How it works

From PNG artwork to a MainTOP print file.

NestSheet prepares DTF gang sheets in the browser: add transparent PNGs, let Auto-nest pack the roll, choose the white choke and export a mirrored 300 dpi CMYK + W1 TIFF or a transparent PNG. Here is the workflow, screen by screen.

Start your first sheet Start at step 1

Step 1 · Add artwork

Add transparent PNGs and set the copies.

Add the PNG files for the order, up to 100 MB each. Every design lands in the files rail with its print size and a copy counter.

Transparent padding is trimmed, so the print size is the artwork itself.
Set the copies per design in the rail; Auto-nest repacks the sheet around them.
The Inspector shows a design’s size, position, rotation, copies, effective dpi, source pixels and file size.
Resolution and transparency notes guide your review. If a file needs attention, its message names it.

NestSheet files rail listing PNG designs such as ridge-supply-badge.png at 90 × 90 mm with 2 copies and star-patch.png at 60 × 60 mm with 4 copies, each with a copy counter, a ready dot and a delete button, under New sheet and Add — The files rail: each design with its print size, its copies and a ready dot.

Step 2 · Nest

Pack the roll around your orders.

Auto-nest packs every copy of every design with 0° or 90° rotation, keeping your gap and margin, on the roll width you run.

Roll presets from 300 to 1800 mm and A4, A3 and A2 sheets, or a custom width up to 2000 mm.
A new sheet starts at 600 mm wide with a 2 mm gap and a 5 mm margin.
Auto height grows the sheet with the batch; a manual height goes up to 25.4 m.
Film length, area, piece count and fill stay on screen while you work.
Switch to Manual to place pieces by hand.

NestSheet studio with 17 pieces from ten PNG designs auto-nested on a 600 mm roll, the files rail on the left, the Auto-nest and view switcher above the sheet, and film 0.30 m, 17 pieces and 65 % fill in the bottom bar — Ten PNG designs, 17 pieces, auto-packed on a 600 mm roll: 0.30 m of film at 65 % fill.

Step 3 · White

Choose the choke for the whole sheet.

Set the white-underbase choke to 0, 1 or 2 px and the export applies it to the W1 channel. Inspect the artwork with the Normal, White only, Art + White and Fabric views.

NestSheet sheet in the Art + White view, showing the colour artwork over its white underbase, with White 2 px choke in the top bar — Art + White: the colour artwork over its white underbase. The top bar shows the sheet’s choke, 2 px.

NestSheet Inspector for sunset-riders.png: 170 × 76 mm at position 5, 5 mm, rotation 0°, one copy, 300 dpi ready, source 2008 × 898 px RGB, white layer from alpha with 2 px choke for the whole sheet — The Inspector for one design, down to its white layer: from alpha, 2 px choke for the whole sheet.

White only shows the white coverage before the export choke. For the final white edge, export the Production DTF preset and check W1 in MainTOP. Thin-detail protection helps fine lines keep their white; approve a small print when you introduce new artwork or film.

Step 4 · Export

A clear print-file specification for MainTOP.

The Production DTF preset writes a mirrored 300 dpi TIFF with CMYK colour and one W1 white channel — five channels, ready for MainTOP. For a RIP that builds white, export a transparent PNG instead; a switch sets mirroring for either format.

The export window lists the format, colour, white with the sheet’s choke, channels, resolution and transfer before you run it.
Name the file; the .tif extension is added for you.
Print each design’s file name on the film in small grey text when the job needs it.
Long sheets export as one classic TIFF: up to 25.4 m on a 600 mm roll. On wider rolls the export names the longest sheet that fits in one file.
Ready files wait in Recent exports for 72 hours by default, for the account that made them.

NestSheet export window with the Production DTF preset: TIFF, CMYK, W1 choke 2 px for the whole sheet, 4 CMYK + 1 W in five channels, 300 dpi, mirrored, a file name field ending in .TIF, a Print file names on film switch, 0.30 m × 60 cm of film and the Export run button — The export window: Production DTF preset — TIFF, CMYK, W1 with 2 px choke, five channels, 300 dpi, mirrored.

Updates

Every release, with its date.

The current workflow prepares garment-DTF gang sheets and either a CMYK + W1 TIFF for MainTOP or a transparent PNG for a RIP that builds white.

New releases appear in the changelog with their dates, and longer guides on the blog — for example the MainTOP export checklist.

FAQ

The practical questions.

What do I need to run NestSheet?

A desktop web browser: sign in at nestsheet.com/app and start a sheet. Ready exports belong to your account; named sheets you save stay in that browser for your account.

Which artwork files can I add?

Transparent PNG artwork, up to 100 MB per file. NestSheet trims transparent padding, so the print size is the artwork itself, and shows each design’s size, copies and effective resolution for your review. Export a transparent PNG from your design editor and check its edges before adding it.

How does Auto-nest arrange a gang sheet?

Auto-nest packs the rectangular bounds of every copy on the sheet, using your roll width, gap and margin, with 0° or 90° rotation. Film length, piece count and fill stay on screen. Switch to Manual when you want to place artwork by hand.

Which choke should I choose?

Choke pulls the white edge inside the colour artwork. Choose 0, 1 or 2 px for the whole sheet; 2 px is the default. Thin-detail protection helps fine lines keep their white. Check small lettering and isolated dots in the exported W1 channel at final size.

What file does the export write?

The Production DTF preset writes a mirrored 300 dpi TIFF with CMYK colour and one W1 white channel — five channels in total — for MainTOP. For a RIP that builds white itself, choose PNG: an 8-bit RGB file with transparency at 300 dpi. The export window shows the chosen format and mirror setting; for TIFF it also shows the sheet’s choke.

How long can I download a finished export?

Ready export files stay available for 72 hours by default. Open Recent exports in the account that made the file and check its expiry. Keep a local copy for your production records.

From PNG artwork to a MainTOP print file.

Run your next batch through it.