Context
DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing uses modified inkjet technology to spray water-based textile inks directly onto fabric. Industrial DTG printers such as the Epson SureColor F2270, Brother GTX600, and Kornit Atlas deposit CMYK plus white ink onto garments at resolutions up to 1200 x 1200 dpi, reproducing photographic images and unlimited-color designs without screens or transfers. The process is most effective on 100% ring-spun cotton in the 150-180 gsm range, where ink absorbs deeply into the fibres for a soft hand feel. Cotton-polyester blends (up to 50% poly) are printable with adjusted pre-treatment, though pure polyester requires alternative methods like DTF or sublimation.
How It Works
Garments are loaded onto a platen and, for dark fabrics, first sprayed with a liquid pre-treatment solution that helps white ink bond to the surface. The pre-treated area is heat-cured at approximately 165 degrees Celsius for 30-45 seconds. The printer then jets the design directly onto the fabric, laying down the white ink base layer first on dark garments, followed by CMYK color layers. After printing, the garment is heat-pressed at around 170 degrees Celsius for 90 seconds to cure the ink permanently. A single t-shirt prints in 30-90 seconds depending on coverage area and resolution. DTG excels at short runs and one-off orders, with no setup costs, but per-unit costs remain higher than screen printing above roughly 25-50 pieces.
Web to Print Context
DTG is the primary production method behind print-on-demand platforms such as Printful, Printify, and Gooten. Its zero-setup, single-unit economics make it ideal for on-demand fulfillment, where each order may contain a unique design. Web to print integrations handle file preparation automatically, converting uploaded artwork to the printer's color profile, generating white underbase layers for dark garments, and routing jobs to the nearest production facility. RIP software manages ink density, pre-treatment requirements, and platen sizing, allowing fully automated production from order placement through to shipping.