Glossary → Cold-peel film

Cold-peel film.

DTF transfer film whose carrier only comes away once the sheet has cooled on the garment

DTF transfer film whose release lets go only after the pressed sheet has cooled on the garment, where hot-peel film comes off straight out of the press. The wait is the mechanism: the adhesive sets while it is still under pressure and against the fabric, which tends to leave a flatter, more matte face and is more forgiving under a heavy white lay than pulling hot. It also puts a queue into every press cycle, so on a busy afternoon somebody peels early, the fine detail tears, and the film gets the blame. Most film now sells as dual hot and cold peel rather than one or the other, and one supplier's line will list dedicated cold-peel rolls next to instant hot-and-cold rolls, so the label on the box does not settle how it behaves on your press. A film change is a press-setting change, and the only thing that establishes the peel window is a test press before the run, not after it.

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