Simulations
ProTransfers shows you three simulations before you order — color reproduction, hand feel, and heat press adhesion — so you know exactly what to expect.
Before you order, ProTransfers runs three simulations on your artwork to show you exactly how the finished DTF transfer will look and perform. The results appear in the simulation footer at the bottom of the Studio after your artwork analysis completes.
The Three Simulations
Color Reproduction
Shows how accurately your artwork colors will print. A score from 50-100 indicates how closely the printed transfer will match what you see on screen. A heatmap overlay highlights areas where colors may shift during printing.
Learn more about color reproduction
Hand Feel
Predicts how soft or firm the transfer will feel on fabric after pressing. Designs with lighter ink coverage feel softer and more flexible, while designs with heavy solid areas feel firmer. A heatmap overlay shows ink density across your design.
Heat Press Adhesion
Predicts whether every element of your design — including thin lines and small details — will adhere reliably to fabric. Fine elements below a certain thickness may not survive the pressing process. A heatmap overlay highlights any areas at risk.
Learn more about heat press adhesion
Reading the Simulation Footer
The simulation footer at the bottom of the Studio has two states:
- Collapsed — a compact bar showing your scores at a glance. Click to expand.
- Expanded — a full panel with tabs for each simulation, detailed breakdowns, and overlay controls.
The Summary tab shows all key metrics in one view: color score, print dimensions, color space, transparency, file format, and resolution.
Each simulation tab provides:
- A score card with a number and tier (e.g., "Excellent," "Mostly Soft," "Good Adhesion")
- Detail metrics specific to that simulation
- An overlay toggle and opacity slider to visualize results on your artwork
- A legend explaining what the colors mean
Using Overlays
Each simulation offers a color overlay you can toggle onto your artwork canvas:
| Simulation | Green | Amber | Orange/Red |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color Reproduction | Colors print accurately | Mild color shift | Significant color shift |
| Hand Feel | Light ink coverage (soft) | Moderate coverage | Heavy coverage (firm) |
| Heat Press Adhesion | Reliable adhesion | Marginal adhesion | Will not adhere |
Adjust the opacity slider to see your artwork underneath the overlay. Overlays help you understand where on your design the simulation results apply — often more useful than the overall score alone.