How Does DTG Printing Transform T-Shirts into Wearable Art?
Are you curious about the modern magic behind printing vibrant designs on your favorite t-shirts? Imagine a world where your office printer transforms into a fashion wizard, creating wearable art. Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing brings this fantasy to life, using a process similar to your inkjet printer but on fabric instead of paper. This revolutionary method, known as screen printing, involves spraying cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks onto t-shirts, ensuring your designs pop with color and clarity. Gain insights into the world of DTG printing to learn how this innovative technique is transforming the apparel industry.
Understanding DTG Printing - A Modern Approach to Fabric Printing
DTG (Direct to Garment) printing is a revolutionary method akin to using a color inkjet printer but on fabric instead of paper. This process involves spraying cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) ink onto a surface, much like your office printer. However, in a print shop, this surface could be a t-shirt instead of paper.
The Challenge of Printing on Dark Fabrics
In your office, printing on black paper is likely impossible due to ink visibility issues. However, in a print shop, DTG printing allows for printing on dark fabrics like black t-shirts, thanks to a crucial element: the white underbase. This white underbase is essential for printing vibrant colors on dark garments. But, to ensure proper bonding between the white ink and fabric, an additional step called pre-treating is required.
The Significance of Pre-Treat in DTG Printing
Pre-treat is a nontoxic primer used specifically for dark garments in DTG printing. It plays a critical role in bonding the white underbase ink to the fabric fibers, ensuring the print adheres properly. Without pre-treatment, the white underbase ink won't effectively stick to the garment.
Pre-Treat Application Process
During pre-treatment, the shirt is sprayed with the solution and then heat-pressed. This process creates a smoother surface for printing. It's worth noting that traces may be visible around the image, especially on light blue, grey, light pink or neon garments. These traces typically disappear after the first wash.
Preparing Artwork for DTG Printing
Both high-resolution files and vector graphics are suitable for direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. Similar to screen printing or embroidery, you can submit artwork in the same way. For raster images, ensure a minimum resolution of 150 dpi, with 300 dpi being preferable. For vector graphics, include linked files or embed them in your document, and convert all fonts to outlines.
Sizing Artwork for Digital Printing
When preparing artwork for DTG printing, consider the various sizes of shirts in an order, including unisex, ladies, and youth sizes. A design that looks perfect on a youth small shirt might appear too small on an adult large shirt. Since volume pricing is based on a single setup, it's crucial to determine how many setups are needed to ensure the design looks good across all sizes.
Considerations for Print Sizes
To assist in determining the appropriate print sizes for different shirt sizes, a downloadable resource is available. This resource includes a quick reference guide that can be shared with clients. By collaborating with your client, you can decide on the number of print sizes based on the desired appearance and budget constraints.
Limitations of Color Matching
Unlike screen printing, direct-to-garment printing does not allow for Pantone or other color matching. Additionally, color tweaks or minor adjustments are not possible with this printing method.
Choosing the Right Apparel for DTG Printing
When selecting garments for DTG printing, it's crucial to consider the fabric composition. DTG printing works best on 100% cotton garments, as the water-based inks used in this process adhere well to cotton fibers. Additionally, garments made from ringspun cotton, which has a smoother texture than regular cotton, tend to produce better print results.
Avoiding Incompatible Fabrics
Polyester garments are unsuitable for DTG printing, as the ink used is water-based and does not adhere to polyester, which is a type of plastic. Similarly, garments treated with stain-resistant or weatherproof coatings should be avoided, as these coatings repel water-based inks.
Considerations for Specific Colors and Fabrics
Certain colors and fabric blends can also impact the suitability of garments for DTG printing. For example, light blue, light pink, grey, and neon-colored cotton apparel are not ideal for DTG printing. Most heather colors, which contain a significant amount of polyester, should also be avoided. However, there are exceptions, such as the Heather Prism series from Bella + Canvas, which are mostly cotton and suitable for DTG printing.
Order Sizes for DTG Printing
Due to the slower nature of DTG printing compared to screen printing, it is best suited for lower quantity orders. Typically, DTG printing is a cost-effective option for orders below 144 pieces. For larger orders, it's advisable to consult with your decorator to determine if DTG printing is the most suitable option.
Improve Your Apparel with University Silkscreen
Ready to improve your wardrobe with stunning prints? University Silkscreen is your go-to apparel printing company, specializing in high-quality screen printing in Norman, OK. With our state-of-the-art techniques, we bring your designs to life on a variety of garments, from t-shirts to hoodies. Whether you're a business looking for promotional apparel or a student group in need of custom merch, we've got you covered. Trust us for all your screen printing needs and stand out with style!
