📌 Key Takeaways
The DTF gang sheet builder eliminates quote delays by calculating length and base price instantly as you arrange designs.
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Never Mirror Your Artwork: DTF transfers print exactly as uploaded—mirroring creates backwards designs that waste time and money.
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Only Three Formats Upload: The builder accepts PNG, PDF, and TIF files exclusively, rejecting all other formats including JPG and PSD.
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Resolution Lives at Final Size: A 300 DPI file stretched from 3 inches to 12 inches drops to 75 DPI and prints blurry.
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Check Cutoff Times Before Ordering: Orders placed before the daily cutoff (typically 2 PM CST) are prioritized for same-day shipping, though times vary during peak seasons.
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Printable Width Is 22 Inches: The standard printable area measures 22 inches on 24-inch physical rolls, preventing confusion when measuring received materials.
Correct files + verified cutoff = confident submission.
Screen printing shop owners managing tight production schedules will gain immediate workflow clarity here, preparing them for the detailed builder walkthrough that follows.
The deadline is tomorrow. Your heat press is ready, your blanks are stacked, and your customer is counting on you. But first, that gang sheet needs to be right—no mirrored images, no rejected files, no surprises.
For screen printing shops juggling production bottlenecks and tight turnarounds, the ordering process itself can feel like another point of failure. One wrong file format, one overlooked setting, and you're scrambling to fix what should have been simple.
This guide walks you through Best Price DTF's gang sheet builder tool step by step. By the end, you'll know exactly how to build or upload a correct gang sheet, avoid the mistakes that cause delays, and submit your order with confidence.
Quick Start: What the Builder Does (and When to Use It)
You have two paths to choose from. The first option is using the on-page builder, which works well if you want to arrange designs visually without pre-building your own layout file. The second option is uploading your own ready-made gang sheet file, which is faster if you've already arranged everything in your design software.
The DTF Gang Roll builder is a web-based tool that lets you arrange multiple designs on a single transfer roll before ordering. Think of it as playing Tetris with your profit margin—every square inch you use efficiently is money saved.
The process follows four steps: upload your designs, arrange them on the sheet, confirm the calculated length and price, then review and checkout. Both paths end the same way: the system calculates the length and gives you the base price instantly. No guesswork, no back-and-forth emails for quotes.
If you only need a few individual transfers rather than a full gang roll, DTF Transfers By Size offers a simpler ordering path for smaller jobs.
Before You Upload: The 60-Second File Checklist
Most ordering mistakes happen before the builder even opens. A quick 60-second file check prevents the frustration of rejected uploads and unusable prints.
Confirm these before uploading:
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File type matches the allowed formats
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Artwork is not mirrored
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Format choice matches the artwork type (vector vs pixel-based)
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Resolution is appropriate at final print size
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Background and edges are clean (no unwanted blocks or halos)
File Format Requirements:
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✓ PNG files (for pixel-based designs like photos or complex gradients)
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✓ PDF files (for vector designs like logos and text)
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✓ TIF files (accepted, though less common)
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✗ JPG, PSD, AI, or other formats will not upload
Critical Rule: Do Not Mirror Your Images
This catches many first-time users. Unlike sublimation or older transfer methods, DTF transfers do not require mirrored artwork. Upload your designs exactly as you want them to appear on the finished garment. If you mirror them, they'll print backwards.
Resolution Guidance
While 300 DPI is the industry standard for crisp edges, what matters most is resolution at your final print size. A 300 DPI image that's 3 inches wide will look sharp at 3 inches—but if you stretch it to 12 inches, that same file drops to 75 DPI and will print blurry.
The practical rule: export your artwork at the exact dimensions you intend to print. If your chest logo will be 10 inches wide, your file should be 10 inches wide at 300 DPI. For a deeper dive into print resolution, Adobe's guide on image size and resolution provides excellent industry-standard explanations for designers.
Transparency Check
If your design has a transparent background, verify it exports correctly. PNG files preserve transparency well; PDF files do too when exported with the right settings. A white box printing around your design usually means the background wasn't truly transparent in the source file.
Step-by-Step: Build a Gang Sheet in the Tool
This walkthrough mirrors the actual builder interface. Follow these steps in order for a clean submission.
Step 1: Select Your Size
Start by choosing your gang roll dimensions. The printable width is set to 22 inches (standard for 24-inch rolls). You select the length based on how much design area you need—options range from 24 inches (2 feet) up to 360 inches (30 feet).
Not sure how much length you need? Start by calculating the total square inches of all your designs, then pick a length that gives you comfortable working room. You can always adjust after seeing how your layouts fit.
Step 2: Upload Your Files
Click the upload area or drag your files directly into the builder. Remember: only PNG, PDF, and TIF files are accepted.
If you have problems uploading, the product page offers a support contact option. You can also email files directly to order@bestpricedtf.com.
Navigating the Builder Interface
Once you enter the tool, you will see a clean dashboard divided into key sections:
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Sizing Controls: Located prominently, allowing you to toggle roll width and length.
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Upload Panel: The drag-and-drop zone where you add your PNG or PDF files.
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Design Canvas: The main workspace where you position, align, and space your designs.
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Live Calculator: As you add designs, the system automatically updates the total length and base price in real-time.
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Final Review: The summary screen verifying all details before checkout.
Step 3: Arrange Your Designs
This is where layout strategy matters. Place your largest designs first, then fill the gaps with smaller items. Leave small cut lanes between designs—just enough space to trim them apart cleanly after pressing.
