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Blog / Beginner's handbook / What Is DTG Printing? A Comprehensive Overview for Beginners

Beginner's handbook

What Is DTG Printing? Your Ultimate Guide

What Is DTG Printing? Your Ultimate Guide
Grete Grivina

By Grete Grivina

11 min read

DTG, DTF, AOP—all these acronyms can be confusing . . . but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll explore what DTG printing is, how it works, and why it’s a game-changer for your business.

DTG, or direct-to-garment printing, is a popular technique for creating vibrant, detailed designs on fabric. With its ability to handle intricate artwork and small production runs, DTG is ideal for producing high-quality custom apparel on demand.

Whether you’re launching a print-on-demand store, exploring dropshipping, or simply looking for a reliable way to create standout apparel, DTG printing offers the flexibility and precision you need. It’s no wonder small businesses and creators love this method!

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about DTG printing, from its benefits and limitations to how it stacks up against other printing methods. Let’s dive in!

What is DTG printing and how does it work

Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing is a cutting-edge method that uses specialized inkjet technology to print designs directly onto fabric. It’s a relatively straightforward process that delivers vibrant, detailed, and durable prints. 

Unlike traditional printing methods like screen printing, DTG works more like a regular printer—but for garments. It eliminates the need for stencils or screens, making it ideal for small-batch production. 

Here’s a step-by-step explanation of the DTG printing process:

  1. Digital design preparation: The process begins with a high-resolution digital design, typically in PNG or JPEG format. Key considerations include ensuring a transparent background, proper dimensions, and high resolution (300 DPI or more).

  2. Garment pre-treatment: Before printing, the garment is treated with a special solution that helps the water-based inks bond to the fabric. This step enhances color vibrancy and ensures the ink adheres evenly. Pre-treatment also prevents the colors from fading during washing, making it a critical part of the process.

  3. Printing process: Once the garment is prepared, it’s placed on a flat platen within the DTG printer. The printer sprays tiny droplets of ink directly onto the fabric in layers, allowing for precise reproduction of intricate designs and gradients. Advanced printers use multiple nozzles and automated calibration to maintain consistency.

  4. Curing the ink: After printing, the garment is heat-cured using either a heat press or conveyor dryer. This step locks the ink into the fabric, ensuring it remains bright and durable even after multiple washes. Heat curing also gives the print a smooth finish and prevents smudging.

The simplicity and efficiency of DTG printing make it a popular choice for businesses aiming to produce customized apparel quickly and cost-effectively. For instance, a small apparel brand might use DTG to launch limited-edition collections, testing designs before committing to larger production runs. Event organizers often choose DTG to produce custom t-shirts for one-time events, ensuring quick turnaround and high-quality prints.

DTG printing pros

DTG printing offers numerous advantages that make it a preferred choice for creating custom apparel. Let’s take a closer look at what sets it apart.

  • High-quality prints: DTG printers deliver crisp, detailed designs with vivid colors. The ink bonds directly with the fabric, ensuring a smooth and natural finish. DTG printing excels at reproducing fine details and gradients.

  • Unlimited color options: In contrast to screen printing, DTG does not require individual screens or setup for each color. It allows you to print full-color designs, including complex gradients and photographs, with no additional cost for multiple colors.

  • No minimum order requirements: Perfect for print-on-demand businesses and small-scale projects, DTG printing eliminates the need for bulk orders. You can print as few as one item without sacrificing cost-effectiveness, enabling businesses to cater to niche markets and personalized requests.

  • Eco-friendly: DTG inks are water-based, non-toxic, and eco-friendly. The lack of screens or excessive waste also makes DTG a sustainable option for businesses focused on reducing their ecological footprint.

  • Fast production times: As a form of digital printing, DTG has minimal setup and production time. This makes it ideal for meeting tight deadlines or producing last-minute orders (e.g. for events or campaigns).

  • Soft and durable prints: Unlike heat transfers, DTG prints are absorbed into the fabric, resulting in a soft-to-the-touch finish. The curing process ensures the designs are durable and remain resilient through regular washing without fading or cracking.

  • Versatility across designs and fabrics: While cotton remains the primary choice, DTG technology can handle various fabric types and blends, making it a good choice for diverse product lines.

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DTG printing cons

While DTG printing has numerous advantages, there are also challenges and limitations to consider. Understanding these drawbacks can help businesses make informed decisions about whether DTG is the right fit for their needs.

