What is direct to garment (DTG) printing? The complete guide

Direct to garment printing (DTG) is transforming how retailers sell personalized apparel. It allows brands to create vibrant and intricately detailed designs with ease, greatly reducing their environmental impact, and having the freedom to print on demand—all without the pressure of minimum orders.

The global direct-to-garment printing market was estimated at $1.75 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% from 2024 to 2030. Clearly, DTG has emerged as a transformative technology in the apparel industry. But how do you get started with DTG?

In this guide, we explain how DTG printing works and its pros and cons for any online store. We also offer actionable insights on creating your own best selling custom clothing line.

Main takeaways from this article:

• The direct-to-garment (DTG) printing method uses digital printers to apply intricate designs directly onto fabrics like cotton without needing a middle medium.

• The DTG process includes file preparation, garment pre-treating, printing, and ink curing, allowing for high-quality prints with minimal setup.

• DTG offers various advantages, such as vibrant color reproduction, minimal waste, no order minimums, and suitability for eco-friendly production.

• DTG limitations include restrictions on fabric types and design placement and the high cost of owning industrial DTG printers.

• Gelato provides a platform for creators to leverage DTG printing, enabling them to sell personalized products globally while reducing carbon emissions.

Direct to garment (DTG) printing is a cutting-edge method that directly imprints digital designs onto fabrics using specialized printers. Unlike traditional techniques like screen printing or heat transfer, DTG prints directly onto materials, often using eco-friendly water-based inks on cotton fabrics. This process includes pre-treating and post-curing garments to ensure vibrant colors and durable prints.

Ideal for ecommerce, DTG is perfect for creating custom apparel like t-shirts and tote bags without minimum order requirements, offering flexibility in design and order size.

The DTG printing process involves four key steps: 

1. Digital art file preparation

2. Garment pre-treating and curing

3. Garment printing

4. Ink curing

Let's explore how DTG printing works in more detail.

1. Digital art file preparation

The first step in the DTG printing process is using design software like Photoshop to prepare your digital file. DTG software programs accept files in several formats. For best results, save your design in transparent formats, such as PNG or TIFF, to avoid unintended white backgrounds. 

Opt for files in common color models like RGB or CMYK, which are ideal for accurate color reproduction, especially on darker fabrics. Ensure your image resolution is at least 150 DPI for decent print quality; aim for 300 DPI or higher for intricate details. This thorough preparation ensures your design is perfectly poised for the next steps of the DTG process.

2. Garment pre-treating and curing

Before garments go through a DTG printer, they get pre-treated and cured. The pre-treatment process involves applying a solution that helps white ink bond to the garment and provides a base layer for CMYK colors. This helps bring out both whites and colors more vividly. It preserves colors through washings for more durability. It also prevents problems from printing white ink on dark garments. Pre-treating is optional for light garments, but many printing services do it as a standard procedure and best practice.

After application, the pre-treatment solution gets cured with heat using a heat press or an air dryer. This keeps white ink from soaking into the garment and provides a flatter surface for printing other colors.

3. Garment printing

After pre-treating and curing, garments can be printed. Before a garment can run through the printer, it must be placed on a flat platform, known as a platen or platten. This keeps the shirt in the right place in a flat position so that it's lined up correctly for printing. Features such as seams, stitches, ribbing, and zippers help align the garment correctly to the platen. Once lined up properly, the platen can be fed into the printer to begin printing.

4. Ink curing

Once a garment has been run through a DTG printer, the ink must be cured to ensure it sticks correctly and holds up through future washings. A heat press or a forced air dryer can cure the garment.

These steps can be performed once or repeated multiple times for a single design. Likewise, they can be repeated using multiple designs on a series of garments made from similar fabrics.

The DTG printing process offers various benefits, giving it a distinct advantage over traditional printing methods like screen printing. Some of the most significant benefits include:

• High-quality, intricate prints: DTG printing captures detailed and vibrant designs by printing directly from digital files, providing more detail and color range than screen printing.

• Minimal setup required: Unlike screen printing, it allows for easy preparation with digital files. You can start printing without needing separate screens or stencils for each color.

• Eco-conscious production: This printing method utilizes water-based, non-toxic inks and natural materials like cotton, supporting sustainable practices and minimizing waste.

• No order minimums: DTG printing provides ecommerce sellers with the freedom to produce any number of units, from single items to bulk, without a large upfront investment.

DTG has numerous advantages and is ideal for many ecommerce retailers, but it's not suitable for all situations. Some of the cons of DTG printing include:

• Fabric limitations: Although this method is best suited for 100% cotton garments and some cotton-polyester blends, it is not ideal for high-polyester fabrics, where other methods, like sublimation printing, might be better.

