What’s transparency?
Transparency (often referred to as opacity) is measured by how see-through colors are in a design. We distinguish two types of transparency:
- Full transparency—completely invisible graphic elements
- Semi-transparency—somewhat opaque, see-through graphic elements
Get to know the basics
Why transparency doesn’t work for DTG prints
In DTG printing, all inks are concentrated pigments rather than diluted. This means that all DTG printers will try to make up for the missing information by spreading the ink. The prints will end up with a lot of gaps with a visible white base. This is most evident on dark fabrics.
How to tell if your designs have transparent elements
Open your design in a graphic editor. If the background is peeking through your design, the design is transparent. If you’re using advanced graphic editors (e.g., Adobe Photoshop) that indicate transparency, you can:
- Unlock the background layer and turn off the layer by clicking the eye icon—if you see the checkered canvas through your design, it’s transparent
- Duplicate the design layer (use keyboard shortcut Ctrl/Cmd ⌘ + J) and see if the areas in question become more opaque
Transparent designs and DTG printing: what you need to know
How to get the best results with faded designs
Explore the design file vs. print outcome