  • Higher cost for bulk orders: DTG printing is best suited for small-batch production. When it comes to large-scale orders, methods like screen printing are more cost-effective due to their faster production rates and lower per-unit costs.

  • Slower production times: While DTG excels at producing top-notch designs, it prints one garment at a time, making it slower than the screen printing process, especially for high-volume projects.

  • Material limitations: DTG works exceptionally well with cotton fabrics but may not yield optimal results on certain materials, such as polyester or heavily textured fabrics. Pre-treatment can help, but the outcomes on non-cotton materials may still vary.

  • Pre-treatment requirements: Pre-treating garments is an essential but additional step in the DTG process. It requires extra time and resources, and skipping it can result in poor-quality prints that fade or wash out quickly.

  • Printer maintenance and costs: DTG printers require regular maintenance to prevent clogs, ensure even ink distribution, and maintain print quality. This can result in downtime and increased operational costs for businesses.

  • Design placement limitations: Unlike some printing methods, DTG is generally restricted to flat and easily accessible areas of the garment. This limits the possibilities for printing on seams, sleeves, or in unconventional locations.

What can you DTG print on?

DTG printing works well with a variety of fabrics, making it a versatile option for different apparel projects. Here’s an in-depth look at the materials suitable for DTG printing.

High-quality cotton

DTG printing excels when used on cotton, especially in high-quality varieties. The ink bonds to the fabric’s fibers, creating lively colors that stand out. Cotton’s natural breathability and softness ensure a comfortable feel, and its durability allows designs to maintain their appearance even after repeated washes, making it ideal for long-lasting apparel.

a man standing in front of a window

Unisex Organic Cotton T-Shirt. Source: Printful

Blends

Cotton-polyester blends can also be used in DTG printing. Blends with a higher cotton content—ideally 60% or more—yield superior results, as the ink bonds better with cotton fibers. These fabrics are popular for products like lightweight hoodies and athletic wear, where comfort and resilience are essential. While achieving optimal vibrancy on blends can be trickier than on pure cotton, advances in pre-treatment techniques have significantly improved the quality of prints on these materials.

a woman sitting on a stool

 Unisex Premium Sweatshirt. Source: Printful

Linen

Linen, with its natural texture and slightly coarse finish, offers a distinctive canvas for DTG printing. The fabric’s organic feel and unique weave make it a favorite for rustic and artisan-style designs. It’s particularly popular for projects like custom tote bags, decorative throw pillows, or summer apparel, where the texture complements the design. However, linen’s absorbent nature can pose challenges for ink adhesion, making pre-treatment essential to achieving vibrant and long-lasting prints. 

Polyester

Polyester has historically been challenging for DTG printing because of its smooth, synthetic surface, which tends to repel water-based inks. However, modern pre-treatment solutions have significantly improved its compatibility, allowing for durable, richly hued results. While achieving optimal vibrancy on polyester can require specialized pre-treatment, it opens up possibilities for custom designs on items like athletic wear, promotional apparel, and performance gear.

More fabric options

DTG printing can also be used on fabrics like rayon, hemp, and bamboo. These materials are gaining popularity for their sustainable qualities, making them excellent choices for eco-friendly apparel lines. While results may vary depending on the fabric’s weave and pre-treatment, DTG printing often produces colorful and detailed designs on these substrates. 

As technology evolves, DTG printing continues to adapt. Recent advancements include:

  • Eco-friendly inks—biodegradable and water-saving inks are becoming more prevalent, appealing to sustainability-focused brands.
    .

  • Faster printing speeds—newer DTG models reduce production times, enabling higher efficiency.

  • AI integration—printers with AI capabilities can optimize settings for different fabric types, ensuring consistent results.

  • Specialty applications—DTG is now used for printing on unconventional fabrics and integrating metallic or glow-in-the-dark effects.

DTG printing compared to other printing techniques

How does DTG printing stack up against other printing methods? This comparison will clarify the strengths and limitations of each technique, helping you make informed decisions for your business. Let’s break it down.

DTG vs. sublimation printing

Sublimation printing uses heat to transfer dye into materials, bonding the ink directly into the fibers of polyester-based fabrics and polymer-coated items. This printing method is celebrated for creating seamless, full-coverage designs, making it ideal for items like shoes, blankets, or mouse pads. However, sublimation has notable limitations: it works only on light-colored materials and requires specialized substrates.

