DTG, or direct-to-garment printing method, is trending now that from small to large apparel industry embrace it. In fact, it’s a popular method for printing outrageous designs on t-shirts. Whether you want to create a custom design t-shirt for personal use or business purpose, the DTG method is the way.
So, before you go for it, there are a few key things you must know. Hence, in this article, I will be talking about what DTG printing is, its advantages, limitations, printing guidelines and a lot more.
Let’s check out the details to learn more about DTG printing.
What is DTG Printing?
Simply put, in the method of DTG or direct-to-garment printing, the design is directly applied to fabric or other materials through ink. At present, this method is very popular among small to emerging apparel manufacturers not only because it is convenient and cost-effective but rather because designs of any vibrant colours can be applied easily.
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This means there is no limitation of colour or design when you choose DTG printing for fashionable clothing. If you have a great design with a pop of colours, DTG printing will ensure your item stands out among others.
Moreover, it takes less time to prepare, and you don’t need to have a huge amount of items printed. All you need is a DTG printer, the required colours and the necessary equipment. Then, just like any paper printer, the DTG printer will print the design on the fabric. Hence, for the simplified requirements and minimal investments, the DTG printing method is a primary choice for business owners who are interested in establishing themselves in the apparel industry. Having said that, it’s a great option for small projects or printing designs on small quantities of items.
What Are the Guidelines Regarding Design Files for Dtg Printing?
You already know the functionality of DTG printing is as simple as a paper printing machine. So, instead of printing it on paper, you are printing the design directly on the fabric. Thus, the ink and colours will soak into the fibres so that the design remains durable. Depending on the colour intensity, a few processes need to be followed.
Here, I am going to explain the entire guideline about how to prepare the design and print in the DTG printing method.
Design preparation
To print a design on fabric, the design must be of high quality. For this, you can create a design using software like Adobe Photoshop and save the file in PNG format because the design should have a transparent background which is only possible in PNG format. If you save the file in JPEG format, then it must be printed with a white background. So, create a design with a transparent background and check the quality with a graphic editor.
Choosing the right colour pallet
Printing a design on fabric is different from printing on paper. Hence, ensuring the right colour profile is important. For this case, you need to create the file in the RGB colour profile. In this format, the file will convert into CMYK format. CMYK means Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key. If you want the utmost accuracy of the design and colour, then sRGB and converting the file into CMYK are the best platforms for this.
Use the right DPI
DPI means dots per inch. The DPI represents how many dots are printed within one inch of a printed image. Hence, it’s important to check the right DPI. The greater number of dots per inch ensures the greater quality of the print. Meaning the design will reflect more detail and sharpness. So, to understand the quality of the fabric, generally, 300 DPI represents standard print quality. If you want to change the file to another format, keep in mind to double the size of the DPI. It must not be less than 150 DPI.
Consider the fabric material and stitching
After choosing the DPI, another point you must be aware of is the item you are printing on. For instance, if you are printing on a t-shirt, sweatshirt or hoodie, remember to consider the pockets, seams and zippers. Paying attention to all these details, you need to decide on the design position. Besides, the type of fabric material is another important matter to consider. If the fabric is ribbed, then the fabric must be unstretched while printing. So, little factors like this must be considered for DTG printing.
Design on screen vs fabric
The design you see on a computer screen is not the same as you print it on fabric. The display resolution and pixels create quite a bit of difference. However, with the right DPI and CMYK format, you can be very close to the actual design and colour when printing on fabric.
Then, the colour and texture of the fabric material also play a massive impact. For instance, if you are printing the same design on a white t-shirt and a grey t-shirt, certainly the colours will appear bright and vibrant on the white t-shirt. You can see slight to visible differences as the colour of the fabric changes from black, green, red etc.
Hence, it’s important to select solid colours in the design and accurate opacity. Otherwise, low opacity and lack of transparency will not give you high-quality printing. If the design is transparent, then it will appear the fabric colour as the background of the design when imprinted. For instance, if your design includes black colour and you print it on a black t-shirt, then the black part will remain indifferent. If the design comes with a white background, then it will be grey. So, you must keep in mind the colour of the t-shirts you will print the designs on while choosing the design colour.
Using text, shapes and images in the design
For design, you can choose text, images, images with gradients and other details. Whatever you feel to use for design, it’s recommended to refrain from using one colour for a large block. If you prefer to use big text, then it is better to go for vinyl print instead of DTG.
Design Placement
The design placement is another important factor. Remember, the position might be a bit different as you print on the actual fabric than the design you see on the screen. So, before final production, you can do a sample print and make corrections if needed.
Printing on fabric
As you finalise the design, it’s time to print. For printing on fabric, the material needs to be loaded on the print machine. Here, make sure it is correctly placed and remains perfectly flat. Otherwise, a simple wrinkle or misplacement will ruin the design.
After loading and preparing the colour profile, press go. The design will be imprinted on the fabric automatically. After printing is complete, hold it within a heat press for a minute and a half for proper design implementation and setting.
Here is your final design!
Final Thought
DTG printing has been quite popular these days as many apparel manufacturers are emerging online platforms. It’s a great method of printing when you have a design to print in small quantities. Not only is it fast and super convenient considering cost and preparation time, but it also ensures the durability of the design. So, if you are also interested in this business, then this guideline will help you.
