DTF gang sheet software for print shops

Turn PNG artwork into print-ready DTF gang sheets.

Upload transparent PNGs, let Auto-nest pack them on your roll and check the white underbase. Then download a 300 dpi print file: a CMYK + W1 TIFF for MainTOP, or a transparent PNG for a RIP that builds the white.

Start your first sheet Which RIPs it works with
  • Transparent PNG in
  • TIFF or PNG out
  • 300 dpi
  1. 1 Add transparent PNG artwork and set each design’s print size and copies.
  2. 2 Auto-nest arranges the batch using your roll width, gap and margin.
  3. 3 Inspect the artwork and choose a white-underbase choke of 0, 1 or 2 px.
  4. 4 Download a mirrored 300 dpi TIFF with CMYK colour and one W1 white channel, or a transparent PNG for a RIP that builds white.

Works with your RIP

MainTOP
TIFF with CMYK + one W1 white channel, mirrored: the Production DTF preset.
A RIP that builds the white
PNG with transparency at 300 dpi, for example for CADlink Digital Factory or AcroRIP when the queue makes the white from transparency.
RIP guides: MainTOP, CADlink, AcroRIP
Artwork
Transparent PNG
Longest sheet
25.4 m on a 600 mm roll
Choke
0 / 1 / 2 px, sheet-wide
Print file
TIFF (CMYK + W1) or PNG
Resolution
300 dpi · mirror switch
RIP handoff
MainTOP, or a RIP that builds white

Fit the batch

Pack the roll around your orders.

Set your roll width, artwork sizes and copies, then let Auto-nest arrange the sheet. Adjust gap and margin for cutting, or switch to Manual to place pieces by hand. Auto height follows the placed artwork.

  • Auto-nest and Manual modes
  • 0° and 90° auto-nest rotation
  • Adjustable gap and margin
Explore gang-sheet nesting
NestSheet studio with ten files in the file list and 17 pieces auto-nested on a 600 mm roll; the job ticket reads 0.30 m × 60 cm of film, 17 pieces
17 pieces from ten files on 0.30 m of a 600 mm roll — the studio’s own readout.

Measured, not claimed

9.2% less film than hand-style row layouts.

In our published benchmark, Auto-nest laid out the same 670 pieces from 4 test batches modelled on DTF order mixes on a 600 mm roll and used 9.2% less film than the best of three scripted row layouts.

Method, data and limits What it saves on your film

Prepare the white

Choose the choke for the whole sheet.

Set choke to 0, 1 or 2 px; NestSheet applies your choice to the exported W1 channel. Thin-detail protection helps fine lines keep their white backing. Inspect the artwork with the canvas views, then check the final white separation in MainTOP.

  • Sheet-wide choke control
  • Normal, White only, Art + White and Fabric views
  • One W1 white channel in the print file
Understand white-underbase choke
The same sheet in the White only view: every design shown as its white underbase on black
A packed gang sheet of colour designs in the Normal view
Drag to compare the artwork with the White only view — coverage before the export choke is applied.

Prepare the handoff

A print file your RIP can open.

The Production DTF preset writes a mirrored 300 dpi TIFF with CMYK colour and one W1 white channel for MainTOP. A RIP that builds the white itself takes a 300 dpi PNG with transparency instead. Name the file and export, then collect it from the export result or Recent exports.

  • TIFF with five channels: C, M, Y, K, W1
  • PNG with transparency for RIPs that build white
  • 300 dpi, with a mirror switch for either file
See the export specification
NestSheet export window: production DTF preset with TIFF, CMYK, W1 with a 2 px choke, 4 CMYK + 1 W (5 channels), 300 dpi, mirrored, the file name field and the Export run button

Who it’s for

Built for the operator preparing the next run.

Print shops

In-house DTF print shops

Turn approved PNG artwork into a packed sheet, choose its white choke and prepare the file for your MainTOP queue.

Read the workflow

Decorators

Apparel decorators printing their own transfers

Set the sizes and copies for front designs, sleeve prints and small labels, then check the complete sheet before export.

See the workflow

Sellers

Marketplace sellers with an in-house printer

Bring approved artwork from your order folders into one batch. Review the copies and print sizes before preparing the production file.

