Direct to Garment (DTG)

Direct To Garment printing (DTG), or simply “digital” is essentially a big inkjet printer for printing on garments. DTG is perfectly suited to high detail photographic images, images with a lot of print colours, or low volume orders that fall below the minimum order quantity for screen printing. DTG printing is not currently available to purchase online, so you will need to reach out for a quote.

Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing is a cutting-edge and versatile method that allows for high-quality, custom prints with no minimum order requirements. It offers full-color reproduction, vibrant details, and excellent design flexibility, making it the perfect solution for small businesses, artists, and anyone looking to create unique, personalized apparel. While it has a few considerations regarding fabric types and durability, its benefits, including eco-friendliness, speed, and low waste, make it a valuable choice for modern garment printing. Whether you’re launching a fashion line or designing custom shirts for an event, DTG gives you the freedom to print exactly what you want, when you want.

How DTG Works:

DTG printing uses specialized inkjet technology to apply water-based inks directly onto the fabric of the T-shirt. The printer prints the design directly onto the material in a layer-by-layer process, similar to how a desktop inkjet printer works with paper. The ink is absorbed by the fibers of the fabric, which creates a soft feel and vibrant, long-lasting print.

Key Benefits of Direct to Garment:

1. Full-Color & Detailed Designs:
   • DTG allows for printing full-color designs with intricate details, gradients, and photo-quality images without the need for color separation. This is ideal for designs that include complex artwork, photographs, or fine details.
2. No Setup Fees:
   • Unlike traditional screen printing, DTG printing doesn’t require costly setup fees or screens for each color. This makes it an affordable option for small orders or even a single custom T-shirt.
3. Perfect for Small Orders:
   • DTG is ideal for small runs or even one-off designs, as there’s no minimum order requirement. This is great for people looking to create unique, custom apparel without committing to large batches.
4. Vibrant Colors:
   • DTG printers use water-based inks that produce vibrant and rich colors that stand out on light-colored fabrics. Darker shirts can also be printed, but a special pre-treatment process is used to ensure the colors pop on darker fabrics.
5. Soft, Comfortable Feel:
   • Since the ink is absorbed directly into the fabric rather than sitting on top of it, DTG prints have a soft and smooth finish that feels almost like part of the shirt. This is ideal for creating comfortable, wearable custom apparel.
6. Eco-Friendly:
   • The inks used in DTG printing are water-based and non-toxic, making the process more environmentally friendly compared to other printing methods that use plastic-based inks or solvents.
7. Fast Turnaround:
   • DTG printing can be completed quickly, making it ideal for customers who need their custom designs printed and shipped in a short amount of time. No complicated setup is required, so the production time is significantly faster than traditional methods like screen printing.
8. No Minimum Quantity:
   • Since there’s no need for custom screens or extensive preparation, DTG is ideal for individuals or small businesses who need one shirt, a few items, or limited edition runs.
9. Design Flexibility:
   • DTG offers the freedom to print designs in any size and in full detail, from large front graphics to small logos or text. There are virtually no design limitations with DTG printing.
10. Wide Fabric Compatibility:

• DTG works best on cotton fabrics, especially 100% cotton shirts, but it can also be used on other fabrics like cotton blends and polyester to some extent, making it versatile for different types of apparel.

Ideal Use Cases for DTG Printing:

• Custom T-shirts: Perfect for personalized gifts, fan shirts, and event merchandise.
• Small Business & Startups: Ideal for creating limited-edition designs or testing out new designs without the need for large inventory.
• Art Prints: Artists can create and sell high-quality custom shirts featuring their artwork or photography.
• Promotional Items: Great for small batches of custom shirts for events, conferences, or giveaways.
• Personalized Apparel: Whether for birthdays, weddings, reunions, or family vacations, DTG allows for easy personalization on one-off items.

Considerations for DTG Printing:

• Fabric Type: DTG works best with 100% cotton or cotton-blend fabrics. While it can be used on other fabrics, results may vary.
• Dark Shirts: Printing on dark-colored fabrics may require a special pre-treatment process to ensure the design looks sharp and vibrant.
• Long-Term Durability: While DTG prints are durable, they may not last as long as screen printing or other methods for extremely heavy-duty use, such as workwear. However, with proper care (washing inside out and avoiding harsh detergents), the prints hold up well over time.

In conclusion, Direct to Garment printing is a flexible, cost-effective, and high-quality solution for creating custom T-shirts and other apparel, offering excellent print quality and fast turnaround times. Whether you’re looking to print a few shirts or develop an entire line of custom clothing, DTG gives you the freedom to bring your designs to life with impressive results.

Direct to Garment Design Examples

Preparing the Artwork

The artwork is colour corrected so RGB colours are converted to CMYK colours and checked for imperfections. The artwork is positioned in the desired place on the garment

Pretreating the garment

Before printing excess fibres are removed from the garment and pre-treatment is applied using an automatic pre-treat machine then dried with a heat-press. This allows the ink to absorb better into the garment fibres

Printing the design

The garment is placed onto the DTG printer’s platten and the preset colour and ink settings are applied. The artwork is printed at 1200 dpi which results in high quality images on the garment. We can also print over seams, pockets, zippers etc.

The final result

After another heat press the DTG printed t-shirt is ready to wear. The print looks sharp and bright and has a soft touch feel.