Direct-to-garment printing (aka DTG) is an innovative garment printing process that does not use traditional screens to transfer ink onto fabric. Instead, the DTG process uses an inkjet printer to deposit ink onto fabric, creating a soft print and a bit more muted in color than screen-printed garments.

The DTG process is a popular alternative to screen printing because it is less expensive and requires fewer setup costs. It is also an excellent choice for creating personalized garments, such as jerseys and t-shirts.

Today, we will go over a few simple but effective tips to ensure your garment comes out perfect!

Here's what you need to know:

Check the Resolution of Your Image

The resolution of your image is very important. If the resolution is too high, the image can appear blurry. At the same time, a low-resolution image will have pixelated edges that may seem unprofessional.

A good rule of thumb is to make sure the image you are working with is at least 300 dpi. If you need to resize your idea, you can reduce it to 50% of its size. If you do not have an image editing program, you can use the free service at www.pixlr.com to resize your image.

Check the Color Gamut of Your Printer

The color gamut is expressed as a percentage of the number of colors a device can display. If you are using a copy/print shop, check with them to make sure your specific printer can print the colors you need for your design.

If you are printing at home, you can check the color gamut of your printer from the information found on the printer's box or the printer manufacturer's website. Most home printers can print a color gamut of around 48-50% of the total colors displayed.

Make Sure There's No Transparency

As with screen-printed garments, you want to make sure there are no areas on your design using transparency.

Transparency is when the white of the fabric shows through the colored areas of a design. This can be easy to miss when you're working on a computer, but when it happens with a DTG printed design, it can ruin an entire shirt of a design.

So, make sure to check your design on a shirt before sending it off to be printed.

Be Careful with your File Type

You can use several file types to prepare your design for printing, but some are better than others. If you are designing a plan independently, use a vector design program such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW. These programs work with vector graphics and will make your design print crisply.

If you send your design to a copy shop, they may request it to be sent as a rasterized PDF file. Any photo editing program can rasterize a PDF file.

For example, if you open a PDF in Adobe Illustrator, all the vector graphics are broken up into pixels. This is called rasterizing or bitmap conversion.

This is important because a copy shop can only print rasterized PDF files. So, make sure to maintain your original vector file for printing.

The Bottom Line

Printing on clothes is an innovative and exciting way to expand your brand's reach. Whether you are printing jerseys, shirts, hats, backpacks, or any other fabric, it's essential to follow these tips to ensure you get the highest quality print.

If you need help with making your designs a reality, we can help you. Certified Print Co is the best custom t-shirt and apparel printing company in Denver, Colorado. We offer high-quality printing on high-quality clothing. See how your designs will look by visiting our design lab today!