DTF-Tones Photoshop Tutorials - TheVectorLab
Menu
0
0

Your Cart is Empty

Add description, images, menus and links to your mega menu

A column with no settings can be used as a spacer

Link to your collections, sales and even external links

Add up to five columns

  • Add description, images, menus and links to your mega menu

  • A column with no settings can be used as a spacer

  • Link to your collections, sales and even external links

  • Add up to five columns

    • Home  / Resources
    Previous  / Next

    DTF-Tones Photoshop Tutorials

    DTF-Tones for Photoshop is a tool that automatically preps your artwork for DTF and DTG printing.


    Instant halftone knockout and background removal for the best looking and softest print possible.

    TUTORIAL for BLACK SHIRTS

    TUTORIAL for WHITE SHIRTS

    TUTORIAL for COLOR SHIRTS

    Main Instructions

    Step 1. Open the DTF-Tones File

    If your image has a black or dark gray background, choose the “on BLACK” version.

    If your image has a white or color background, choose the “on WHITE+COLOR” version.

    DTF-TONES is a regular Photoshop PSD file which can be opened with a File > Open command in Photoshop.

    There are no plugins, swatches, or actions to load or install!

    Step 2. Open Your Layers Panel

    Go to Window > Layers. You will see layer groups. Click the > arrows to make the contents visible.

    Step 3. Double Click Any of the Smart Object Thumbnails

    This will open up a Smart Object file where you can add in your own art, photos, graphics, or images.

    The Smart Object File

    Step 4. Add Your Image

    Hide the existing “EXAMPLE IMAGE” layers.

    Paste & position your image above the “Match to your Background Color” layer.

    Step 5. Sample Your Background Color to Match (Important!)

    Double click the “Match to your Background Color” layer thumbnail.

    Use the Eyedropper Tool to sample your image’s background color.

    Step 6. Sample This Color Again to Your Foreground Swatch (Important Again!)

    Click your Foreground Swatch. Sample your image’s background color one more time to save it. You will need it again in the main DTF-TONES file.

    Step 7. Save & Close the Smart Object File

    Your image will now be visible in the main DTF-TONES file.

    Back in the Main PSD File

    Step 8. Match the Knockout and Background Colors to Your Image’s Background Color

    Double click on the color thumbnail in the “Match to your Knockout” Layer.

    Use the Eyedropper Tool to apply your Foreground Swatch Color.

    Repeat this step for the “BACKGROUND” layer color.

    Step 9. Check to See How Your Art Looks

    Toggle the visibility of the “BACKGROUND” layer.

    When the “BACKGROUND” layer visibility is turned off, your image should have a transparent background with halftones knocked out in appropriate areas.

    It’s okay if you see a minor halo of the background color in the edges of your graphic when the “BACKGROUND” layer visibility is turned off. As long as you print on the same color shirt as your knocked out background color, this will help the colors of your graphic blend properly.

    WYSIWYG: What You See Is What You Get. When the “BACKGROUND” layer visibility is turned on, your graphic should look normal / good. If it doesn’t, make sure you have matched your original image’s background color to the color layers. You can reopen the Smart Object and follow Steps 5–8 again to get the knockout to work properly. If the rectangle background of your image is visible after steps 5–8, your image may have too much variation in its background. Reopen the Smart Object and manually select and erase any problem areas of your image.

    Step 10. Choose a Halftone Size (Optional)

    By default, the halftones are 22.5° Round at 25 LPI (Lines Per Inch). If you would prefer to have a finer dot size, you can select 35 LPI or 45 LPI instead.

    To change to 35 LPI, for example, turn off the visibility of the 25 LPI halftones, and turn on the visibility of the 35 LPI halftones.

    Please note, the “DTF-TONES-on-WHITE+COLOR” file has two separate “HALFTONES” Layer groups. Both of these must be set to the same 25, 35, or 45 LPI setting. The “DTF-TONES-on-BLACK” file has only one “HALFTONES” Layer group.

    Step 11. Remember... WYSIWYG: What You See Is What You Get

    When your “BACKGROUND” Layer is visible, your graphic must look good on your computer’s screen if it’s going to look good when printed on a shirt.

    If something doesn’t look correct, double check the steps above to see if you have missed anything.

    Your graphic may need some manual editing (such as removing stray pixels with the eraser tool).

    Step 12. Adjust Knockout Levels (Optional)

    You can adjust the intensity of your knockout by double clicking on the “light/dark LEVELS” thumbnail.

    Move the LEVELS sliders around until you find a setting you like. Double check this effect by toggling the visibility of your “BACKGROUND” layer.

    Step 13. Adjust Black Levels (Only for White+Color Template)

    You can adjust the intensity of the “Optional Extra Black” layer by double clicking on the “LEVELS” thumbnail.

    Move the LEVELS sliders around until you find a setting you like.

    Step 14. Adjust Threshold If Colors Are Missing

    If some of your colors aren’t showing up (for example a bright red), double click on the Threshold layer thumbnail. In the Properties Window, move the slider around just enough until the missing color returns.

    Step 15. Export as a PNG

    Make sure to turn off the visibility of the “BACKGROUND” Layer before exporting your image.

    Go to File > Export > Quick Export as PNG.