Direct to garment printing (DTG) empowers you to print any high-quality image directly onto apparel and accessories. It uses digital inkjet technology to spray water-based ink onto fabric, then heat cured at high temperatures to create vibrant, long-lasting prints. Unlike more complex processes like screen printing, DTG prints full-color and high-definition photos and fine details on any kind of clothing—from custom t-shirts to hoodies, bags, and hats.
DTG’s biggest advantage over other printing methods is its speed and accuracy. It is ideal for short production runs, which makes it perfect for fashion labels or businesses that need a small batch of branded apparel to give to employees or customers. With this printing method, you can upload a design into your supplier’s system and have a personalised product in front of you within minutes.
The process is a little more labour-intensive than other printing methods, but it’s still quicker and less expensive than screen printing. In addition, it’s the best option for printing on dark-colored apparel and for producing shirts with Pantone colors.
When designing for DTG, you need to keep in mind that the fabric’s color will show through the print, so the color and detail will be slightly different from the pictured model. This is especially true for contrasting prints, such as white ink on dark-colored garments.
Another important consideration is the resolution of the images you use for your designs. You want to ensure that the resolution is high enough so that the resulting prints are sharp and clear. Using a lower resolution could result in blurry, unclear text or pixelated images.
As for washing, it’s best to wash your apparel inside out with cold water and no extra spins, and avoid adding any tumble dryer cycles. This will help keep the inks and fabrics looking their best.
DTG is one of the most environmentally friendly printing methods. It uses water-based inks that are OEKO-TEX and ECO PASSPORT certified and safe for children. This means that there is minimal energy consumption, no ink waste, and a minimum of chemical pollution. direct to garment printing
