--- title: Print on Demand with Direct to Film description: Take your print on demand print shop to the next level with direct to film transfers! image: https://blog.keyprintco.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202021-09-23%20at%203.26.30%20PM.png --- [![KeyPrintCo_Logo_WhtText_WhtSquare](https://blog.keyprintco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/KeyPrintCo_Logo_WhtText_WhtSquare.png?width=200&height=38&name=KeyPrintCo_Logo_WhtText_WhtSquare.png "KeyPrintCo_Logo_WhtText_WhtSquare")](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog) Search # Print on Demand with Direct to Film [Key Print Co](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/author/key-print-co) Sep 27, 2021 3:00:51 PM   As we all know in this industry, time is precious, and wasting it means valuable productivity is lost. But, what if we told you that using Direct to Film to print on demand helps you *save* all of the above?! With DTF, instead of having to go through the printing process every time you need to fulfill an order, you can just print once and be done! Thus, saving time, money, *and* supplies! For this project, we are using left chest transfers to show you how print on demand and DTF are a match made in print shop Heaven! Keep reading and we'll lay it all out for you. ![Screen Shot 2021-09-23 at 3.26.30 PM](https://blog.keyprintco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202021-09-23%20at%203.26.30%20PM.png?width=415&name=Screen%20Shot%202021-09-23%20at%203.26.30%20PM.png) Before we get started, you must first know how to use your DTG printer to make DTF transfers. You can find our entire breakdown of that whole process [here](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/how-to-print-direct-to-film-with-the-epson-f2100). Getting the Artwork Print-Ready The most important step for using DTF with print on demand is ensuring your artwork is laid out in the most efficient way possible for the most output per film. This step takes place *after* the design phase is completed, but *before* exporting the artwork to then be opened in Garment Creator. To achieve this, there will be a lot of trying different positions for each individual artwork in your chosen digital art program. The point is fitting as many as possible on to the canvas. - Once your artwork design is finalized, open a new blank canvas in your digital art program. ![A screen shot of a new art board being created in Adobe Illustrator set with the dimensions of 8.25w X 11.5h](https://blog.keyprintco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202021-09-23%20at%203.09.26%20PM.png?width=315&name=Screen%20Shot%202021-09-23%20at%203.09.26%20PM.png) - Take the measurements of your transfer film sheet and input those as the canvas size. *Example: The transfer film we use is 8.25in W x 11.5in H, so in Adobe Illustrator, our new art board will be the same.* - Copy & Paste your finalized artwork on to the new canvas and fit as many as possible within the canvas bounds. ***KEY TIP**: You can rotate each artwork to fit more on the canvas. Remember that you will be cutting these out by hand, so placing artworks close together or at odd angles is completely acceptable.* *![Screen Shot 2021-09-23 at 3.20.06 PM](https://blog.keyprintco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202021-09-23%20at%203.20.06%20PM.png?width=329&name=Screen%20Shot%202021-09-23%20at%203.20.06%20PM.png)* - Once you have laid out as many of the artworks on to the canvas as possible, ***do not forget to mirror the entire canvas*** to ensure it prints out in the correct orientation once opened in Garment Creator. *![Screen Shot 2021-09-23 at 3.18.13 PM](https://blog.keyprintco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202021-09-23%20at%203.18.13%20PM.png?width=722&name=Screen%20Shot%202021-09-23%20at%203.18.13%20PM.png)* Now that your artwork is completely print ready, it's time to export it and open it up in Garment Creator for printing! Once you have followed all the steps on [how to make a DTF transfer](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/how-to-print-direct-to-film-with-the-epson-f2100) and your transfers are cut out and ready to be pressed, place any of the transfers that you do not need yet in a cool, dry place. And voila! That's all there is to it! The next time an order for that design comes in, all you have to do is pull the transfer, heat press it, and off the apparel goes to its happy new home! Now that you know how print on demand is made more efficient and lucrative with DTF, [let'](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/the-time-and-cost-effectiveness-of-direct-to-film)[s get into why it's an excellent choice for apparel printing and decorating, regardless of your print shop's production method!](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/the-time-and-cost-effectiveness-of-direct-to-film) ------- [Direct to Film](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/tag/direct-to-film), [Key Print Co.](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/tag/key-print-co), [Project](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/tag/project), [DTF](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/tag/dtf), [How-to-Guide](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/tag/how-to-guide), [Heat Press](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/tag/heat-press) ## Read On ### [DTF vs DTG: Which Is More Profitable for YOUR Print Shop?](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/dtf-vs-dtg-which-is-more-profitable-for-your-print-shop) [Since the release of our](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/dtf-vs-dtg-which-is-more-profitable-for-your-print-shop)[DTF series](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/how-to-print-direct-to-film-with-the-epson-f2100), we get quite a few questions concerning if it can be used in... ### [How to Add DTG Hats to Any Left Chest Order!](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/how-to-add-hats-to-any-left-chest-order) ### [Decorating High Top Shoes with the Face Mask Kit for Heat Press A highly-requested, yet nearly impossible to decorate item for many apparel print shops is high...](https://blog.keyprintco.com/blog/decorating-high-top-shoes-with-the-face-mask-kit-for-heat-press) [![KeyPrintCo_Logo_WhtText_WhtSquare](https://blog.keyprintco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/KeyPrintCo_Logo_WhtText_WhtSquare.png?width=400&height=77&name=KeyPrintCo_Logo_WhtText_WhtSquare.png "KeyPrintCo_Logo_WhtText_WhtSquare")](https://keyprintco.com) Have Questions? Let's Talk! [Keyprintco@gmail.com](mailto:Keyprintco@gmail.com) 2524 E Fender Ave, Suite E Fullerton, CA 92831 (646) 397-4478 [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/keyprintco) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/) Unlock Your Printing Potential!