What counts as “readable” in a neck tag?
Neck labels are viewed at 8–16 in (20–40 cm), through fabric texture and under mixed light. “Readable” means the brand, size, fiber content, care, and origin/RN lines can be scanned without squinting, counters (a, e, 6, 8, 9) stay open after transfer, and edges remain smooth after a few stretches and the first wash. That’s why we size text for real fabric—not just what looks crisp on a backlit monitor.
DTF vs UV-DTF—what goes on the garment, what doesn’t
Important clarity up front: Neck-label prints on garments are a DTF-only job. UV-DTF is not for fabric (it’s rigid, doesn’t stretch, and can crack/irritate); use UV-DTF only for packaging stickers like polybag size dots or hang-tag decals. The guidance below—type sizes, spacing, and press windows—assumes DTF neck labels.
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DTF (Direct-to-Film) is engineered for textiles. Under heat and pressure it bonds to fibers, flexes with the knit, and remains comfortable against skin—ideal for inside-neck labels. On sumotransfers.com you can order Ready to Press DTF for quick runs, Custom DTF by Size when you’ve standardized your label footprint, and batch efficiently with the DTF Gang Sheet Builder.
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UV-DTF is a peel-and-stick, UV-cured ink/adhesive system for hard, non-porous surfaces (tumblers, glass, metal, plastics). It is not suitable for garments: the rigid ink film doesn’t stretch with fabric, leading to crack/craze and potential skin discomfort. Keep UV-DTF in the neck-label ecosystem only for packaging stickers (polybag size dots, hang-tag decals, accessory labels), not on the garment itself.
One-line policy you can reuse: “Neck labels are DTF-only; UV-DTF is for packaging stickers—not garments.”
Point sizes that actually read
Hierarchy drives legibility. Set brand/size first, then fit compliance lines underneath. The ranges below are conservative enough to survive stretch and wash while staying compact.
Brand / Top line (uppercase sans or sturdy serif)
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10–12 pt (≈ 3.5–4.2 mm cap height) for Regular/Medium weights
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12–14 pt (≈ 4.2–4.9 mm) if condensed or on textured/rib knits
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Use Regular–Semibold; avoid Hairline/Light at tiny sizes
Size (S, M, L, XL, 2XL…)
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12–16 pt (≈ 4.2–5.6 mm) if it stands alone
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10–12 pt if locked next to the brand line; bolding helps separation
Care / Fiber content / Country of origin / RN
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7.5–9 pt (≈ 2.6–3.2 mm) in a clean sans
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8.5–10 pt (≈ 3.0–3.5 mm) for serifs or condensed faces
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Absolute minimum for smooth cotton blends with good tracking: 7 pt (≈ 2.5 mm); go larger on heavy textures
Micro notes (URL, lot, date code)
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6.5–7.5 pt (≈ 2.3–2.6 mm) sans only, positive lettering (avoid reversed-out micro text)
Why points, not pixels? Production art should be vector or 300–600 DPI raster at print size. Points map to physical height; pixels depend on canvas/export.
Validation note (add to your SOP): Confirm point sizes and strokes with a small pilot run and 3–5 wash tests before full production.
Fonts, tracking, and line spacing
Choose a clean sans with generous counters and sturdy joins (Inter, Source Sans 3, Roboto, Aktiv Grotesk, Swiss-style grotesks). Serifs can work for the brand line, but small compliance text reads better in sans.
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Weight: Regular → Semibold. Very thin weights crack first; ultra-heavy can blob unless tracked out.
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Tracking: Brand/size −10 to 0 (Adobe) or tight-normal; compliance lines +10 to +20 to keep counters open at 7.5–9 pt.
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Leading: For small stacks, 1.25–1.4× line height prevents line fusion. Add a touch more space around the SIZE line to make it pop without enlarging it.
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Casing: Mixed case is more distinctive at small sizes; reserve ALL CAPS for very short items (SIZE, country code).
Crack prevention: design and press variables
Cracking comes from ink laydown + film/adhesive behavior + fabric stretch + press settings. You can’t fight physics, but you can design and press smart.
Design choices that reduce cracks
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Prefer positive text (inked letters) over reversed-out micro text cut from a solid block; big ink plates craze more easily.
