DTFNest

How to make a gang sheet

A gang sheet puts many designs on one sheet or roll of DTF film so you print and transfer them together. This is the workflow for a shop that makes sheets from its own customers' orders.

  1. Prepare each design as a transparent PNG at print size. Export at 300 DPI at the size it will be printed, for example a 10 × 12 in chest print at 3000 × 3600 pixels. Remove the background so the PNG is transparent; empty margins waste film, and DTFNest trims transparent edges for you.
  2. Choose the sheet size. It is set by your printer or film: the width is the film width and the length is a fixed sheet length or a roll length. See gang sheet sizes or your printer's page.
  3. Set the spacing for cutting. Leave a gap between designs so you can cut them apart cleanly. DTFNest defaults to the gap for your printer profile (for example 0.4 in / 10 mm on the xTool profile) and you can change it.
  4. Nest. Add the designs with quantities and order numbers. The nesting step decides where each copy goes so the batch uses the least film.
  5. Export. Download the 300 DPI PNG sheet at the exact sheet size, the numbered cut map, and the CSV listing where each piece sits.
  6. RIP and print. Import the PNG into your RIP or printer software, apply your usual color and white ink settings, and print. More on RIPs.
  7. Cut and sort by order. After the transfer is cut apart, use the numbered cut map and CSV to match each piece to its order.
Open the nesting tool

Manual layout vs automatic nesting

In design software you place each copy by hand, check the gaps yourself and re-arrange when an order changes. That works for a few designs and gives you full control. With a large batch it takes time, and it is easy to leave unused film or to overlook a piece that is too close to its neighbor.

Automatic nesting does the placement from a list: designs, sizes, quantities and the gap. DTFNest tries different arrangements, can rotate pieces 90°, and for fixed-length printers compares combinations of sheet lengths. You still review the result and export the sheet. Both approaches end in the same place: a PNG for your RIP.

Printer-specific pages

See the specs and capacity tables for the xTool Apparel Printer, 22 in rolls, 13 in rolls and A3 sheets.