DTG printing excels on natural fibers like cotton and offers the ability to print on both light and dark fabrics without sacrificing vibrancy. But unlike sublimation, DTG printing is limited in coverage and is best suited for specific areas of the garment rather than achieving full-coverage designs. 

Both sublimation and DTG printing are renowned for their durability and flexibility, making them ideal for small production runs of highly personalized designs. The choice depends on the type of products you want to customize and the design’s specific requirements.

DTG vs. screen printing

Screen printing is a traditional method where ink is pushed through a mesh stencil onto fabric. It’s highly efficient and cost-effective for large-volume orders, particularly for simple designs with few colors. However, the setup process can be time-consuming, as each color requires a separate screen. This increases costs and preparation time for multicolor designs.

DTG printing eliminates the need for stencils entirely, allowing for intricate, multicolor artwork to be printed directly from a digital file without additional setup costs. This makes DTG ideal for small-batch or custom projects, offering businesses the flexibility to produce high-detail designs on demand. 

While screen printing technology excels in speed for bulk orders, it tends to create thicker ink layers, which can feel heavier on the fabric. DTG produces a softer, more natural feel for printed garments.

a bag with a cartoon character on it

Screen-printed tote bag. Source: Etsy, FoxComet

DTG vs. DTF (direct-to-film)

DTF printing is a relatively new technique that transfers designs onto a special film, which is then heat-pressed onto garments. This approach offers remarkable versatility, enabling high-quality prints on various fabrics, including polyester, blends, and even textured materials like fleece. DTF prints are highly durable, with excellent resistance to washing and splashy, eye-catching colors. However, the final product can feel slightly thicker compared to DTG prints due to the film layer.

DTG printing excels at delivering a softer, more integrated finish that feels like part of the fabric, especially on cotton-heavy garments. It’s ideal for creating detailed and natural textures in designs. Both DTG and DTF are well-suited for on-demand printing, but DTF shines in complex designs across diverse materials, while DTG is notable for its superior comfort and precision on natural fibers.

DTG vs. UV printing

UV printing is a specialized method designed for rigid, non-porous surfaces such as glass, metal, and wood. Using ultraviolet light to cure the ink instantly, it creates durable, scratch-resistant designs. This makes UV printing ideal for promotional items, signage, and industrial applications where longevity and durability are key.

In contrast, DTG is exclusively focused on fabrics, delivering soft, radiant, and washable prints. It excels at producing detailed and colorful designs, making it ideal for high-quality, personalized garments. 

While UV printing is unmatched for non-apparel projects requiring toughness, DTG stands out for its ability to create wearable art with a comfortable finish. Choosing between the two depends entirely on the material and the intended purpose of the product.

How to prepare a design file for DTG printing

Preparing your design file correctly is crucial for achieving high-quality DTG prints. Here’s what you need to know.

  • File format: Use high-resolution PNG or JPEG files with a transparent background for clean edges.

  • Resolution: Ensure your design is at least 300 DPI to maintain sharpness and clarity.

  • Color mode: Convert your file to RGB, as DTG printers are optimized for this color space.

  • Safe area: Keep all critical elements of your design within the print’s safe area—the part of the canvas that won’t be trimmed or cropped. 

If you’re using Printful, download the product guidelines from the product page under the File guidelines tab. By following these guidelines, you’ll ensure your custom designs look their best on the finished garments.

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Key takeaways for DTG printing

DTG printing is a versatile and reliable solution for creating custom apparel with vibrant, detailed designs. Its eco-friendly process, compatibility with small-batch production, and ability to handle intricate artwork make it a favorite among print-on-demand and dropshipping businesses.

From limited-edition collections to personalized event apparel, DTG printing gives creators the tools to produce designs with exceptional quality. Whether you’re looking to test new ideas or deliver high-impact trending products, DTG offers the flexibility and precision needed to succeed. Ready to get started? Explore the endless possibilities of DTG printing and bring your creative ideas to life!

author

By Grete Grivina on Jan 28, 2025

Grete Grivina

Blog author

Grēte is a Senior Content Writer at Printful. After finishing a Master's degree in Creative Writing, she keeps expanding her knowledge in copywriting, translating, and editing.

Grēte is a Senior Content Writer at Printful. After finishing a Master's degree in Creative Writing, she keeps expanding her knowledge in copywriting, translating, and editing.