DTG (direct to garment) printing sprays ink directly into the fabric for full color, soft, durable prints with no minimums. Here's how it works and when to use it.
If you've ever wondered how brands get photo realistic, full color designs onto a shirt, the answer is almost always DTG. Here's what direct to garment printing is, how it works, and why it has become the preferred method for premium custom apparel.
What does DTG stand for?
DTG stands for direct to garment. It's a digital printing process that sprays ink directly into the fabric of a garment, much like an inkjet printer lays ink onto paper. Instead of screens, stencils, or heat pressed vinyl, a DTG printer reads your artwork file and reproduces it in full color, right on the shirt.
How DTG printing works
- Pre treatment: The garment is treated so the ink bonds cleanly and the colors stay vivid.
- Printing: An industrial DTG printer lays down your design in a single pass, colors and fine detail included.
- Curing: The garment is heat cured so the ink locks into the fibers and the print lasts.
Why DTG is ideal for custom apparel
- Unlimited color: Gradients, fine detail, and photographic artwork print with no color limits.
- Soft hand feel: Because the ink absorbs into the fabric, the print feels like the shirt, not a plastic patch sitting on top.
- No minimums: There are no screens to set up, so short runs and one offs are just as practical as large orders.
- Durability: A properly cured DTG print resists cracking and fading wash after wash.
Is DTG right for your project?
DTG shines for detailed, colorful designs, small runs, and premium, retail ready apparel. If your design is a simple one or two color graphic in very high volume, traditional screen printing can be more economical, but for almost everything else, DTG delivers the best balance of quality and cost. Learn more on our Why DTG page.
Frequently asked questions
Is DTG printing the same as screen printing?
No, DTG printing sprays water based ink directly into the fabric with a digital printer, while screen printing pushes thick ink through a separate stencil for every color in the design. That difference means DTG has no color limits and no screen setup, so a detailed full color design is no harder to run than a simple one. Screen printing still has the edge on very large runs of simple one or two color graphics.
Does a DTG print feel stiff on the shirt?
A properly cured DTG print feels like part of the shirt rather than a layer sitting on top, because the ink soaks into the cotton fibers instead of forming a film over them. We print with water based ink that stays soft after curing. On dark garments you may feel a slight difference where the white underbase sits, but it is still far softer than vinyl.
Can DTG printing reproduce photographs and gradients?
Yes, DTG prints photographs, gradients, soft shadows and unlimited colors in a single pass, which is the main reason it is used for retail quality apparel. The printer reads your artwork file the way an inkjet reads a document, so there is no color separation step to limit you. The real limit is your file rather than the press, so send the highest resolution version you have.
Do I need a minimum order for DTG printing?
No, there is no minimum order for DTG printing at Imperial Custom Apparel, so a single shirt and a full run are both normal jobs. Because there are no screens to burn, short runs and one offs stay practical. Volume pricing still applies, so your cost per piece falls as the quantity rises.
What artwork file works best for DTG printing?
A PNG with a transparent background at 300 DPI, sized to the real print dimensions, is the ideal file for DTG printing. Vector files such as AI, EPS or PDF also work well because they scale without losing detail. Our standard placements are front 12 by 16 inches, back 12 by 16 inches, left chest 5 by 5 inches and top back 12 by 4 inches, so build your file to the size you actually want printed.
Print your design with Imperial
At Imperial Custom Apparel, every order is printed in house on an industrial Kornit direct to garment line, Pantone matched, with no minimums, and shipped nationwide from South Florida. Start your order and we'll take it from there.