Printing items can be on a variety of surfaces. For example, DTG printers can print directly onto items like custom quilts, pillowcases, and stretched canvas.
Some of these products are made of fabric, such as yoga mats and towels.
Contact a print shop to learn what dtg means in printing and ask for information on their production process and minimum order requirements.
How Does DTG Printing Work?
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Pretreating for DTG printing
You may have heard about pretreating if you’re considering using DTG printing. This process is vital when printing on dark garments.
A dark garment is any shirt that is not white. White ink must be applied to a dark garment to ensure print permanence. Otherwise, the printed image will appear washed out or faded.
During pretreating, the shirt undergoes a process that ensures the ink is not affected by the dark color of the garment. It is also known as wash-fastness. It is using a pretreating spray before printing that can prevent these problems.
The best pretreating liquid for a DTG shirt is designed specifically for the garment’s ink chemistry.
Choosing the suitable liquid will increase color brightness, white opacity, and garment wash-fastness. However, it is essential to note that pretreating drinks have some health warnings.
In addition, using pretreated shirts will cut the pretreating process down considerably.
Pretreating for DTG printing is a crucial part of the process. This liquid will prevent ink from bleeding onto the garment.
Read: How 3D printing Affect Manufacturing Job
Minimum order requirements
If you’re considering DTG printing, you should consider a few things. First, there are no screen setup fees.
This is essential because screen printing can be expensive if you only print a small number of custom items. Additionally, screen printing requires a lot of labor.
For example, a 4-color design can require five screens, plus an underbase screen. Then, screen printing presses take a lot of time to set up. Therefore, you should avoid screen printing unless your custom order is enormous.
If you need only a few custom apparel pieces, you’ll be better served with a DTG service, but what does DTG mean?
DTG printing is a great option when you only need a single shirt or item. DTG can give you a preview of what your design will look like on a garment.
If you’d like to screen print multiple shirts or use one method for a small batch, you can order a sample that matches your requirements.
DTG samples can also show you the colors in your design, where they’ll be printed, and the size.
A digital mockup of the finished product can also help you save money on the cost of a sample print.
There are minimum order requirements for DTG printing. The standard turnaround time for DTG printing is seven to ten days.
If you need your clothing sooner than this, you can try screen printing. DTG printing is less efficient than screen printing.
Color options
If you are looking to design a t-shirt but are unsure of the colors you can use, there are a few things you need to consider.
- First, determine the size and shape of the design.
- Then, decide which type of under base is needed.
- Usually, the under base is white.
However, if you do not want the under the base to be white, you must use a different color on the garment.
The color of the fabric that will be printed on will be dependent on the type of fabric that is used. 100% cotton, poly blends, and tri-blends are the most popular types.
Different fabrics absorb and release ink differently, which can affect the color of the printed design.
Smoother and softer fabrics are best for DTG printing. However, if you’re not sure what type of fabric you need, you can always get a pre-treatment for better color stability.
DTG printing is an excellent choice for people who want to create unique souvenirs or apparel.
Colors will appear more vibrant and vivid, as DTG ink has a white base under the ink. In addition, many businesses that specialize in custom-printed textiles use DTG printers.
From small companies to multinational corporations, these companies can benefit from the color options DTG printing offers.
