Frequently Asked Questions

Make sure your artwork follows our minimum upload specifications:

Images must be 300 DPI.

Image must be cropped tight – no outside canvas / artboard blank space.

Image must be the actual print size.

Image must have a transparent background – we print exactly what you upload.

Once your gang sheet or your singular image is created you are ready to fill out the order specifications.

1 – Input the exact measurements in the width input field and the length input field. Pricing will be calculated accordingly.

2 – At the total quantity input, input the number of times you need this specific design to be printed.

3 – Upload your file with the choose file button.

4 – Add to cart

To add a second image – repeat the steps above.  

Please ensure you select DTF or UV depending on which service you would like your image to be.

The image you upload during the order process – IS THE IMAGE we will print.  Officially we DO NOT fix or alter your images unless you pay for artwork services at checkout.  

We require the following image criteria:

1. 300 DPI resolution
2. Actual print size.  (if you want the image to print 10 x 10 @ 300 DPI – the image MUST BE 10 x 10 @ 300 dpi)  Canva users – please note – when you save or export Canva defaults to 96 DPI resolution and therefore makes the image 3 x larger.  If we have to resize yor image (as a courtesy) we are not responsible for any sizing errors.  The onus is on you to provide images that meet our criteria.
3. Cropped canvas / artboard.  (This means NO space from the edge of the image / logo to the outside canvas / artboard edge)  If you do not crop the image tight – our software will include the blank image space as a part of the print.  This will make your image smaller than expectations.
4.  Transparent background.  We must have a .PNG file (NOT a .jpeg).
5. No fades or translucent fills.  Our printing software MAY fill in the fade with white ink.  We cannot guarantee this feature. 

If your image meets our criteria you will receive an excellent quality print.  

Absolutely!

The image we require for perfect DTF prints is .PNG.  

We have the ability to convert the following files: PSD (photoshop), PDF, AI (adobe illustrator), JPG and SVG.

Please send your request to [email protected].

Colour replication is a very hot and subjective issue. For the 0.01% of issues – read on ….

1) Fabrik cannot guarantee a perfect colour match.  The reality is 99.9% of our clients enjoy images that print true to spec.  You can rest assured that your image is going to be printed according to the quality of the image that you upload.

2) There are some colour / tones that may be difficult to replicate. This is a function of converting from RGB to CMYK and using 4 colours to replicate a colour (Magenta, yellow, cyan and black).  One of the main limitations is that the range of colours that can be printed using CMYK is much narrower than the range of colours that can be seen  on a computer screen.  This can led to colours that look vibrant on a monitor – being washed out or dull when printed.

3) Areas of concern is ‘Neon Colours’ (only printable using neon pigment inks) and some shades of warm grey, teal and purples.  Having said this – our printers are constantly being calibrated to ensure colour reproduction is one of the best in the industry.  

4)  Please note – as DTF printers age – the print heads move out of calibration more often.  Although we are constantly recalibrating – repeat orders may vary in colour / tone.  There is no way that we can ensure colour consistency batch to batch.  This is an industry truth – and applies to all printers.  It is the nature of the beast.

Solution:

If you are trying to match a certain colour – example HEX CODE NAVY BLUE – #000080, please indicate in the notes section upon final checkout – the hex colour that you are hoping to have replicated.  We may not be able to provide a perfect match – but providing a hex code will give us a destination to aim for.  

This section is written for the odd client who may fall into the ‘1 in 10,000’ rule…. This rarely happens – but is reality.

Gang sheets are an excellent solution if you want to print multiple designs on one DTF transfer gang sheet!  

A gang sheet can be any size up to a maximum of 22″ wide x 96″ high.  

What are the advantages of a gang sheet:

1) you do not have to cut off the name of the image for every individual transfer.  The image name prints because the image is printed as a ‘Repeat’.  It takes extra time to cut off the image name.

2) You can fit multiple designs and / or different sizes of the same image on one print page.   Cut and Press.  

Standard turnaround time is 3 business days on all orders. Place your order before 2 pm EST time and it will ship out 3 days from your order date.  This applies to those orders that have perfect artwork files.  See artwork specifications for more detail.

If the artwork does not meet minimum guidelines – we will ship 2-3 days AFTER the day we receive the corrected artwork.

Please plan for production delays for Christmas, Halloween, Valentines Day and Easter.  We experience huge volume and delays may occur.  

As a rule – we DO NOT offer rush printing services.  Rush orders bump good, repeat clients who have been waiting patiently for their order. 

