Direct-to-Garment (DTG): Is It Right For Your Order?

Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing has made a huge splash in the textile decoration industry in the past half decade. In the past, decorations were limited by the number of ink colors that could feasibly go on a garment as well as the costs of screens associated with different colors. However, that has changed somewhat with the advent of DTG printing. 

Think of DTG printing like you would think about printing a document. Except instead of paper, you are printing on a shirt or other garment. Our DTG machine is essentially a giant inkjet printer! This essentially eliminates all artwork restrictions. So, if you've ever had the urge to put someones portrait on a shirt, or if you have ever wanted your artwork to come to life on a garment, DTG can make that happen. 

DTG orders are best for smaller orders and orders that are more detailed than your average screen print order. This is because DTG printing often takes more time and and can become costly with larger orders (if you've ever bought ink for a printer you know!). 

We can DTG on any color garment, however be aware that some colors print better than others. Think of it like a canvas, a white canvas gives you the most options and often provides for the most vivid picture. This does not mean you could never pain on a black canvas, but there is a reason most artists choose a white canvas for their work. The same can be said for DTG, designs show up best on white, but we can print on most any color. 

Here is a great look at the process of direct-to-garment printing. This also provides a nice contrast between DTG printing and screen printing! ​