Tool help
DTF Halftone
Turns soft fades into a dot pattern that prints cleaner on DTF.
Best for
Designs with glow, shadows, gradients, or soft faded edges.
Simple steps
- Start with your finished artwork.
- Set LPI and Angle first.
- Adjust Min dot % so small detail does not disappear.
- Preview and apply when the dot pattern looks clean.
What each setting means
LPI (lines per inch)
Lower gives bigger dots. Higher gives finer dots.
Angle
Rotates the dot pattern. Change this if you see unwanted texture lines.
Min dot %
Sets a minimum dot size so tiny details do not drop out.
Resolution (DPI)
Higher can hold more detail, but takes longer to process.
Solid threshold
Pixels above this become solid instead of dots.
Edge only %
Keeps stronger edges cleaner while halftoning softer areas first.
Reverse
Flips to solid fill with transparent dots.
Helpful tips
- If the print looks noisy, lower LPI a little.
- Change Angle before making large threshold changes.
Deep-dive notes
- LPI and image size work together. A very small image has fewer pixels to build each dot, so high LPI can make dots break up or disappear.
- A larger image gives each dot more pixels, so it can hold finer LPI more cleanly.
- If your artwork looks grainy or weak, lower LPI first before changing many other settings.
- If details fill in too much and look muddy, raise LPI a little or lower Min dot %.
- Use these values as starting points, then adjust by eye for your printer, film, and artwork style.
Recommended starting settings by image size
Start with the row closest to your image size, then fine tune from there.
| Image size | Best for | LPI | Angle | Min dot | DPI | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (up to 1800 px longest side) | Pocket prints, simple logos, small chest prints | 20-30 | 22.5° | 8-12% | 300 | Keeps dots strong enough to survive small-file detail limits. |
| Medium (1800-3200 px longest side) | Standard chest graphics, most everyday transfers | 28-40 | 22.5° or 45° | 6-10% | 300 | Balanced quality and reliability for most jobs. |
| Large (3200-5000 px longest side) | Large center chest, back prints, detailed art | 35-50 | 22.5° or 45° | 4-8% | 300-360 | Larger files can hold finer dot structure with cleaner transitions. |
| Very large (5000+ px longest side) | Oversized prints and high-detail work | 45-60 | 22.5° or 45° | 3-6% | 360 | Only use high LPI when your source art is truly clean and high resolution. |