Author Topic: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF  (Read 3510 times)

Offline Frog

  • Administrator
  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13980
  • Docendo discimus
Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« on: March 04, 2022, 03:01:23 PM »
I have a job coming up that will require DTF transfers. The logo art is a jpg, that will apparently print the white background which I don't want. I understand the basic process of selecting the background, inverting the selection, and applying a mask, and saving that.
This process seems to favor art with distinct contrast. My design includes a fade to white. I can't seem to avoid a distinct cutoff and sharp edge. Will this always be a problem with this method, even with the tolerance set to 1?
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?


Offline 3Deep

  • !!!
  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 5330
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2022, 04:32:46 PM »
Yes as lone as it has fades and your coming from a Jpeg image, DTF is not going to print fades anyway unless you know how to convert the art to color halftones, I would tell you how but I just learn myself.
Life is like Kool-Aid, gotta add sugar/hardwork to make it sweet!!

Offline Sbrem

  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 6055
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2022, 05:14:37 PM »
You might try the background eraser tool in PS, but it can be tough with the white fade.

Steve
I made a mistake once; I thought I was wrong about something; I wasn't

Offline Frog

  • Administrator
  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13980
  • Docendo discimus
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2022, 05:48:32 PM »
You might try the background eraser tool in PS, but it can be tough with the white fade.

Steve

I think that I am on my way of solving this by using the background eraser tool in different opacities and different diameters on the image which has already been made transparent with the select/inverse/mask method.
I don't know if these images will translate well here, but the first is the crappy fade, and the second is after I started fiddling about.
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline Homer

  • !!!
  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 3208
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2022, 08:10:53 PM »
with something like your example, I would delete the entire background/gradient then recreate the background. faster and easier for me.
...keep doing what you're doing, you'll only get what you've got...

Offline Frog

  • Administrator
  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13980
  • Docendo discimus
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2022, 08:17:47 PM »
with something like your example, I would delete the entire background/gradient then recreate the background. faster and easier for me.

I wouldn't know where to even begin to do that with the single layer jpg logo I was furnished.
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline DonR

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 144
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2022, 08:50:11 PM »
Andy, send it to me and I will take a look...

Offline Maxie

  • !!!
  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 1328
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2022, 02:14:43 AM »
I think what you are describing is one of the limitations of DTF.
It can’t handle fades.     Hard to put the white base and glue powder on fades.
Maxie Garb.
T Max Designs.
Silk Screen Printers
www.tmax.co.il

Offline Frog

  • Administrator
  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13980
  • Docendo discimus
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2022, 09:15:10 AM »
I think what you are describing is one of the limitations of DTF.
It can’t handle fades.     Hard to put the white base and glue powder on fades.

If going on white, can the white base be eliminated?
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline DonR

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 144
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #9 on: March 05, 2022, 10:52:25 AM »
You can eliminate the white underbase but the transfers will not adhere and hold up as well.

Offline Maxie

  • !!!
  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 1328
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2022, 07:18:51 AM »
Depends on the printer, I have a Mutoh and put in Light Cyan and Magenta which helps when printing faded areas.
I just did an order without the white base and got a great result.        Their RIP has a setting for White shirts.
Maxie Garb.
T Max Designs.
Silk Screen Printers
www.tmax.co.il

Offline Rockers

  • !!!
  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 2074
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #11 on: April 27, 2022, 08:13:23 PM »
Depends on the printer, I have a Mutoh and put in Light Cyan and Magenta which helps when printing faded areas.
I just did an order without the white base and got a great result.        Their RIP has a setting for White shirts.
Can I just real quick derail this thread and ask about the glue powder you are using. We started printing DTF on our Brother GTX Pro yesterday. The results are real good but we don`t have a good choice of glue powder here. The transfers feel really stiff and have zero stretch. How is your glue behaving? Is it stretchable?

Offline Maxie

  • !!!
  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 1328
Re: Converting a jpg to a transparent background for DTF
« Reply #12 on: April 29, 2022, 03:28:37 PM »
I don’t think DTF has much stretch, pretty much like a transfer.
There are a lot of glue powder suppliers, try and get a few samples.
Maxie Garb.
T Max Designs.
Silk Screen Printers
www.tmax.co.il