Direct-to-garment printing (DTG) is indeed a great way tomake prints on garments and accessories that will stay a long time and won'tfade. You may anticipate that T-shirts and other items printed with DTGtechnology will be of retail quality, at least as excellent as those printed ont-shirts you can get at big box retailers or your favorite stores in a nearbymall.
This implies that a DTG-printed shirt will maintain its highquality even after being washed and worn numerous times.
Before fading, a high-quality DTG print can withstandnumerous items of washing. This durability issue is not present inwell-executed screen printing. Of course, even plastisol might decay or fade ifthe ink is not properly applied or dried. Hoodies are not suitable for DTGprinting.
The tight-knit fabric of DTG-printed hoodies and t-shirtsprevents fading after curing. For DTG printing that doesn't fade after curing,densely woven cotton materials are therefore preferable. You can offerpersonalized t-shirts as a result without sacrificing print quality. It dependson the circumstances as to how color fading using DTG works.
If you're using a T or polyester blend and printing on lightand dark clothes, you'll probably witness discoloration after the print hasbeen cured. As a result of the pigments' inability to adequately bind to thepolyester due to the ink's water-based composition, the polyester appearsstained.
He possesses an in-depth technical understanding of DTGprinting, as well as information and guidance on how to prepare illustrationsand pretreat clothes. He also has expert-level advice on industry bestpractices. On themes like t-shirt design, print-on-demand, anddirect-to-garment printing, we additionally frequently provide tutorials andother helpful content.
Don't forget that your printer and the management softwareyou employ for your DTG printing company are both crucial. For things likephotographs, consider DTG unless you specialize in printing intricate works ofart (unless the customer requests a large quantity).
While there are several strategies for reducing the cost ofscreen printing ink, DTG inks are frequently made for printers by a certainmanufacturer. With a formidable support staff and a wealth of educationalmaterials at their disposal, they have a long list of offers and services thatgo beyond DTG printing.
Whatever the case, from a technological standpoint, Kornithas made tremendous advancements in the overall DTG printing industry. To printlarger orders, they can now print numerous designs at once or boost theiroverall capacity. In addition to making the printing surface smooth andimproving print quality, pretreatment aids in ink's adhesion to the fabric. DTGprints seem drab and faded or, worse yet, fail to adhere to the garmententirely without pre-treating the clothing.
Yes, you will hear DTG enthusiasts disparage traditionalscreen printers and hear screen printers who use DTG toss it in the trash. Theuse of DTG printing for in-store personalization is a potent strategy forboosting sales, attracting repeat customers, fostering brand loyalty, andstanding out. Additionally, Bella+ Canvas, Gildan 18500, Port & Company,and other suppliers offer high-quality blank hoodies and sweatshirts for DTGprinting. It's critical to understand that placing a high-end DTG machine inyour store without reliable temperature control is impossible for the majorityof screen printing businesses.
How Long Do Prints on Direct-to-Garment Last?
The industry standard for printed apparel is 50 washes,according to a figure you may hear mentioned. DTG prints, on the other hand,are widely acknowledged to endure longer.
Another way to look at it is to consider howdirect-to-garment printing typically endures the entire life of the garment anddeteriorates with it. Your garment starts to degrade as soon as you wash andwear it repeatedly. The writing on the fabric will also start to fade as aresult of this.
Prioritizing and Finishing: Their Importance
The garment must be correctly prepared before printing andthen properly finished or "cured" after printing for a DTG print toremain brilliant and durable for as long as feasible. Pretreatment is theprocess where pretreatment fluid is sprayed on a garment and allowed to drybefore printing is done on the garment.
A smooth print surface produced by pretreatment helpsachieve outstanding print quality by assisting ink's ability to cling to thefabric. Dark-colored clothing is one area where this is especially true. Toproduce genuine color in the print on dark fabrics, white ink needs to beapplied under the base. White ink also needs a pretreatment surface to cling tothe cloth properly.
The ink still needs to be baked into the fabric after it hasbeen printed on your garment for it to be irreversible. A heat press isfrequently employed to give DTG-printed clothes a good finish. In place of atunnel dryer, larger DTG companies occasionally choose to use them. Regardlessof the method you use, the garment must experience the proper amount ofpressure, at the proper temperature, for the proper period. Your finishedproduct, if done correctly, will be a stunning garment that can withstand yearsof frequent washing and wear.
Garments that last longer also have longer-lasting prints
The printed graphics on your garment will stay longer if youtake better care of it, just as printed images start fading and degrading asthe garment gets older. Do you still recall all the guidelines your motherattempted to instill in you regarding laundry? They are all applicable in thissituation.
Your printed t-shirt will survive a lot longer if you washit in a cold, gentle cycle and line dry it as opposed to putting it in a hot,permanent press cycle and tumble drying it on "hot" with severalpairs of blue jeans.
The business strategy used by manufacturers of DTG printingis known as the "razor blade model" and is its foundation. You canhardly feel the print created by some inks and screen printing methods (such asdischarge inks), which make the print a genuine component of the fabric.