DTG (Direct-to-Garment) Printing

When to use it

DTG is essentially a t-shirt printer — water-based ink is sprayed directly into the fabric. That means you can print photos, gradients, and unlimited colors at the same price. No screens, no setup fees. The tradeoff: per-shirt cost stays flat as quantity goes up, so DTG wins for small runs and loses to screen printing on bulk.

Best for

• Sample shirts, prototypes, gifts
• Designs with photos, gradients, or 6+ colors
• Orders of 1–24 pieces
• 100% cotton shirts (synthetic blends print weaker)

How it works

1. Pre-treatment is sprayed onto the shirt so the ink bonds.
2. The shirt goes on a platen under the DTG printer.
3. White underbase is laid down (on dark shirts) followed by CMYK color.
4. The shirt cures under a heat press to lock in the ink.

Trade-offs vs screen printing

• Color: DTG = unlimited colors, photos. Screen = up to ~6 spot colors per design.
• Cost curve: DTG = flat per-shirt. Screen = drops sharply with quantity.
• Hand feel: DTG = soft, almost in the fabric. Screen = slightly raised ink layer.
• Wash durability: Both excellent if cured properly. Screen edges out slightly.