Gang sheet sizes
A gang sheet size is two numbers: the width, set by the film, and the length, set by the sheet or by how much roll you use.
Width vs length
Width is fixed by your printer and film. A 22 in roll gives you a sheet 22 in wide, however long you cut it. The printer cannot print to the very edge, so the printable width is a little smaller than the film width: in DTFNest's 22 in roll profile the film is 22 in (558.8 mm) and the printable width is 21.5 in (546.1 mm).
Length is the flexible side on rolls. Printers that take cut sheets (A3, or the xTool Apparel Printer's fixed lengths) have fixed lengths instead, so choosing the right combination of sheets matters. DTFNest compares them for you.
Common roll widths and sheets
- 13 in rolls, for desktop printers. DTFNest has a built-in 13 in profile.
- 22 in rolls, for wide-format DTF printers. DTFNest has a built-in 22 in profile.
- 24 in: some shops sell gang sheets up to 24 in wide. Check which width your printer actually takes.
- A3 sheets, 297 × 420 mm (11.7 × 16.5 in), and A4 sheets, 210 × 297 mm (8.3 × 11.7 in), for small-format printers.
Transfer shops that sell by the sheet offer different lengths and prices; check your supplier's size list before you design.
How many designs fit
Quick estimate: columns = (printable width + gap) ÷ (design width + gap), rounded down; rows work the same way along the length. Multiply the two. For example, on the xTool profile (printable width 13.3 in (338 mm), gap 0.4 in (10 mm)), a 4 in design gives (13.3 + 0.4) ÷ (4 + 0.4) = 3 columns.
That grid is the minimum. A real nesting run can do better by rotating designs and filling gaps with smaller pieces. For exact counts, see the capacity table on your printer's page:
Nest a batch