Direct to Garment T Shirt Digital Printing

T Shirt Digital Printing (DTG Printing) is the method of printing directly on the T Shirt or any finished garment.

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T Shirt Printing

Traditional forms of T-Shirt printing including Screen Printing has been around for centuries and they will be there for decades to come. So why T-Shirt Digital Printing? Let’s find out.

  1. T-Shirt designs are made after deciding about the printing method and quantity to be printed. Screen Printing design going for a small run needs to have less number of colours.
  2. Reprinting them should have the same quantity. If one size goes sold out, you need to print again the same minimum order quantity. This will keep your inventory high. And you cannot print photo prints or complex graphic designs due to limitations in number of screens to be created with small quantity order.
  3. The screens to be maintained and stored for reprints. For a screen collection of 100 designs, there would be around 500 screens. They need to be stored and maintained all the time.
  4. Cost of a small quantity screen printing is always high and also time taking process. The alternative is direct to garment printing or digital printing. This is like printing on a paper with a pre coating.
DTG PrintingT Shirt Screen Printing
Photo PrintEasy JobNot Possible
Small Quantity Can Print 1 Pc Costly and Time Taking
Plate/Screen MakingNot RequiredMandatory
Cost for Small RunsAffordableCostlier
Staff and ExpertiseOne PersonNeeds expertise and Multiple Persons

DTG Printing

Direct to Garment printing is a direct-to-garment printing method that prints designs directly onto fabric, particularly t-shirts and other apparel.

This method has no minimum order quantity, so it is perfect for small to medium-sized production runs.

With DTG, any design, graphic, or photo can be printed onto fabric, as long as the fabric is cotton-rich for vibrant prints.

The quality of the print is based on the following 3 factors

  1. Quality of the file to be printed
  2. The pre treatment on the T-Shirt
  3. Cotton percentage of the T-Shirt
dtg-kornit-tshirt-printing-machine-qikink

Unlike in screen printing, where the design files require additional work, digital printing directly prints the t-shirt design onto the fabric using the DTG printer.

Pre-Processing for DTG Printing

DTG-Printing-Spray-Gun

To print designs directly onto garments using the DTG Printing method, a layer of coating is required to make the garment more absorbent to the ink. The printing process for a t-shirt involves pre-coating, heat pressing, printing, and heat pressing or curing. Curing is required for any form of custom printing, either naturally or with external heating.

The heat press process ensures that the ink is absorbed by the garment and remains with the fabric even after washing. The longevity of a digitally printed t-shirt is generally 25-35 washes, depending on the standard of the process involved.

Printing on White and Color T Shirts

The process of T Shirt digital printing for white T-shirts differs from color T-shirts. On white T-shirts, any design can be printed directly using just pigment inks. Pre-coating is not necessary, although a diluted version of pre-coating can be applied to give a vibrant output.

However, for printing on color T-shirts, the T-shirt needs to be pre-coated using a specialty chemical liquid to make the garment absorb ink faster. The pre-coated garment needs to be dried completely before printing using a heat press setup.

The print quality on color T-shirts depends on the pre-coating process and can be on par with screen printing if done well.

Personalised T Shirt Printing

Printing high-quality, full-color designs onto various fabrics has become very popular. This is due to the rise in demand for personalized products, such as t-shirts, hoodies, and hats. A great printing method for small to medium-sized production runs is Direct to Garment (DTG) printing.

DTG printers can produce highly detailed and intricate designs using specialized inkjet technology. This results in vibrant, colorful prints with an almost unlimited color palette. Unlike traditional screen printing methods, DTG printing doesn’t require expensive setup costs or minimum order quantities.

T-shirt-Designer-Print-on-Demand

This makes it an efficient printing method for small orders, such as print on demand and dropshipping.

It has fast turnaround times, making it possible to produce and deliver personalized products quickly. This is important for businesses that need to fulfill customer orders on a tight deadline or for special events.

In addition to its efficiency, Direct to Garment Printing also offers eco-friendly options for personalized printing. The ink used is water-based, which is better for the environment than the harsh chemicals used in traditional screen printing methods.

As personalized products continue to grow in popularity, Digital printing is becoming a staple in the personalized printing industry.

Its versatility, fast turnaround times, and eco-friendly options make it an excellent solution for small to medium-sized production runs of personalized products, especially for print on demand and dropshipping businesses.

Print on Demand and Sustainability

Print on Demand (POD) is a business model that allows customers to order and produce custom-made products as and when they are required. This means that products are only printed when orders are placed, eliminating the need for large-scale production and inventory management.

“Fashion industry overproduction runs at an incredible 30 – 40% each season.”

On demand manufacturing and on demand printing are the most innovative things happened to the fashion industry w.r.t sustainability. All of us have to move in that direction of sustainable living eventually. Print on demand method of printing the order after a product is purchased avoid millions of products end in landfills.

Direct to Garment printing is a crucial method for Print on Demand services, particularly for T Shirt Digital printing services.

This process allows businesses to produce personalized products on-demand, without the need for large-scale production. It reduces waste and ensures that only the required amount of products are produced, thereby reducing the carbon footprint.

This process is eco-friendly. As the ink used in DTG is water-based, it significantly reduces the environmental impact of the printing process. This makes it a sustainable solution for businesses that are conscious of their environmental impact.

By using this method, businesses can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

On Demand printing services help in reducing the waste produced by the traditional mass production process. As products are only printed when orders are placed, there is no need for large-scale production and inventory management.

This significantly reduces the amount of waste generated, making Print on Demand a more sustainable solution.

Finally, as the world becomes more conscious of its environmental impact, consumers are looking for sustainable and eco-friendly options.

With the T Shirt Digital printing(DTG) method and the Print on Demand business model, businesses can cater to the growing demand for sustainable products.

By offering personalized, eco-friendly products, businesses can create a competitive advantage and appeal to customers who prioritize sustainability.

T Shirt Digital Printing: Business Opportunities

Printing personalized T-shirts using digital printing technology offers several business opportunities for entrepreneurs. With this method, you can create high-quality, custom T-shirts that are in high demand.

Using digital printing technology, you can also produce merchandise featuring logos or slogans for businesses to use as marketing tools or sell as merchandise to customers.

You can use digital printing technology to create personalized gifts for special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries. This presents an opportunity for entrepreneurs to start their own personalized gift businesses and cater to the growing demand for customized products.

T-Shirt-Digital-Printing-Market-Size

Additionally, digital printing technology can be used to create limited edition designs and collaborate with artists, designers, and influencers. This allows entrepreneurs to create exclusive collections and build brand awareness.

Overall, digital printing technology presents several business opportunities for entrepreneurs, including custom T-shirt printing businesses, merchandise creation for brands and businesses, personalized gift businesses, and collaborations with artists and designers.

With the growing demand for personalized and unique products, entrepreneurs can leverage this technology to create new and exciting business opportunities through print on demand and dropshipping.

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