An Experts Guide to Curing
DTF transfers can take some getting used to, particularly the art of curing. First, you printed your design, then you powdered it, and now you’re ready to cure that transfer onto a garment. What seems simple at first can quickly turn into a trial-and-error practice if you aren’t sure what you are walking into.
Lucky for you, we’ve got the curing process down at DTF Superstore and in this blog post, we’ll answer the most common curing questions we are asked.
What does the curing process entail?
When you cure a transfer, that means that you are putting that transfer directly onto a garment. For the curing process to take place, first the ink needs to be set and then an adhesive powder needs to melt into it.
What equipment do you need for curing?
The best machine to use for curing is a combination dryer shaker or a sheer curing oven. However, if you don’t have access to those machines, you can still use a heat press by hovering it about ¼ of an inch above the transfer. This will cure that transfer at a temperature between 225-245 degrees Fahrenheit in just about two minutes. It might be tempting to increase the temperature, but if you do that, you may over-cure your transfer.
How do you know if you under-cure or over-cure your garment?
Curing a transfer correctly will give it an orange-peel texture across the printed area. If you under-cure the transfer, the transfer will resemble grainy sandpaper and if you over-cure it, the transfer will have a yellow coloring, start to crack, and shrink. While under-curing is more common, but it’s important to know what both look like.
You’ll know if your transfer was cured properly if it becomes glossy when it is out of the oven. Once the transfer cools, it will become a semi-gloss to a matte sheen. This will let you know you can handle your garment.
What should you do once your transfer is complete?
Once your garment is set, store it in a dry temperature-controlled space that does not receive direct sunlight.
Learn more tips and tricks about DTF transfers on our YouTube channel where you can watch a video and subscribe to our DTF YouTube channel today.