Experienced users often batch similar-sized designs together. A row of 4-inch chest logos followed by a row of 12-inch back prints uses space more efficiently than scattering sizes randomly.
Step 4: Confirm Length and Price
Here's where the builder saves you time. As you arrange designs, the system calculates the required length automatically. The base price updates instantly—no waiting for a quote, no manual math.
This instant calculation is particularly valuable when you're quoting jobs for customers. You can experiment with different layout arrangements and see exactly how each option affects your cost per transfer.
Step 5: Review Before Checkout
Before submitting, do a final check. Verify that all designs are positioned correctly, nothing is cut off at the edges, and spacing between designs is adequate for trimming.
Once you're satisfied, proceed to checkout. Orders placed before the daily cutoff are prioritized to ship the same day. Be sure to check the site header for the most current cutoff times (typically 2 PM CST), as these may vary during peak seasons.
Common Mistakes (and Fast Fixes)
Even experienced users occasionally run into issues. Here's how to diagnose and fix the most common problems quickly.
Upload Fails or Is Rejected
The cause is almost always file format. The builder only accepts PNG, PDF, and TIF files. If you're working in Illustrator or Photoshop, export specifically to one of these formats rather than saving in the native application format.
Prints Come Out Reversed
You mirrored the image before uploading. DTF transfers print exactly as uploaded—no mirroring needed. Re-export your original artwork without the mirror transformation and upload again.
Prints Look Blurry or Pixelated
The file resolution was too low for the print size. This happens when small images get stretched larger than their pixel count can support. Re-export at the intended final dimensions with at least 300 DPI. If working with client-provided artwork, request a higher-resolution source file.
White Background Prints Around the Design
The transparency didn't export correctly. Open your source file and verify the background is actually transparent, not white. When exporting PNG, ensure "transparency" is enabled. For PDF exports, check that no background layer is included.
For help exporting transparent backgrounds from Canva, Canva's official guide explains the download process step-by-step.
Wasted Space on the Gang Sheet
Poor layout strategy. The fix is methodical arrangement: biggest items first, smaller items filling gaps, consistent spacing throughout. Some users find it helpful to pre-plan layouts in design software before uploading, especially for complex orders with many different sizes.
File Type Is Correct, But Quality Is Inconsistent
Aggressive compression reduces print quality. This happens when creating PDFs with settings that downsample or compress images more than necessary. Check your export settings and avoid aggressive compression. Adobe's PDF options documentation explains how compression and resampling affect output quality.
After You Receive Your Transfers: Pressing Readiness
Once your transfers arrive, the final step is heat pressing. Temperature, pressure, and timing all affect the finished result—and they vary depending on fabric type.
Best Price DTF provides detailed pressing instructions for different materials. Before pressing your first transfer, review the Heat Pressing Guide to dial in your settings correctly.
The transfers are hot-peel, meaning you remove the carrier film immediately after pressing rather than waiting for it to cool. This speeds up production significantly compared to cold-peel alternatives.
Low-Risk Way to Test the Process
If you're new to ordering DTF transfers or trying a new supplier, a small test order reduces risk. The Free DTF Transfer Sample Pack lets you evaluate print quality, color accuracy, and pressing performance before committing to a larger production run.
Testing with your actual heat press and your actual blanks reveals how the transfers perform in your specific workflow. It's a practical step that many shop owners take before scaling up their orders.
For ongoing production, you may also want to stock essential DTF supplies to keep your workflow running smoothly.
Ready to build your first gang sheet?
Quick recap: upload PNG, PDF, or TIF files only. Do not mirror your images. Confirm your length and instant base price before checkout.
Build Your Custom Gang Sheet Now
Frequently Asked Questions
What file types can I upload?
The builder accepts PNG, PDF, and TIF files only. Use PDF for vector-based designs like logos and sharp text. Use PNG for pixel-based designs like photographs or artwork with complex gradients.
Should I mirror my images before uploading?
No. Upload your designs exactly as you want them to appear on the finished garment. The DTF process does not require mirrored artwork—if you mirror your files, they will print backwards.
Do I need 300 DPI for my files?
While 300 DPI is recommended for best quality, the real measure is resolution at your final print size. A design intended to print at 10 inches wide should be 10 inches wide in your file at 300 DPI. Stretching smaller images to larger sizes will cause blurriness.
Can I upload my own pre-made gang sheet PDF?
Yes. If you prefer to arrange your designs in your own software, you can upload a complete gang sheet file rather than using the on-page builder. The system will calculate the length and price based on your uploaded file dimensions.
How do I know what length to order?
Calculate the total area of all your designs, then select a length that accommodates them with room for spacing between designs. The builder shows your calculated length and base price instantly as you arrange or upload, so you can adjust before finalizing.
Where can I see customer reviews?
You can read verified customer reviews and see our ratings on our Google Business Profile.
About the Best Price DTF Insights Team
The Best Price DTF Insights Team is our dedicated engine for synthesizing complex topics into clear, helpful guides. While our content is thoroughly reviewed for clarity and accuracy, it is for informational purposes and should not replace professional advice.
Our Editorial Process
This article is produced by the Best Price DTF Insights Team using an evidence-first approach: we extract product rules, workflow steps, and customer-facing guidance from internal site documentation and publish only what can be supported by those sources. Hypothetical examples are labeled as such.