area similar to the square footage of a house. Too much coverage results in a heavy print that’s not breathable, also known as a “sweat patch.”

Sleeve (left or right)

This list would not be complete without the Sleeve. Like the Left Chest or Collar, reserve this print placement for more simplified artwork. And like the other placements, the size and placement should depend on your particular logo or design. Generally, sleeve prints look better at small size.

Size range: 1″-3.5″ w, 1″-3.5″ h

– Average size: 2.5″ w x 1″ h adult, 1.5″w x 1″h youth

– Standard placement: Approx. 1″ above the top edge of the seam, centered.

– Alternative placement: On the shoulder can work well for circular designs

Pro tip: If you’re already printing a Left Chest on the shirt and are adding a sleeve print, choose the right sleeve to balance it out. Otherwise, either sleeve will work. Bonus tip: An American flag on the sleeve should always have the stars facing toward the front.

Collar / Small Upper Back

Size range: 1″-3″w, 1″-3″h

– Average size: 2″w x 2″h adult, 1.5″w x 1.5″h youth

– Standard placement: Approx. 1″-2″ down from the back collar, centered.

– Alternative placement: A front print in the same location is called “medallion.”

Pro tip: You can combine a Full Back with a Back Collar in a single print. Set up the artwork, so there is a space between the two designs–about 2 or 3 inches, depending on the design. The rest of the design will end up where a normal Full Back would be.

Upper Back

An Upper Back print placement is often simply called “Back,” but the critical distinction is that the placement goes up across the shoulder blades rather than vertically centered. This is typically where you will see the bold words “SECURITY,” “EVENT STAFF,” or the hashtag of the moment. Larger logos also work well.

Size range: 10″-14″ w, 2″-6″ h

– Average size: 12″ w x 4″ h adult, 10″w x 2.5″h youth

– Standard placement: Approx. 4″ down from collar (rather than a front print), centered.

– Alternative placement: Across the butt, near the bottom hem. The tradeoff is less visibility.

Pro tip: If your text is at the maximum width and doesn’t look big enough, consider using a taller font rather than stretching the font to be taller (which distorts it and makes it less legible). Look for any font with “Bold Extra Compressed” in the title, or a font that is naturally tall, such as “Impact.”

Full Back

The Full Back is another common location. Similar to the Full Front, but usually larger and printed slightly lower. This print placement rarely exists on its own and is usually complemented by a print on the front. It’s a great place to put your most colorful, elaborate designs and save simple ones for other locations.

Size range: 11″-13″ w, 13″-15″ h

– Average size: 12″ w x 14″ h adult, 10″w x 12″h youth

– Standard placement: Approx. 4″ down from the bottom of the collar, centered

Pro tip: If you’re making T-shirts for an event and have sponsor logos to be printed, sponsorship levels are often represented by tiers. The logos at the top of the shirt are the largest and most prominent (highest-tier sponsors), with the logos below that are sized at smaller tiers.

Size & Print DTF Transfers Carefully for Best Results

DTF transfers and other types of heat transfers can produce excellent results, but they must be sized and placed carefully. Use these standard guidelines to ensure that your customized apparel achieves is maximum potential.