As a simulation of solvent-assisted dyeing, the solvent effects on the structure of polyethylene terephthalate(PET) film treated by dimethylformamide(DMF) were investigated. The effects were evaluated by the atomic force microscopy(AFM) topographical changes and FT-IR spectrum analysis. PET films treated with DMF at $70^{circ}C$ for several different treatment time(20, 40, and 60 min). AFM topography showed that, with increasing treatment time by DMF, PET surfaces became smooth due to the swelling phenomenon and the rigid structure changed into flexible state which was contributed to increase the surface area of PET films. FT-IR spectrum analysis showed that DMF and molecular chains of PET interacted each other via their polar carbonyl groups and that DMF also affected the out-of-plane bending vibration mode of phenyl ring of PET.