Having said this – if you have a rush order request – please contact Louis on customer service – [email protected] or 1-877-332-2745.  If we have a lighter production timetable – we will try to accommodate your request.  

DO NOT place your order and then send an email or call customer service indicating the order needs to be a rush.  Your order will be treated as any other order and will be shipped within the current STANDARD production timeline.  

Order process and print flow is an automatic process sequence based on the time signature of the order.

There are no exceptions. 

Our standard production throughput is generally 3 business days.   

Here is the order process flow timeline:

1) Your order is placed and paid for.  If your order is processed before 2pm – the timeline starts the same day.  If the order is placed after 2 pm – the order is processed the following day. This adds 1 business day to the timeline.

2) Image(s) are checked for order accuracy.  If the images are perfect – the order advances into the production queue.  If the images have issues, the process flow will begin the next business day after the client sends us the correct image.  Please note – we print the images exactly as you upload them.  Therefore, if the image is not the actual expected print size / resolution – we will print it as is.  If the image is not cropped – your image will be printed smaller.  Please read our artwork preparation guide.  We are not responsible for your uploaded artwork.

3) Production will print the image (depending on current demand) 2 business days after the image(s) are placed into the production queue.  Please plan for slight production delays.  Random days have huge order volumes.  This adds printing time.  We cannot control this issue.  Do not place an order on a Monday and expect delivery on Wednesday.  

4) Once your order is checked by Quality Control and packaged, your shipping is scheduled and a tracking number is applied.  Our production facility is in Montreal.  If you are located in Toronto – standard shipping is 1 day.  If you live in Calgary – standard shipping could be 2-3 days.  If you live in Northern BC – standard shipping could be 5+ days.  Once your order leaves our production facility – we have NO CONTROL over UPS and Purolator delivery timelines.  We are not responsible for lost packages and delays.

PLEASE NOTE:  Express shipping DOES NOT mean the order will print quicker.  Production will still be a minimum of 3 business days.  Express shipping only applies to our carriers offering you an expedited delivery timeline.  Example Calgary – if standard shipping is 3 days – expedited MAY be 2 days.  We have no control over the actual shipping timeline offered by UPS or Purolator.

Also – during seasonal holiday rushes – example Christmas – please understand there may be delays in production due to overwhelming volume of orders.  We will try to meet demand but we  will not be liable for orders that do not meet our standard production timeline.  The onus is on you to place your order accommodating for potential delays.

More importantly – during seasonal rushes or carrier strike actions – please understand our commitment is to ‘SHIP’ within our standard timeframe.  We DO NOT nor CAN WE be held responsible for courier delays picking-up from our facility and delivering to final destination.  

DTF Transfers must be applied with a heat press. Set your heat press to the following parameters:

• Temperature: 300 F
• Time: 14 seconds
• Pressure: Firm

Cover the film carrier with a piece of parchment paper to avoid the film from sticking to the hot heat platen.

Peel the backing film carrier as soon as the time runs out to release the ink on the garment.

Is a heat press better than an iron?

Both heat presses and iron can be used effectively to transfer DTF transfers onto fabrics.  However there are some simple truths that we have learned over the last 15 years of application:

1) Good quality heat presses – example ‘Hotronix – are made for commercial applicators who press huge volumes of transfers.  For example Fabrik has a press that has close to a million presses over 15 years under its belt!  Not all presses are created equal.  The difference between price will usually indicate quality limitations.  Example Hotronix $1500 vs a $200 press.  The Hotronix will be more efficient, consistent and durable than less expensive brands.

2) The key to successful application is constant pressure and constant heat.  Our DTF transfer technology is extremely consistent if pressed properly.  Lessor presses will have inconsistent heat on the platten (heat filaments are spaced wider apart) and with age ‘cold zones’ start to appear.  If you are having issues buy heat press test strips and test the heat on your press by zone.  You would be amazing with the heat fluctuations.

3) Many of our clients use irons.  Make sure the setting is on ‘cotton’ or ‘Linen’ (generally the hottest temperature setting)  Make sure the steam option is off!  Preheat the application area of your base material for 10-15 seconds.  Place the image on the garment and press firmly for the desired timeline necessary to adhere the transfer to the surface.  The transfer liner / vinyl will not melt if the temperature is the correct setting.  

Either way – we have thousands of clients who use either a heat press or an alternative method successfully.  We can guarantee if you are having application issues – it is not our transfer – it is your press.