• Limited design placement: This method requires garment positioning on a platen, restricting design placement to flat areas. It is not suitable for complex placements like seams or zippers.

• High printer cost: DTG printers are expensive investments, often costing tens of thousands of dollars. Using a print on demand service can mitigate this cost by avoiding direct ownership.

With an understanding of DTG, let's examine some leading printer models available on the market and their price ranges. 

Epson SureColor F2100

Designed for versatility, this printer works exceptionally well with various garments, making it a popular choice among custom apparel creators. Its advanced PrecisionCore® technology ensures speed and precision, catering to both large-scale productions and custom one-off pieces. Perfect for personalized printing, the SureColor F2100 truly embodies efficiency and innovation in textile printing.

Brother GTX Pro

This advanced printer boasts a fast printing speed, making it perfect for large orders without compromising quality. Its user-friendly design supports a broad color spectrum with vibrant, lasting prints. Its eco-friendly features, like water-based inks, align with sustainable production practices. Overall, this printer provides versatility and precision for businesses seeking top-notch garment customization.

Kornit Atlas

This boasts state-of-the-art technology that ensures vibrant, detailed prints on diverse fabric types. With an environmentally friendly approach, it uses biodegradable inks and minimal water waste. Its automated processes enhance efficiency, reducing the need for manual intervention. Ideal for businesses aiming to scale their operations, the Atlas provides reliability and performance.

Ricoh Ri 6000

This printer boasts advanced technology that ensures vibrant colors and crisp details, making it ideal for producing professional-grade apparel. Its user-friendly interface, combined with Ricoh’s renowned reliability, allows for efficient operation suitable for beginners and seasoned professionals. The Ri 6000 is designed to handle medium—to large-scale production demands. 

Omniprint FreeJet 330TX Plus

Known for its robust build, this machine accommodates various garment types thanks to its adjustable platen system. Standout feature includes the proprietary Wet Cap system, which prevents ink from drying and ensures reliable, continuous operation. The FreeJet 330TX Plus also supports vibrant color output with its high-resolution print heads. 

M&R Maverick

Equipped with advanced print heads and auto-maintenance features, it delivers high-resolution prints with vivid colors and intricate details. Especially suited for customized apparel production, Maverick minimizes manual intervention, optimizing production time and cost. Its user-friendly interface ensures ease of operation, making it a top choice for businesses seeking scalable printing solutions.

Embarking on your first direct-to-garment (DTG) design is exciting! In addition to exercising limitless creativity, consider the following to ensure that your designs translate beautifully onto the fabric.

• Resolution matters: Aim for a resolution of at least 150 dots per inch (DPI) for your images; however, 300 DPI or more is ideal for capturing intricate details and ensuring high-quality prints.

• Embrace color contrast: Be mindful of the color you're printing on. Bright or contrasting colors make the design pop, while muted tones may not be as visible on similar fabric shades. Utilize the color theory to create appealing digital visuals that maintain their vibrancy in fabric form.

• Optimize for fabric type: Start with cotton or cotton-blend fabrics, as they best receive DTG inks. For darker fabrics, pre-treating allows the design to maintain color accuracy and durability, ensuring your creations stand out.

Quick tips for optimizing the design

Here are four practical tips for optimizing designs for various fabric types and garment colors:

1. Choose your colors wisely: For darker fabrics, use bold, contrasting colors in your designs to ensure visibility and vibrancy.

2. Select fabric texture: Softer textures, like cotton, absorb ink differently than sturdier fabrics. Test your designs to see how they translate on different surfaces.

3. Take the background into consideration: Incorporate transparent backgrounds to avoid unexpected outlines and edges, especially for lighter fabrics.

4. Factor in the fabric shrinkage: Some materials might shrink slightly post-wash, so ensure your design placement accounts for potential adjustments.

It's imperative to test designs before rolling them out through mass production. Create mockups of your designs or request sample prints. This step helps you preview the outcome and make necessary adjustments before committing to larger production runs. Testing safeguards your investment and ensures that your customers receive only the best quality products.

DTG printing is an excellent choice for businesses looking to expand their offerings with customized products. But is it the right fit for your business? 

Here's a look at which businesses benefit most from DTG: 

• Small ecommerce stores: DTG’s flexibility and low setup costs make it ideal for small online retailers that want to offer custom clothing with minimal upfront investment.

