What is DTG (direct-to-garment printing)?
DTG (direct-to-garment) means printing directly onto the textile with a direct printer.
What makes DTG special?
- Screen printing for single pieces: direct printing is like screen printing on a single textile. The inks sit directly on the textile, without any intermediate material
- Flexibility: high print resolution – complex gradients and images can be printed
- Detail accuracy: small details can be printed
- Lifespan: the lifespan is not as long as with flex, flock, screen or solvent printing
What are the individual steps in DTG printing?
- A distinction is made between light and dark textiles
- Dark textiles must be pre-treated: first the textile is pressed with the heat press. This smooths the textile and lets the moisture in the fibres evaporate so the print can penetrate the fibres nicely. Then a pre-treatment liquid is sprayed onto the T-shirt, which is pressed again with the heat press so that it cures and creates the base for direct printing. Light textiles do not need pre-treatment.
- The T-shirt is placed in the DTG printer and printing starts.
- After printing, the T-shirt is dried in the drying tunnel and the inks are fixed. The T-shirt can now be washed. If a slight light layer from the pre-treatment remains on dark shirts, it will wash out.
What should you keep in mind with direct printing?
- Vector graphics are an advantage (if you don’t have a vector graphic, no problem – we vectorise your file free of charge, as long as you have a high-resolution image file, e.g. .jpg, .png, etc.)
- The textile should be made of natural fibres (cotton) – polyester is not suitable for direct printing
- Colour deviations can occur on different textile colours
How do I wash textiles printed with DTG?
- Washable at 30°
- Wash inside out
- Do not tumble dry
- Do not use delicate detergents
- more info here
How should my print file be prepared?
Vector graphics (.eps, .ai, .svg, .pdf) are ideal. The print size in cm can always be adjusted. If you are not sure whether your artwork is suitable for DTG, feel free to write to us at office@hollyshirt.at.
