Printing with DTG

When it comes to printing colorful, complex designs, even photo-realistic ones, DTG (Direct to Garment) is your best bet.
That is what we use here at The Church Shop!

What’s DTG printing and how does it work?

DTG printing is the process of printing a graphic or image directly onto a garment. It’s done with modified inkjet printers that spray water-based ink directly onto the fabric. Unlike screen printing, which involves pushing the ink and laying down the fibers, the ink used in DTG is shot down into the fabric, so it looks like the design is part of the garment.

 

Does the type of fabric used in DTG printing matter?

Absolutely. Since DTG relies on water-based inks, you need to have a fabric that can absorb the ink. Natural fabrics, specifically cotton, work best because the ink can adhere to the fibers and soak in very well, whereas synthetic and even poly-blends will repel the ink, resulting in a less than stellar end result. To get the very best outcome, we use 100% cotton for all DTG orders. We also use 50/50 and other blends for apparel items. If you can't find your favorite brand in our catalog,  most of the time this is the reason, and we want to make sure your orders come out the best they can.

What do I need to do to prep a design for DTG printing? 

DTG is great for complex, vibrant artwork and images. For those details and colors to translate, you have to start with a high-quality design. We print PNG files of at least 150 dpi (dots per inch), so your design should really meet or exceed that minimum for it to look its best. Image resolution also comes into play.  While it’s often confused for the size of the file, the resolution is really a measurement of the pixels in a design, expressed in height and width.  Say you want a 10″ by 10″ design on your t-shirts. To get that size at 300 dpi, make sure your design is sized at 3000 pixels high by 3000 pixels wide. When in doubt, submitting an image in the highest resolution possible is always a good rule of thumb. High res images can always be scaled down, but low res images that are scaled up often look blurry.

What are the pros and cons of DTG printing?

The pros: 

• Printed products have a natural feel – Because DTG printing embeds the ink into the fabric, the products are breathable and soft to the touch, making it difficult to distinguish between the ink and the fabric itself.
• Great image quality – DTG printing is able to recreate intricate details in virtually any color, which enables very detailed and vibrant high-quality results.
• Environmentally friendly – Today’s technology has paved the way for the use of eco-conscious inks and safe materials to be used for DTG printing.
• Print on Demand – This allows us to print as each item is ordered reducing the setup costs for one garment and allowing for quick orders and no inventory on your end.

The cons: 

• Doesn’t work on all types of fabrics – Garments used for DTG printing must be made of cotton to aid in the absorption of ink pigment for better quality.
• Not always as cost-effective in bulk orders compared to screen printing when printing only a few colors. We offer the option to screen print when placing a bulk order.

How’s DTG printing different than screen printing?

While both DTG and screen printing will produce designs that hold up and wash well, there are several key differences. We’ve listed a few below.

• DTG doesn’t require much set-up, whereas screen printing requires separating artwork, creating screens for each color in the design, registering the screens on the press.
• The sky is the limit on the colors and designs used for DTG printing. However, that’s not the case for screen printing, which is best for simple designs with limited colors.
• There are no minimums for DTG orders. However, we recommend a minimum of 15 garments for screen printing orders due to the setup time required.

What garments do you recommend for the best results?

All that we offer work great for DTG!  Our selection process is very specific to make sure you have long lasting designes every time!

But our favorite t-shirts are:

• Bella + Canvas Unisex T-Shirt (3001c)
• Next Level Fitted Crew (3600)

The Bella + Canvas Unisex T-Shirt

The Bella + Canvas 3001 feels soft and light, with just the right amount of stretch. It’s super comfortable with a cut that flatters men and women.

• Solid colors are 100% combed and ring-spun cotton
• Ash color is 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
• Heather colors are 52% combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester
• Athletic and Black Heather are 90% combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz/y² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Tear-away label
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Side-seamed

The Next Level 3600 Men’s Tee

This Next Level 3600 is soft, form-fitting, and pre-shrunk, so it will maintain its shape after washing.

• 100% combed ring-spun cotton
• Heather Grey is 90% cotton, 10% polyester
• Fabric weight: 4.3 oz/y² (145.8 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk
• Tear-away label

How well do DTG prints hold up after multiple washes?

DTG prints will remain just as bright and soft and won’t crack when properly cared for. Here are a few tips to ensure your garments will last a long time:

• Wash inside out with cold water with similar colors using a gentle cycle
• If ironing is necessary, iron inside-out on the lowest setting
• Tumble dry low or hang-dry
• Avoid using bleach and do not dry clean

How do I start a shop with The Church Shop?

Starting your own Church Shop with us is easy. Just head over to dev.thechurch.shop/how-it-all-works register for a free account or log in to get started. If you need a little help to get things going, reach out to us at hello@dev.thechurch.shop.