UV DTF transfers.
Peel it, stick it, done.

What UV DTF is, and why it looks different to a normal sticker

A standard vinyl sticker is your design printed on a sheet of plastic with glue behind it. You see the edge of that plastic, and it can lift at the corners.

UV DTF has no carrier left behind. The printer lays down a white base, then your colours, then a clear gloss varnish, all cured instantly by UV light onto an adhesive film. A second clear film is laminated over the top to hold everything in place. When you apply it, only the ink layers stay on the surface. The result sits slightly raised, with a glossy finish you can feel with a fingernail.

That build is why UV DTF handles fine text and photographic detail that cut vinyl can't, and why there's nothing to weed. Every gap between letters is already empty.

How gang sheet pricing works

You don't pay per sticker. You pay for the length of film you fill, so the more designs you pack onto a sheet, the cheaper each one gets.

• Sheets are 31cm wide and priced at $27 per metre (GST inclusive).
• Each sheet is 1 metre long, which is also the minimum order. Need more? Order as many metres as you like.
• Bulk savings: 5% off at 2 metres and 12% off at 5 metres.
• Mix any designs, sizes and quantities on the same sheet. A cafe logo, twenty name labels and a full cup wrap can all share one run.
• Our gang sheet builder shows the exact length and price before you pay.

What fits on one metre

Rough guide for a 31cm wide sheet with the 12mm gap we recommend between designs (you can go tighter if you like). The builder works out your exact count.

We ship Australia-wide with Australia Post and Pack & Send. Shipping is $19, or free on orders over $200. Pickup from our Sumner showroom is free.

What you can stick UV DTF on

Any hard, smooth, clean surface. If a fingernail glides across it without catching, a transfer will usually bond well.

UV DTF cup wraps

Cup wraps are one long design sized to go right around a glass can, tumbler or mug. They're one of the most popular things printed on UV DTF, and they gang well: several wraps fit on one metre, with small logos tucked into the gaps.

Standard wrap sizes we print: 16oz glass can 24 × 11cm · 20oz tumbler 23 × 19cm · 11oz mug 20 × 8cm. We also print standard sizes for drink bottles and phone cases. Not sure of the size? Measure the straight section of your cup, take off 1cm for a clean gap at the seam, and send us the numbers.

How to order

1. Build your gang sheet. Upload your PNG files to the builder, size each one and set how many you need. The builder packs them and shows the length and price.
2. Choose an artwork check. Tick it and our team looks for low resolution, cut-off designs and hairline strokes before printing. It's free on every order.
3. We print and cure. Order before 4pm and we send it out the next business day. Need it today? Same-day dispatch is available for a 50% rush fee.
4. Pickup or delivery. Collect from 10/11 Forge Close, Sumner, or we ship it. Delivery times depend on the carrier and your location.

Would rather we lay it out? Send your files and quantities to support@shopace.com.au and we'll build the sheet for you for $10 per sheet.

Getting your artwork right

Most print problems start in the file, not the printer. A few rules save a reprint:

• Send PNG with a transparent background at 300dpi at the size you want printed. Anything that isn't transparent will print, including faint white boxes around a logo.
• Keep lines at least 1mm thick and text above 8pt. Hairline strokes can tear when the top film is peeled.
• Avoid soft shadows and glows. Semi-transparent pixels get a white base under them and print as a pale halo. Convert fades to a halftone pattern.
• Upscaling doesn't add detail. Changing a 72dpi file to 300dpi in Photoshop won't make it sharp. Send the original vector or high-res file.
• Colours are printed in CMYK. Very bright RGB greens, oranges and neon shades will come out a little duller. Brand colours that must match? We can colour-match for $25.
• Copyright matters. Only send logos, characters or artwork you have the rights to use.

How to apply a UV DTF sticker

Give yourself two minutes and a clean, dry surface.

1. Clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth. Let it dry fully. Hand cream and dishwashing residue are the most common reason a transfer won't grip.
2. Cut around the design, leaving a few millimetres of film.
3. Peel off the backing paper. Hold it by the edges and don't touch the sticky side.
4. Place it and press from the centre out, using your thumb or a squeegee to push out air bubbles. Rub firmly over every part of the design for 20–30 seconds.
5. Peel the clear top film away slowly, folding it back on itself at a low angle. If part of the design lifts, lay it back down, rub again and retry.

Care: how long UV DTF lasts

Applied properly to a suitable surface, a UV DTF transfer is water resistant and stands up to normal handling and hand washing. It is still a surface print, so treat it like a decorated item rather than bare glass:

• Hand wash with a soft sponge. Don't soak.
• Keep it out of the dishwasher and microwave. Heat and harsh detergent shorten its life.
• A hard knock or a scrape with a knife or scourer can chip it.
• For outdoor use, expect it to hold up well but last around 2–3 years in full Queensland sun before it starts to fade.

UV DTF vs DTF vs vinyl: which do you need?

We run DTF for garments and UV DTF for hard goods under one roof, so we'll steer you to the right one.

If you're branding a team's shirts and their drink bottles, use the same artwork for both. We keep it on file so the logo matches across fabric and hard goods.

What UV DTF does well, and where it struggles

It's the best option we have for small runs of full-colour branding on hard goods: one-off gifts, a market stall's product labels, or 200 logo stickers for an event. Set-up cost is zero, so a single sticker costs the same to make as the hundredth.

Where it struggles: very large solid areas on curved items can wrinkle during application, and it's not a substitute for engraving or pad printing on products that go through a commercial dishwasher every day. If that's your job, ask us and we'll tell you honestly what will last.

Who orders UV DTF from us

• Cafes and bars putting their logo on glass cans, keep cups and takeaway jars.
• Small product brands and market stallholders labelling candles, skincare jars and bottles in short runs.
• Tradies and businesses branding toolboxes, drink bottles, clipboards and laptops to match their workwear.
• Crafters and resellers who decorate their own blanks and want ready-to-apply wraps by the sheet.
• Sports clubs and schools adding crests to drink bottles, trophies and acrylic awards alongside their team uniforms.
• Event organisers making branded giveaways and promotional products without a minimum run.

Need the blanks too? We can supply cups, bottles and tumblers and apply your transfers for $2 per item. Email us what you need.

Printed in Brisbane, ready to collect

Your gang sheet is printed at our workshop at 10/11 Forge Close, Sumner, by owner Abdul Yusuf and the same team that has run embroidery and printing for South East Queensland businesses for 15 years. If you're in Ipswich, Logan, Springfield or Brisbane's west, it's often quicker to pick up than to wait on a courier. Everywhere else, we post it.

Showroom hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am – 4:30pm · (07) 3180 0610