• Custom apparel brands: Those offering unique designs without large inventory commitments will find DTG beneficial, as it allows for print on demand capabilities.

• Startups needing low-volume production: DTG is perfect for testing new product ideas and designs at low risk and without bulk orders.

• Artists and designers: Creatives looking to bring their artwork to life on apparel without the complexities of traditional printing methods will enjoy DTG’s ease of use and quality output.

Before adopting DTG printing for your business and to assess its alignment with your business goals, make sure to:

• Understand your production process. Know how often you must produce new designs and the required quantities. DTG is ideal for short runs and frequent design changes.

• Evaluate your financial resources. While owning a DTG printer can be expensive, partnering with a print on demand service can minimize costs. Consider your budget and desired investment level.

• Determine your design needs. If your business thrives on complex, colorful designs, DTG produces intricate imagery with impressive detail.

• Consider sustainability goals. If being eco-friendly is part of your brand ethos, DTG’s water-based inks and minimal waste approach can be advantageous.

As you get started with DTG printing, it's important to remember that it's all about merging creativity with technology. Unlike traditional methods, DTG thrives on simplicity and sustainability, as it offers vibrant, detailed designs without the constraints of minimum orders.

While DTG does well on cotton blends, it's less than ideal for high-polyester materials or large-volume prints. However, if your focus is on custom designs with eco-friendly practices, DTG can be your go-to solution.

If you partner with Gelato to create custom, high-quality apparel, you capitalize on a global network that lets you produce locally and reduce your carbon footprint. Gelato has the biggest print on demand network in the world, spanning 32 countries and lowering costs for ecommerce retailers.

Sign up for Gelato today to start creating high-quality, custom products for your customers without the hassles of logistics!

What are the different types of DTG printers available?

There are several types of DTG printers, each catering to different needs and scales of operation. Entry-level DTG printers are suitable for small businesses or hobbyists, offering ease of use and affordability. Mid-range printers provide a balance between cost and functionality, making them ideal for growing businesses. High-end DTG printers, like those used by Gelato, are designed for large-scale operations, featuring advanced technology for faster production speeds and higher print quality. 

These printers vary in terms of printing speed, resolution, and the types of inks they use, allowing businesses to choose the one that best fits their requirements.

Is it worth investing in your own DTG printer?

Investing in a DTG printer can be worth it for businesses offering on-demand custom apparel printing. It’s ideal for small to medium-sized orders since there’s no need for screens, making it more flexible than traditional methods. However, the upfront cost of a DTG printer and maintenance can be high, so it's important to assess whether your order volume and business needs justify the investment.

Why is DTG printing so expensive?

DTG printing is expensive due to several factors. The technology involves high-end printers that produce vibrant and detailed prints directly on the fabric, which requires advanced engineering and precision. The cost of specialized inks is also notable, as they must bond effectively with fabric fibers to ensure long-lasting prints. DTG machines require regular maintenance to function optimally. Labor costs, preparation time, and the need for quality control also contribute to the overall expense.

How long does DTG take?

DTG printing time varies depending on the complexity of the design, but it typically takes two or five minutes per garment. The process involves preparing the design, printing directly onto the fabric, and curing the ink, either through a heat press or a conveyor dryer. While DTG is relatively fast compared to other printing methods, especially for short runs, larger orders can take longer to fulfill.

Is DTG printing hard?

DTG printing isn’t particularly hard but does require some technical knowledge. Operating the machine is straightforward once you learn the basics, but achieving consistent, high-quality results demands attention to detail. You must ensure proper fabric pretreatment, adjust print settings based on the material, and regularly maintain the printer. Troubleshooting ink issues and machine calibration may also be challenging for beginners.

How does DTG printing compare to screen printing?

DTG printing and screen printing each have unique advantages. DTG is best for detailed, full-color designs on small or one-off orders. It prints directly onto garments, allowing for quick setup and customization. On the other hand, screen printing excels at producing large batches of simple designs. 

While it requires more setup time, screen printing is often more cost-effective for bulk orders, and the prints tend to be more durable. DTG is more flexible and ideal for intricate designs, while screen printing is better for large-scale production.

Which is better: DTG or DTF printing (direct to film)?

Both DTG and DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing have their own unique strengths. DTG is ideal for printing directly onto fabrics, delivering high-quality, vibrant prints with a soft feel, and is best suited for cotton or cotton-blend garments. DTF, however, allows for more versatility in materials, including polyester and blends, since the design is printed onto film and transferred onto the fabric.

DTG is preferred for high-detail, colorful designs on natural fabrics, while DTF is better for versatility and garment variety.