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DTG printing is not a replacement for traditional t-shirt decoration but should be seen as an alternative or complementary method of decoration print providers can offer their customers.
DTG or Direct-to-Garment is a method of printing a design or image directly onto the garment. Similar to printing on paper, DTG will spray the ink onto the garment allowing the fabric to absorb the ink into its fibers.
Unlike traditional screen printing or heat transfer vinyl, DTG printing allows for more detailed images to be transferred to a garment with one-third of the setup time, resulting in a high-quality product that will not crack, peel or distort.
Direct-to-garment printing has allowed print providers such as Printful and Printify to offer its customers the option of bulk or single print orders.
How does DTG printing work?
Special types of printers are used to apply a water-based ink directly to the fabric of your garment using inkjet technology.
If you are printing a full-colored design, the printer will start by placing down a layer of white ink. This layer acts as an undercoat or primer for the image.
DTG Printing Process
The first step in the DTG printing process is to pretreat the garment. A liquid solution allows the printing and washability of a full-colored image on a variety of colored shirts.
After the liquid solution is layered, the garment will be heat pressed. This seals the and drys the liquid solution.
Next, the garment is returned to the printer and the image file is sent to the printer.
If an image is being printed on a black or dark garment, the DTG machine will print a layer of white ink. This white layer acts as an undercoat for the color ink.
Once the DTG printer completes spraying the colored ink, the garment returns to the heat press to cure the ink.
Benefits of DTG printing?
Direct garment printing has become a popular method of t-shirt printing over the last couple of years thanks to print provides offering one-off custom printed items. But direct to garment printing has been around in the commercial market since the mid-2000s.
So, why has DTG become such a popular method of printing?
- No extensive setup times
- On-demand capabilities
- Unlimited color options
- Efficient short runs and one-offs
- Seamless printing over zippers
- Easier to set up and smaller space is required
- Environmentally friendly process
Direct-to-garment printing should not be seen as a complete replacement of traditional screen printing, but should an alternative printing method print providers can offer their customers.
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