In the 15th century, painters like Albrecht Dürer studied anatomy and geometry to create life-like artwork, the foundation for generations of artists. By the 19th century, realism emerged, requiring years of dedication and practice to produce something that looked like “real life.”
The 20th century saw the rise of hyperrealistic images with the advent of photography. Today, anyone with access to a computer can use advanced printing technologies like DTG printing to create custom-printed garments with vivid, detailed designs.
Centuries of diligent innovation have made it possible for you to do in an afternoon what took someone like Dürer months on end—and you can profit from it. Learn how the DTG printing process works to put a picture on a shirt, so you can use it to create your own custom apparel.
What is DTG printing?
Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing is a digital printing process commonly used to create custom apparel. DTG is a direct printing method. Whereas techniques like sublimation and screen printing require creating a design and transferring it to fabric with heat or pressure, DTG uses digital inkjet printers to print directly onto fabric.
DTG technology is relatively new—the first DTG patent was approved in 2000. This method has become popular with print-on-demand apparel businesses because of its flexibility and image quality. DTG printers can create highly detailed designs in bright, vivid colors.
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How does DTG printing work?
Discover the steps involved in printing quality custom apparel with DTG technology:
1. Prepare the digital files
DTG printers print images from digital files, much like standard household printers. If you’re working with a print-on-demand (POD) partner, these are the files you’ll provide when you place your order.
Consult the printing company’s file requirements and format your designs correctly. Printers may require a minimum resolution, measured in dots per inch (dpi), and have preferred file types. Printify, for example, recommends providing PNG files with a transparent background and a resolution of at least 150 dpi.
2. Source your fabric
Select a fabric or blank garment for printing. DTG printing is most effective on natural fibers such as cotton. You can print designs on both light and dark garments. If you’re working with an on-demand printing company like Printify or Printful, select a garment from their catalog of printing blanks.
3. Pretreat your fabric
Pretreat your fabrics by spraying a polymer-based solution over the area you’ll print over. Pretreating evens out the surface and ensures a uniform ink transfer.
Woven fabrics like cotton are made by joining fine threads together to form a fabric. If you look closely at a cotton t-shirt, you’ll notice individual loops of thread with small spaces between them. Imagine painting an uneven surface with a roller—the first pass would probably leave a few blank spots behind. Pretreatment prevents a similar phenomenon from occurring on your printed garments.
4. Print your design
During the printing process, industrial DTG printers spray water-based inks out of print heads and directly onto the surface of the fabric. DTG printers use CMYK color processing, which means they can create any color by combining cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink.
DTG printers also use white ink to create full-color images. The inclusion of white ink makes it possible to print designs on dark-colored fabrics. When a DTG printer interprets your design file, it’ll leave transparent areas blank. In other words, they’ll be the same color as the background fabric.
5. Cure the ink
After printing is complete, printmakers cure the design by applying a dye fixative and heat. The curing process helps the ink set and harden slightly so that it resists wear. Popular methods for DTG curing involve using a heat press or a conveyor dryer. A conveyor dryer slowly passes garments through a conveyor belt-like structure. It is slower and more expensive than heat pressing but requires less hands-on work.
With a heat press, you need to press each garment by hand. This method may be better suited for small print runs, if you don’t want to invest in expensive equipment yet.
Is DTG printing right for my business?
The best printing method for you will depend on several key financial and aesthetic factors.
Here are some of the elements to consider if you’re considering DTG printing:
Design style
Direct-to-garment printing is a good choice for printing photographic images or complex designs. In terms of intricacy, DTG is on par with direct-to-film (DTF) printing. Both of these techniques are capable of printing more detail than heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) or screen printing.
Budget and order quantity
When it comes to custom apparel printing, budget and order quantity are inextricably tied. This is true because many printing methods involve a set-up fee—a charge covering the time it takes a printing company to set up your design for printing.
The setup for screen printing presses is much more complicated than for DTG printing. With screen printing, printmakers have to create at least one custom screen for each design. This makes the initial fee higher. DTG setup, on the other hand, is about as simple as sending an image to a printer.
The easy setup makes DTG printing a cost-effective choice for small orders. If you were only printing one t-shirt, DTG would be significantly cheaper than screen printing. If, on the other hand, you’re placing a bulk order, screen printing might be a better choice. Once the initial setup is complete, the screen-printing process is much faster than DTG printing, and the per-item cost is lower. If you spread the initial setup fee across a bulk order, screen printing may be cheaper per item.
Personal preferences
Every printing process has strengths and limitations. Personal preferences related to fabric composition, environmental impact, and design feel may help you select your ideal technique. Sublimation printing, for example, is only compatible with polyester or polyester-cotton blends and works best on light-colored garments. If you prefer to work with natural fibers or want to print on a dark background, direct-to-garment printing is a better choice. DTG printing generates less water waste than screen printing and, compared to DTF printing, creates more durable designs. DTG printing also uses eco-friendly inks.
DTG printing tips for small businesses
Direct-to-garment printing with a print-on-demand partner is relatively simple, but it takes some skill to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Try these tips to get the best results and boost sales of your DTG-printed garments:
Research competitors
Creating beautiful, original designs is one of the ways print-on-demand business owners add value for consumers. To ensure you design something truly unique for your audience, do a competitive analysis to understand what types of designs are already out there and doing well.
Search for items similar to yours on Google, Amazon, and marketplaces relevant to your business to spot common themes in your competitors’ offerings. See where you can offer something new while staying true to your brand identity.
Once you’re ready to create something unique, DTG printing has several advantages for custom apparel designers. Compared to traditional printing methods, DTG printing is capable of rendering more intricate designs with fine details. Unlike screen printing, DTG printing can easily print images with multiple colors. DTG can also print with white ink, unlike sublimation printing. Keep these advantages in mind as you explore apparel designs.
Choose the right fabric
Natural fibers like cotton tend to yield the best results. Select a fabric with a tight weave—less space between the threads will make it easier to achieve a smooth design. Consider the fabric’s weight and treatment. Heavier, pre-treated fabrics often provide a more stable printing surface, minimizing issues like ink bleeding or distortion. Some synthetic blends may work, but thoroughly test them, as they can react unpredictably with DTG inks.
Test your prints
Test your prints by ordering a sample garment. Reviewing a physical sample is the best way to ensure all of the elements of your design render correctly. Check to make sure that the colors are accurate and the design isn’t cut off at the edges. Evaluate the feel of your selected fabric, and shop for new partners if the sample garment doesn’t meet your standards.
What is DTG printing FAQ
How long does DTG printing last?
With proper care, DTG-printed apparel should last for more than 50 wear-and-wash cycles without cracking or fading. Following best practices for print production by pre-treating fabrics and curing freshly printed designs will yield the most durable results.
What is the disadvantage of DTG?
Direct-to-garment (DTG) design size is restricted to the area covered by the printer—this method is not suitable for all-over fabric printing. DTG is also slower than production methods like screen printing and may not be the best choice for bulk orders.
Which is better, DTG or DTF printing?
The best printing technique for you depends on the products you have access to and what makes the most sense pragmatically. DTG and DTF printing are both capable of producing vibrant, high-quality prints. DTF printing is generally simpler than DTG and is compatible with a wider range of materials. DTG-printed garments have a softer feel—DTF designs often have a slightly hard, plastic texture.
