Why Line Thickness Matters

When preparing designs for textile printing, line thickness (also known as stroke width) is one of the most critical factors for achieving a high-quality result. Whether you use Direct to Film (DTF) or Direct to Garment (DTG), lines that are too thin can cause technical issues or lead to a less professional finish.

Below, we explain what to consider to ensure a durable and sharp print.

Why Is the Correct Line Thickness Important?

Using a minimum line thickness is not just an aesthetic choice — it is mainly a technical requirement:

Adhesion (DTF)

With DTF transfers, an adhesive powder is applied to the ink. If a line is too thin, there is not enough surface area for the adhesive to properly bond to the film and, later, to the fabric.

This can cause fine details to lift or peel during pressing or after multiple washes.

Visibility (DTG)

With DTG printing, the ink is sprayed directly into the fibers of the garment. Very thin lines can get “absorbed” into the fabric texture, making them appear faint or even disappear against the background color of the garment.

Durability

Designs with solid, thicker lines last longer. Thin lines are more vulnerable to wear and tear caused by friction and washing.

Our Guidelines for the Best Results

To ensure your design prints perfectly on textiles, we recommend the following:

• Minimum thickness (absolute lower limit): 1.5 mm

To stay on the safe side and avoid details lifting during production, use at least 1.5 mm.

• Optimal thickness (recommended): 2.0 – 2.5 mm

For the best adhesion and visibility, we recommend using lines between 2 and 2.5 mm. This ensures a strong visual impact and excellent wash durability.

Tip: Watch Your Negative Space

Also pay attention to the spacing (negative space) between lines.

If lines are placed too close together (less than 1 mm apart), ink or adhesive may spread and cause them to merge. This can result in loss of detail.

How to Check This in Your Design

Are you working in programs like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW?

• Use the measurement tool to check your dimensions
• Set your stroke width (line thickness) in millimeters

⚠️ Important:

Simply scaling up a small design to a larger size also scales the line thickness. Always check your design at the final print size to ensure that the thinnest lines still meet the minimum requirements.

By following these guidelines, you ensure your designs remain sharp, durable, and professionally printed.

Updated on: 23/06/2026