Film and Finishes
Pearl Finish DTF Transfers: Sheen, Artwork and Pressing
Jun
Originally posted: 11 June 2023. Last updated: 5 October 2026.
Quick summary
Pearl DTF is a full-colour print with a shifting sheen, sold as a cold-peel cut sheet. It is not a gang sheet. 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. A screen mock-up will not match the sheen. Press a test first.
On this page
What pearl looks like
The print is still your artwork, in colour. The film adds a soft, shifting sheen, a bit like the inside of a shell when you tilt the shirt. It is not metal foil and it is not glitter. A photo of the effect on a screen is a hint, not a match. The only honest preview is a pressed sample on the garment you will use.
Pearl is a cut sheet. It is not available as a 28 cm or 58 cm gang sheet. The other finishes are listed in specialty DTF finishes. We sell the transfer, not the blank. Shirts are at T Shirts Australia.
Artwork
Use PNG, JPG, WebP or PDF. Prefer a transparent PNG at about 300 DPI at final size. Crop the empty space. Keep fine lines at least about 1 mm. The upload limit is 254 MB. Do not mirror the file. Large flat areas show the sheen more than hairline detail. If the design only works as a tiny line, pearl is the wrong finish.
How to press
Pearl is cold peel. Do not peel it while it is hot.
- Lint-roll and pre-press until no steam comes off the shirt. A damp cotton tee will let go at the edge. See pre-pressing.
- Place the adhesive on the fabric. Cover with your own parchment, baking paper, or Teflon.
- Cotton and most fabrics: 160°C, 8 seconds, firm pressure. Cool the shirt completely, then peel low and slow.
- Polyester: 120°C, 30 seconds, firm pressure, cold peel, then 10 seconds at 120°C. Test the colour. Dye can move. Read DTF on polyester.
A heat press that covers the design is the reliable tool. A Cricut EasyPress is fine when the platen fully covers the design. A household iron is only for products labelled iron-on. See pressing with an EasyPress.
Wait 24–48 hours before the first wash. Wash inside out. Do not iron on the print. The sheen is in the film. Scrubbing it will not make it look like the mock-up.
If it lifts
Stop. Lay the carrier back down and press again. Pulling harder tears the pearl layer. Then check moisture, a seam under the print, and whether you peeled too soon. Change one thing on the next test shirt, not three.
FAQ
Are pearl transfers available as gang sheets?
No. Pearl is a cut sheet. Gang sheets are standard Hot Insta Peel film in 28 cm and 58 cm widths, not this finish.
Are pearl transfers hot peel or cold peel?
Cold peel. Cotton and most fabrics: 160°C for 8 seconds, firm pressure, cool completely, then peel. Polyester: 120°C for 30 seconds, cold peel, then a 10-second second press at 120°C. Do not peel pearl while it is hot.
Can I use a household iron or an EasyPress?
Not a household iron. An EasyPress is fine when the platen fully covers the design. If the design is larger than the plate, use a heat press that covers it in one press.
Does the artwork still print in full colour?
Yes. The pearl film adds sheen over the printed colour. It does not turn the design into a single metallic ink. A screen preview will not show the tilt of the sheen on cloth.
Can pearl transfers be used on polyester?
Test the garment. Use 120°C for 30 seconds, firm pressure, cold peel, then 10 seconds at 120°C. Polyester dye and coatings can still mark a light print. Approve the real shirt, not the fibre label alone.
