How Does DTG Printing Work? And How Does It Compare To Screen Printing?
DTG, or direct-to-garment, printing has revolutionized the garment decoration industry. With it, it’s now possible to print high-quality, full-color images on low-quantity orders, making it a popular choice for businesses that sell custom t-shirts and other apparel. But how does it work? And how do you know if it’s the best option for your business? Read on to learn more about this process and see how it compares to traditional screen-printing.
During DTG printing, water-based inks are applied directly to the fabric of your product using an inkjet printer. The ink is then absorbed by the cotton fibers, which create your custom design or logo. This type of printing is most effective on 100% cotton apparel. However, it’s still possible to create beautiful prints on a wide range of other fabrics—including polyester and poly-cotton blends. Just be sure to check the garment’s care instructions before attempting to print on it.
Digital printing allows for great precision in color and image reproduction. That means you can create more complex designs than you could with screen printing. But it’s also important to keep in mind that DTG printing is less cost-effective than screen printing for large print runs, especially if you use more than four colors. To find the right solution for your business, consider getting quotes from both printing methods for a variety of size and quantity options.
In general, DTG printers are easier to use than screen printers. They’re also more cost-effective for smaller print runs. However, they’re not a good option for large jobs that require multiple different screens and a significant amount of time to set up.
If you’re unsure whether DTG is the right fit for your business, consult with an experienced decorator to help you decide. A knowledgeable decorator can advise you on the advantages and disadvantages of each printing method and explain how they can be used to best suit your specific needs.
When comparing DTG to screen printing, the two approaches differ in two main ways: the number of colors you can print and the types of fabric you can print on. DTG is most effective on cotton, cotton-poly blends, and light colored polyester. It is not as effective on nylon, spandex, silk, wool, and denim. Screen printing offers a wider color range than DTG and produces more saturated colors, but it can be challenging to produce detailed or intricate designs on dark garments.
DTG is a great alternative to screen printing for small runs of customized clothing. It is especially useful for pet stores and other small businesses that want to provide T-shirts featuring their customers’ pets or to display their paintings or drawings at a trade show. Fortunately, recent advances in DTG technology have made it more reliable, easy to maintain, and cost-competitive with screen printing for jobs up to 1000 shirts. dtg printing