Screen-printing film positive or DTF transfer: which artifact are you buying?

What is a film positive, and how is it different from a DTF transfer?

A film positive is an input for making a screen-printing stencil; a DTF transfer is a ready graphic that is applied to a garment. “Printed film” is not a complete order specification, because the same transparent carrier can mean either one. If your next step is making a screen-printing stencil, you need a different artifact from a buyer whose next step is applying a ready transfer to a garment.

Inkjet transparency sheets sold for screen printing are described by their makers as sheets used to create images for screen-printing stencils through the photo-emulsion process. Those specific transparencies are an input to stencil making, not ready garment transfers.

What should you tell the supplier when you order printed film?

Put the next operation in the request. Write “This will be used to expose a screen,” or “This must be ready for the specified garment-transfer application.” The supplier can then confirm whether its product belongs at that stage.

• Stencil input: confirm the requirements with the person who will prepare and expose the screen.
• Ready transfer: identify the garment, finished graphic dimensions and application instructions for the product ordered.
• Blank consumable: if buying unprinted film, state the exact printing system and supported material specification.

A familiar sheet size or a similar product photo does not establish that these supplies are interchangeable.

How does a film positive relate to screen exposure?

The positive is the stencil-making input; the screen printer does the exposing. That is why the requirements come from the person who will prepare and expose the screen, not from a transfer supplier. Do not substitute a visually similar transfer file without that agreement.

Who prepares the separations, orientation and size?

Ask the screen printer. If a screen printer asks you to supply positives, obtain their requirements before preparing or ordering them. Ask who is responsible for the separations, orientation and final dimensions.

Who needs a film positive and who needs a DTF transfer?

Hypothetical example: a club has approved a shirt mockup while its decorator still needs a stencil-making input. The approval concerns appearance; it does not identify the physical film that the decorator requested. Settle the deliverable first, then order it from the right source.

How Transfer305 handles this

Transfer305 is the online store of DTF Chroma Zone, our production facility at 10775 SW 190th St Unit 7, Miami, FL 33157. We print DTF transfers for garments. We do not supply screen-printing positives, so arrange that deliverable with your screen printer or an appropriate supplier.

If you need garment transfers, order by size at $0.04 per sq in with DTF transfers by size, or place several designs on one sheet in the DTF gang sheet builder at $0.02 per sq in. Browse all DTF transfers, prepare the file with the artwork guide, and press the transfer by following the pressing guide. There is no minimum order and there are no setup fees. For an unclear order specification, email sales@transfer305.com, message us on WhatsApp or call (305) 801-8267.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a film positive?

A film positive is an input for making a screen-printing stencil. Inkjet transparency sheets sold for screen printing are described by their makers as sheets used to create images for stencils through the photo-emulsion process. They are not ready garment transfers, so confirm the requirements with the person who will prepare and expose the screen.

Is a film positive the same as a DTF transfer?

No. A film positive is a stencil-making input, while a DTF transfer is a ready graphic applied to a garment. “Printed film” can mean either, so name the next operation in your request: exposing a screen, or applying a transfer to a specified garment.

What should I tell a supplier when I order printed film?

Say what happens once you have the film: “This will be used to expose a screen,” or “This must be ready for the specified garment-transfer application.” For a transfer, add the garment, finished graphic dimensions and application instructions. For unprinted film, state the exact printing system and supported material specification.

Who prepares the separations and dimensions for a screen printer?

Ask the screen printer. If they want you to supply positives, get their requirements before preparing or ordering anything, and ask who is responsible for the separations, orientation and final dimensions. A familiar sheet size or a similar product photo does not make two supplies interchangeable.

Can I use a DTF transfer file as a film positive?

Not without the screen printer's agreement. Do not substitute a visually similar transfer file for a stencil-making input. An approved shirt mockup concerns appearance and does not identify the physical film that the decorator requested, so settle the deliverable with the decorator first.

Does Transfer305 sell film positives?

No. Transfer305 prints DTF transfers for garments and does not supply screen-printing positives; arrange those with your screen printer or an appropriate supplier. For garment transfers, order by size at $0.04 per sq in or on a gang sheet at $0.02 per sq in, with no minimum order and no setup fees.