Ordering custom heat transfers shouldn’t require a degree in print technology. This glossary defines the 15 terms you’ll see in quotes, artwork specs, and production emails from BRUH Manufacturing — a factory-direct maker of custom skateboard and fingerboard real wear heat transfers in Fuzhou, China, shipping worldwide. Learn the vocabulary once, and every step runs smoother. New to the process? Start with our complete guide to custom skateboard heat transfers.

Real wear

Real wear is BRUH’s name for its custom heat transfer product — the printed graphic layer that bonds permanently to the deck under heat and pressure. It’s a true, durable wear layer on the board, not a sticker or a wrap.

Gang sheet

A gang sheet is one transfer carrier printed with many graphics arranged together, producing multiple designs or repeats in a single run. BRUH’s fingerboard gang sheets hold 32 graphics (38 × 110 mm each), with a minimum order of 10 gang sheets.

Bleed

Bleed is extra artwork extended beyond the graphic’s edge so trimming or edge-to-edge printing never leaves unprinted borders. BRUH asks for skateboard artwork at 9″×33″ plus 0.25″ bleed — see our skateboard artwork upload specs for the exact setup.

CMYK

CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, key/black) is the four-color process that reproduces full-color artwork on real wear transfers. Save your files in CMYK rather than RGB so the printed colors match what you see on screen.

Dwell time

Dwell time is how long the heated platen stays down on the transfer during pressing. Too short under-bonds the graphic; too long risks scorching — follow the recommended timing in our heat press guide.

Hot peel

Hot peel means removing the carrier film immediately after the press opens, while the transfer is still hot. Always follow the peel method specified for your product.

Cold peel

Cold peel means letting the pressed transfer cool fully before removing the carrier film.

PET release film

PET release film is the transparent polyester carrier that holds the printed graphic and releases it onto the deck under heat and pressure. The film is only the carrier — the product itself is the real wear left on the board.

MOQ (minimum order quantity)

MOQ is the smallest order a factory accepts for a production run. At BRUH, the MOQ is 20 sheets for skateboard and 10 gang sheets for fingerboard, making short custom runs practical for small brands and shops.

Heat transfer machine / platen press

A heat transfer machine (platen press) uses a heated upper platen to press the transfer against the deck at roughly 200°C (400°F) with even pressure, bonding the graphic cleanly.

DPI / resolution

DPI (dots per inch) measures artwork resolution; BRUH requires 300dpi PNG or PDF files at actual size.

Vector vs raster

Vector artwork (shapes and paths) scales infinitely with no quality loss, while raster artwork (pixels) depends on resolution. Both work for BRUH orders as long as raster files meet the 300dpi, actual-size requirement.

Holographic foil

Holographic foil is a special finish that adds a light-shifting, rainbow-metallic effect to the graphic, among other special finishes BRUH offers.

Embossing

Embossing creates a raised, textured relief effect in the transferred graphic, adding tactile dimension to the design — another special finish option on custom orders.

Registration (print alignment)

Registration is the precise alignment of printed color layers so multi-color artwork lands exactly as designed. Good registration shows as sharp, clean edges between colors with no white gaps or color fringes.

FAQ

What’s the difference between a real wear heat transfer and film?

Real wear is the graphic layer that bonds to the deck; PET release film is only the carrier it ships on.

How many graphics fit on a fingerboard gang sheet?

32 graphics (38 × 110 mm each) per gang sheet, with a minimum order of 10 gang sheets at $7.50 per gang sheet.

What’s the minimum order and turnaround for skateboard heat transfers?

The MOQ is 20 sheets, with standard turnaround of 5–7 days. Standard 9″×33″ gloss runs from $3.80/sheet down to about $1.75/sheet in bulk — Full details in the pricing guide.

What temperature should I press at?

Around 200°C (400°F) at even pressure, following the recommended dwell time and peel method for your specific product.

BRUH Manufacturing makes custom skateboard and fingerboard real wear heat transfers, factory-direct from Fuzhou, China, shipping worldwide. Request a quote with your artwork, and get your next run into production.