DTG (direct-to-garment) printing is a digital method that sprays eco-friendly ink directly onto fabric – ideal for detailed, full-color designs and small-batch production.
Whether you’re starting a print-on-demand business or looking for new ways to sell your artwork online, this guide explains how DTG printing works, its pros and cons, the best fabrics for vibrant results, and expert tips for launching your first DTG shirts in today’s on-demand market.
Key takeaways
- Vibrant, high-quality prints. DTG printing produces detailed, full-color images with photographic accuracy, making it perfect for intricate designs on custom apparel.
- Ideal for small-scale printing. DTG printers let small businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs print single shirts or test new designs without setup costs or minimum order requirements.
- Eco-friendly and sustainable alternative. Using water-based inks, DTG printers minimize waste and energy use, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional printing methods.
- Best results on natural fibers. Direct-to-garment printing performs best on cotton and cotton blends, but ongoing advancements in DTG technology now support printing on a wider range of fabrics.
What is DTG printing?
Direct-to-garment (DTG) is a printing technique that sprays water-based inks directly onto fabric using specialized inkjet printers. DTG printers produce vivid, full-color images with minimal setup and no need for screens or transfers.
Unlike screen printing, the DTG printing process is faster to set up, less labor-intensive, and ideal for small-batch or on-demand production.
This cost-effective printing method gives small businesses and creators an easy way to produce intricate designs and print directly on shirts, hoodies, and other apparel.Another advantage? DTG printers have no minimum order requirements, so you can print a single shirt or fulfill large runs as your business grows.
How does DTG printing work (step by step)?
Although DTG printers come in many models, the DTG printing process always follows three key stages: pre-treatment, printing, and curing.
Pre-treatment process
Preparation for DTG shirt printing is essential. Pre-treatment allows multi-color designs printed with DTG inks to adhere evenly to the garment fibers, enhancing print quality and preventing color fading after washes.
DTG printers use two common methods:
- Hand spraying. The solution is sprayed manually in smooth, even passes to fully cover the printing area.
- Prepping machine. An automated device that ensures uniform coating and consistency – ideal for small businesses scaling up production.
Printing process
Once pre-treatment is complete and dried, the garment is loaded into the DTG printer, where the actual digital printing begins.
For dark shirts and garments, a white ink underbase is printed first to enhance the vibrancy of the final design. Then, using a mix of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, DTG printers recreate intricate, full-color designs directly onto the fabric – much like a high-resolution inkjet printer but designed for textiles.
Curing process
After printing, the garment needs heat to cure the ink – this bonds the DTG inks permanently to the fabric and ensures long-lasting print quality.
There are two main curing methods – conveyor dryer and heat press:
- Conveyor dryer. Common in industrial DTG printers, this method provides even heat for faster production and consistent results.
- Heat press. A practical choice for entry-level DTG printers or small-batch orders, though less efficient for high-volume runs.
DTG printing: Pros and cons
DTG printing has become a leading choice for custom apparel businesses and independent creators because of its precision, flexibility, and low entry cost.
To help you decide if it’s right for your business, here’s a breakdown of its main advantages and limitations.
Pros:
- High-detail image quality, unlimited vivid colors. DTG prints have exceptional quality. This method can recreate complex designs in more colors, resulting in very detailed and high-quality prints.
- No minimum order quantity. With DTG printing, order as few or as many products as you like. DTG printers provide a cost-effective solution for printing products on demand.
- Eco-friendly. DTG printers use water-based inks, thanks to advances in DTG technology, and the process is very energy-efficient.
Although DTG printers have revolutionized the custom apparel industry, they also have some disadvantages.
Cons:
- Doesn’t work on every fabric. Although it depends on the DTG printer, blanks used to print t-shirts and other clothes should ideally contain at least 50% cotton blends for better absorption and print quality. That said, DTG technology continues to improve in this area.
- Limited application surfaces. Direct-to-garment printing applies ink to defined sections of the apparel rather than all-over prints, so extra print areas require additional setup and handling.
- Slower for bulk orders. DTG printing is slower than other printing technologies. However, it’s ideal for print-on-demand and eCommerce businesses because you can easily print a few shirts and still make a profit.