Read the workflow
Free during early access · paid plans later

Every feature. Unlimited exported area.

NestSheet is free during early access. Prepare your DTF gang sheets with every feature included and unlimited exported area.

Your account page shows your exported area for this month and in total.

Paid plans will come later. Prices will be published on the pricing page. Registered users will get an email at least 30 days before any paid plan applies to them. A paid plan starts only when you choose to buy one.

See pricing and how usage is counted

NestSheet was built inside a working print shop. The packer, the white channel and the export preset exist because operators needed them on real Friday batches. We ship what works on the production floor.
— The founding team

FAQ

Answers before you ask.

Straight answers about files, nesting, white and the print file.

What is NestSheet?
NestSheet is browser-based DTF prepress software for print shops. It packs transparent PNG artwork into gang sheets, builds a white underbase with sheet-wide choke, and exports a mirrored 300 dpi CMYK + W1 TIFF for MainTOP or a transparent PNG for RIPs that build white. Operators use it to prepare the layout and print file before opening the job in their RIP.
Which artwork files should I upload?
Upload transparent PNG artwork and check each design’s intended print size and copies. NestSheet shows resolution and transparency information to help you review the files. The per-file upload ceiling is 100 MB. For artwork created in a design editor, export a transparent PNG and reopen it to check the edges before adding it.
How does Auto-nest arrange a gang sheet?
Auto-nest arranges the rectangular bounds of your artwork on the selected sheet. It uses the copy counts, roll width, gap and margin, and turns pieces 0° or 90° to fit. Review the packed pieces against the order list. Switch to Manual when you want to place artwork by hand or keep a particular arrangement.
Does it work with my RIP?
NestSheet exports two kinds of print file. The Production DTF preset writes a mirrored 300 dpi TIFF with CMYK colour and one W1 white channel, made for MainTOP. For a RIP that builds the white layer from transparency, export a 300 dpi PNG with transparency instead. The RIP guides for MainTOP, CADlink Digital Factory and AcroRIP list what to check before the first production batch.
Can I use NestSheet on my phone?
You can create your account on a phone, but sheets are built in a desktop browser: the editor needs a wide canvas, a mouse and keyboard shortcuts. On a screen narrower than 768 px the app shows a page with the link to open on your computer.
Which roll widths and sheet lengths can I use?
Presets cover rolls from 300 to 1800 mm and A4, A3 and A2 sheets, and you can type any width up to 2000 mm (78.7 in): a 22-inch roll is 558.8 mm, a 24-inch roll 609.6 mm. A new sheet starts 600 mm wide with a 2 mm gap and 5 mm margin. A sheet can be up to 25.4 m (1,000 in) long in one file; on wide rolls the export window names the longest sheet that fits.
What does the white-underbase choke change?
Choke pulls the white edge inside the colour artwork. NestSheet offers 0, 1 and 2 px for the whole sheet, with 2 px as the default. The production export applies your choice and includes protection for qualifying thin details. Check small lettering, isolated dots and solid edges in the exported W1 separation at final size.
What is in the Production DTF preset?
The Production DTF preset writes a TIFF with five channels: cyan, magenta, yellow, black and one W1 white separation. Resolution is 300 dpi and the file is mirrored for transfer. The export dialog shows these settings with the chosen sheet-wide choke. Download the result and check its size, orientation and white mapping in MainTOP.
How long can I download a completed export?
Completed export files stay available for 72 hours by default. Sign in to the account that created the file, open Recent exports and check its displayed expiry. Save a local copy for your production records. Uploaded artwork has a separate 90-day retention period; keeping your approved originals helps you prepare future repeat orders.
Is my customers’ artwork safe?
Uploaded artwork and finished print files are stored encrypted on servers in Ashburn, Virginia (USA), and only the account that made an export can download it. Artwork is deleted after 90 days and exports after 72 hours. The Security page explains where files live and who can reach them.

Your next DTF run

Build a sheet from your own artwork.

Add transparent PNGs, set the sizes and copies, then download the print file for your RIP.

Start your first sheet Which RIPs it works with
  • Transparent PNG in
  • TIFF or PNG out
  • 300 dpi