PDF and PNG files compared

Updated on 15 September 2026

Both PDF and PNG can be used as print file formats in digital printing, including for your DTF transfers. Which format is the better choice depends on your design: logo, lettering or photo. In this article, we would like to show you their individual properties so that you know when PDF and when PNG is right and how to set up both correctly.

PDF or PNG: the comparison in brief

In short: for DTF printing, a PDF with vector graphics is the best choice. A PNG is suitable for photos and pixel designs if it has at least 300 dpi at print size and shows clean edges. For DTF, Blockout, UV DTF and sublimation, we accept both formats, and for CUT DTF only PDF. You can find a table with the differences between PDF and PNG in Pixels and vectors compared.

PDF: vectors, CMYK and colour profile in one file

PDF is a common file format for print files in digital printing. This is because PDF files usually offer higher print quality and colour accuracy than other file formats, especially compared with image formats such as JPG or PNG.

PDF files contain information about fonts, colour profiles and other parameters that are important for printing. This makes it easier to ensure that the printed result meets your expectations and that the colours and fonts look the way they should. For your print file, use the CMYK colour space with the ISO Coated v2 (ECI) colour profile. We explain which profile belongs to which product and how to set it up in How do I install an ICC profile?

Vector graphics in a PDF keep their quality and clarity even when greatly enlarged, from a small chest logo to a large back design. Pixel images in a PDF, on the other hand, become just as blurred when enlarged as they do as a PNG. Nevertheless, always create your file at the ordered final size, because we do not scale your file.

But be careful: a PDF is no guarantee of vectors. Whether it contains vectors, pixel images or both depends on what you created it with. Because every placed image can bring its own colour profile, convert everything to ISO Coated v2 (ECI) when exporting, in Illustrator with the colour conversion ‘Convert to Destination’.

For CUT DTF and CUT Blockout, you always need a PDF. Only in a PDF can you set up the cut line as a closed line in the spot colour CutContour, with at least 5 mm between the lines and to the design. This line stays a spot colour when exporting and must not be converted to CMYK, otherwise it will be printed instead of cut.

PNG: pixel image with a transparent background

PNG, on the other hand, is a raster image format that was developed primarily for use on the web. It consists of pixels and contains no vector data. This can lead to a loss of quality, especially when the image is scaled.

Its big advantage: a PNG can save a transparent background. This is important for DTF printing, because your print file must not contain a background. A JPG, by contrast, always has a background.

The biggest disadvantages of PNG files in printing:

• RGB only: PNG does not support CMYK. We do not change any colour values. However, an RGB file or a PNG is converted to CMYK for printing. Bright colours may look slightly duller as a result.
• Fixed resolution: If a PNG is printed larger than it was created, the edges become blurred and fine details or text are lost.
• Soft edges: The edges often contain semi-transparent pixels, which can lead to white halos in DTF printing.
• Size: Wrong sizes occur most often with PNGs. With the custom length, we read the length directly from your file.
• Larger file size: PNG files are usually larger than vector graphics. We accept up to 500 MB per file.

For photos, painted designs or designs from Canva, a PNG is still often the easiest way. With enough resolution and cleanly cut-out edges, a PNG also delivers a good print result.

DTF printing with the right file format: avoiding white halos

DTF printing is a printing process in which a special film is printed in order to transfer the design onto the textile. To achieve the best possible result, it is important that the print file you use meets the requirements of DTF printing.

PDF files are usually better suited to DTF printing than PNG files. The reason is that PDF files can contain vector graphics, which offer high precision in detail and sharp edges. PNG files, by contrast, are rasterised: the edges of the design are made up of pixels that often contain only a little colour. This can make the edges look blurred and cause details in the design to be lost.

Another important factor is that in DTF printing your design is printed in colour and backed with opaque white, so that light and bright colours are clearly visible on dark fabrics too. This applies equally to Standard DTF and Blockout DTF. When using PNG files, however, a problem with so-called ‘white halos’ can occur. A white halo occurs when white ink is printed at a point on the design where it should not be. This can make the design look uneven or incomplete.

The cause is that every pixel the RIP software detects is backed with white. If the edges of the design are rasterised because PNG files are used, this can increase the number of white halos.

The same happens in a PDF if it contains a pixel image with soft edges. We explain exactly how white halos occur and how to avoid them with hard edges or a vector graphic in Pixels and vectors compared.

How to set up PDF and PNG correctly

Whatever the format: create your file at the ordered final size, without a background and with only one layer, as hidden layers are printed too. Everything in your file that is not transparent is printed, including with UV DTF. With sublimation, there is no white, so white and transparent areas stay blank.

Your PDF

• One page in CMYK, fonts converted to outlines, images embedded.
• Saved as PDF/X-4 or from Acrobat 6 (PDF 1.5) upwards, so that the transparency is retained.

Your PNG

• At least 300 dpi at print size.
• Transparent background, design cut out with hard edges.

From Illustrator, Affinity and CorelDRAW, it is best to save a PDF, from Canva a PNG with a transparent background, and Photoshop can do both. Exporting your files correctly shows you all the basic rules and the settings for every program.

Conclusion

In summary, PDF files are better suited to DTF printing than PNG files because of their vector graphics and their ability to produce sharp edges, provided that the PDF really contains vectors. If you want to use a PNG file, it is important to make sure that the design has a sufficiently high resolution, that is at least 300 dpi at print size, and that the edges of the design are not too heavily rasterised, in order to avoid white halos.

Frequently asked questions

Will my image get better if I save it as a PDF?

No. A photo or PNG remains a pixel image in a PDF too, with the same resolution and the same edges. It only becomes sharper if you recreate the design as a vector graphic, for example a logo.

Can I also upload JPG, TIFF or SVG?

When ordering, we only accept PDF and PNG, and for CUT DTF only PDF. Save other formats as a PDF or as a cut-out PNG beforehand. In the DTF Designer, you can upload further image formats and remove a white background with one click. Cut-out PNGs work best there, because the Designer converts a PDF into a pixel image.

How many pixels does my PNG need?

Enough to reach at least 300 dpi at print size. For a design 10 cm wide, that is around 1,200 pixels in width.

Why does my PNG have the wrong size?

Usually, the resolution saved during export does not match the ordered size. Export at the ordered final size with at least 300 dpi or upload a PDF. You can read more about this in Most common mistakes and how to fix them.

Help with your print files

Want to play it safe? You can add the Pro File Check to your order. We then check the format, the colour mode with colour profile and the main transparency of your gang sheet before production. The resolution and semi-transparent pixels within your design are not included, so you need to pay attention to these yourself when setting up your file. The Pro File Check is not available for express, Designer and single design orders.

If you are not sure whether PDF or PNG is right for your design, our customer service will be happy to help, by phone on +49 2163 9518930 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:00 German time) or by email at info@dtf-king.de.

Setting up print files correctlyView the Pro File CheckContact customer service

Also useful: DTF transfer as a single design and our FAQ.

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Wishing you every success with your projects,

DTF-King Team