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Cotton takes longer: press it about 5 to 10 seconds. Polyester and dri-fit need only about 1 to 3 seconds. The exact numbers depend on which DTF transfer company you buy from. For screen printing on polyester, run cooler than cotton, and use a low-cure ink if dye migration is a risk.
Polyester has taken a big share of the market from cotton. At first, these shirts had dye migration issues, and it was almost uncontrollable unless you used a low-cure ink like WM Plastics LC (low cure) inks. Those cure at 230°F (per WM Plastics), and they stopped dye migration because the shirt never had to get hot enough for the dye to bleed through the ink.
Some SanMar, Badger and Augusta products use dye technology that has really changed over the years. These manufacturers have better processes now, and dye migration isn't as big a concern.
You still don't want to run polyester at the same temperature or belt speed you'd use for a cotton shirt.
The same applies to heat pressing. Cotton shirts can hold moisture, so they take a little longer: press cotton about 5 to 10 seconds, and polyester about 1 to 3 seconds. Those numbers vary based on which DTF transfer company you buy from, and on their technology and their ecosystem of products. For DTF on polyester, we've seen about 280°F work on an air (pneumatic) press; see DTF on polyester, nylon and leather.
Polyester and dri-fit about 1 to 3 seconds; cotton about 5 to 10 seconds, because cotton holds moisture. Check your DTF transfer maker's numbers too.
About 280°F on an air (pneumatic) press has worked for us, for 1 to 3 seconds. Always test the garment first.
Keep the heat down. A low-cure ink such as WM Plastics LC Brute White cures at 230°F (per WM Plastics), so the shirt never gets hot enough for the dye to bleed.
Less than it used to be. Their dye technology has improved, but you still run polyester cooler than cotton.
Related: Dye migration in screen printing · Best screen printing ink for polyester · DTF heat press settings · DTF on polyester, nylon and leather
