Speciality DTF Finishes: Foil, Glitter, Glow, Neon, Pearl and Reflective

Originally posted: 5 July 2023. Last updated: 5 October 2026.

Quick summary

Specialty DTF is a cold-peel cut sheet: foil, glitter, glow, neon, pearl, or reflective. It is not a gang sheet and it is not iron-on. Cotton and most fabrics: 160°C for 8 seconds, cool completely, then peel. Polyester: 120°C for 30 seconds, cold peel, then 10 seconds at 120°C. An EasyPress is fine when the platen covers the design.

On this page

• Quick summary
• Which finish
• How to press
• Artwork
• What these sheets are not
• FAQ

Which finish

Each finish is its own film. You pick one. We print your art on that sheet. They are cut sheets only, not 28 cm or 58 cm gang sheets.

• Gold foil and silver foil: a metal look. Strong on simple marks and type. A photo will not look like a photograph in metal.
• Glitter: sparkle in the print, not a loose craft glitter you shake on.
• Glow in the dark: light colours charge and show at night. Black and navy barely glow. See how the glow works.
• Neon: yellow, green, pink, or orange film. One colour per sheet. It does not glow and it is not reflective. See neon DTF.
• Pearl: a shifting sheen over a full-colour print. See pearl finish.
• Reflective: it throws light back when a light hits it. It is not a certified high-visibility garment. Do not sell it as safety workwear.

How to press

These are cold peel. Do not peel them the moment the press opens the way you peel a cotton gang sheet.

1. Lint-roll. Pre-press until the shirt does not steam. Moisture lifts a specialty edge faster than it lifts a simple logo.
2. Lay the adhesive on the fabric. Cover it with your own parchment, baking paper, or Teflon. We do not supply a finishing sheet.
3. Cotton and most fabrics: 160°C, 8 seconds, firm pressure. Move the shirt off the press and let it cool completely. Then peel low and slow.
4. Polyester: 120°C, 30 seconds, firm pressure. Cold peel only. Then press again for 10 seconds at 120°C. Test that dye. Read DTF on polyester.
5. If a piece of the design lifts with the carrier, stop. Lay the film back and press again. Do not keep pulling.

A heat press is the reliable tool. A Cricut EasyPress is fine when the platen fully covers the design. If the art hangs over the plate, use a larger press. A household iron is only for products labelled iron-on. The EasyPress steps are in how to apply DTF with an EasyPress.

Artwork

Send PNG, JPEG, or WebP. A transparent PNG at about 300 DPI at final size is the one to build. Crop it. Keep fine lines at least about 1 mm. Stay under 254 MB. Do not mirror the file. A screen mock-up will not match neon, foil, or pearl on cloth. Order one test sheet before you promise a club a colour.

What these sheets are not

They are not Hot Insta Peel, not gang sheets, and not a household-iron product. We do not sell the raw film by the roll. We sell the printed sheet. Blank shirts are at T Shirts Australia.

Orders in by 12:00 noon Brisbane time on a weekday go into that day’s standard handling, typically 3–5 business days. Same/Next Day handling is coming soon, aimed at November–December 2026, and cannot be ordered before then. The shop at 17 Castlemaine Street, Coorparoo is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am–2:30pm.

FAQ

Are specialty DTF transfers available as gang sheets?

No. Gold, silver, glitter, glow, neon, pearl, and reflective are cut sheets. Gang sheets at 28 cm and 58 cm are standard Hot Insta Peel film, not these finishes.

Are they all cold peel?

Yes. Let the shirt cool completely, then peel. Cotton and most fabrics start at 160°C for 8 seconds, firm pressure. Polyester starts at 120°C for 30 seconds, then a 10-second second press at 120°C. Do not peel them hot.

Can I peel a specialty transfer while it is hot?

No. A hot peel can pull the finish off with the carrier. Cool it fully, peel slowly, and stop if the design lifts. Lay the film back and press again rather than tearing it.

Do I need a heat press?

You need a press that covers the design. A full-size heat press is the reliable choice. A Cricut EasyPress is fine when its platen fully covers the design. A household iron is not for these sheets.

Will you check that my artwork creates the effect?

We print the file you upload. A mock-up on a screen is not the finished foil, glow, or pearl. Order a test sheet and press it on the real garment before you run the job.