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 t-shirt, the answer is almost always DTG. Here's what direct-to-garment printing is, how it works, and why it has become the go-to 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 printing one shirt costs the same per piece as printing a hundred.
- 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.
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.