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Break up large fills with negative space, or convert big blocks to stroke outlines where visually acceptable.
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Keep thinnest strokes ≥ 0.35–0.4 mm (≈ 1–1.2 pt).
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If your workflow allows, choke the white underbase 0.1–0.2 mm so color edges don’t sit on a fragile ledge.
Press strategy that protects micro type (DTF)
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Run within the film/adhesive spec. In practice, lower temp + proper dwell + even pressure beats “hotter & harder.” Over-temp stiffens the ink plate and encourages micro-cracks.
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Aim for even, medium pressure so adhesive flows without crushing detail.
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Peel exactly as specified (hot/warm/cold). A rushed peel at the wrong temp nicks edges.
- A short second hit through parchment can level micro texture only if your transfer’s tech sheet allows it.
Tolerance note to include in job tickets: “Exact °F/seconds/pressure varies by film/ink lot; always defer to the manufacturer’s tolerance window.”
Fabric matters
High-stretch blends need slightly bigger type and more open layouts. Heavy rib/slub textures can swallow delicate serifs—go +0.5–1 pt and prefer sans.
Workflow: artboard → proof → gang sheet
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Artboard & safe area. Typical neck-tag width 2.5–3.0 in (63–76 mm) with 3–4 mm inner safe margin. Keep ink off collar seams; don’t park edges on a ridge.
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Hierarchy pass. Set the brand (e.g., 12 pt) and size (e.g., 14 pt), then fit compliance lines at 8.5–9 pt sans with proper tracking/leading. Print on paper at 100% scale and tape inside a tee to simulate viewing distance.
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Export. Vectors as PDF/SVG with outlines; rasters as 300–600 DPI at print size with anti-aliasing and no destructive compression; never use fake bold/italic.
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Gang efficiently. Neck labels are perfect for ganging: mix sizes S–3XL and styles on a single sheet. Use the Sumotransfers Gang Sheet Builder by navigating on the site to the tool that lets you upload multiple label versions and fill an entire sheet; this lowers per-label cost and makes reorders simple.
Care, compliance, and durability
Keep care copy short and readable: “Machine wash cold, tumble dry low. Do not iron decoration.” A crisp line at 8.5–9 pt reads better than a crammed paragraph at 7 pt. If you use symbols, keep them at ≥ 9–10 pt equivalent height or pair with text; tiny pictograms lose meaning after a few washes.
Compliance reminder (U.S. context): Fiber content, country of origin, and RN/CA may be required depending on the product and jurisdiction. Confirm with your compliance advisor before locking the template.
Set expectations in the cart/packing slip: turn garment inside-out, wash cold, gentle cycle, low-heat dry. Real-world care habits extend label life as much as any design trick.
Order DTF labels: ready to press, custom size, gang sheets
Build a repeatable neck-label system on Sumotransfers:
Ready to Press DTF (apparel labels, ready to apply)
How to find it: On sumotransfers.com, go to the section for pre-made, press-ready DTF transfers for garments. This option is fast, consistent, and has no minimums—ideal for multi-style drops.
Custom DTF by Size (lock your label footprint)
How to find it: On the site, navigate to the page where you can set an exact width/height for your transfer (for example, 2.5" × 2.5") and reorder the same spec whenever you need it.
DTF Gang Sheet Builder (lowest unit cost at scale)
How to find it: Open the gang sheet builder tool on sumotransfers.com. Upload your full size run (S–3XL), duplicate across the sheet, and fill it efficiently.
DTF Shipping & Delivery and FAQ & Support
How to find them: Use the site’s main navigation to open the pages that outline shipping windows, cutoffs, and care/technical guidance. Publish your care instructions and label specs here so buyers see them before and after purchase.
Bringing it together
Neck-label failures rarely mean “DTF doesn’t work”—they usually mean type was too small, strokes too thin, big solid plates, or pressing too hot/uneven for a stretchy garment. Keep brand/size in the 10–16 pt window, set compliance at 8.5–9 pt in a clean sans with helpful tracking and leading, avoid reversed-out micro text, run a realistic press window, and pilot with a 3–5 wash test before you scale.
Lock in neck-tag point sizes that don’t crack and order DTF neck labels today—optimize neck-tag point sizes that don’t crack with Sumotransfers.
