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.
DTG printing (direct to garment printing) is a digital process that sprays water based ink straight into the fibers of a cotton shirt, so a full color design prints in one pass with no screens and no setup. It is the method behind photo prints, gradients and soft, detailed graphics on custom tees. This guide explains how DTG works, what it prints well, how it compares with screen printing, DTF and vinyl, and how long it lasts. When you are ready to try it, you can design your own custom shirt online and print a single piece.
What does DTG printing mean?
DTG stands for direct to garment. A DTG printer works like an inkjet printer built for fabric: it reads your digital artwork file and lays textile ink directly onto the shirt, color by color in the same pass. There is no stencil, no transfer and no vinyl between the ink and the cotton.
That one difference shapes everything else about the method. Because the printer works from the file itself, a design with three colors costs the same to prepare as a design with three hundred. Photographs, soft shadows, fine linework and gradients all print without being separated into individual colors first. And because nothing has to be built before the first shirt, a run of one is just as practical as a run of a hundred.
DTG is a cotton method. The ink is formulated to bond with natural fibers, which is why the best results come on 100% cotton tees, sweatshirts and totes.
How does DTG printing work, step by step?
A DTG print goes through four stages: the garment is pretreated, a white underbase is printed when the shirt is dark, the color layer is printed on top, and the whole print is heat cured. Each stage affects how bright the colors look and how well the print survives washing, so none of them can be skipped.
- Pretreatment. A liquid pretreatment is applied to the print area. It helps the ink sit on the fibers instead of soaking straight through, which keeps colors sharp and lets white ink stay opaque.
- White underbase. On black, navy and other dark shirts, the printer lays down a layer of white ink first. Without it, colors would sink into the dark fabric and look dull. Our guide to printing on dark garments covers how this layer changes your artwork choices.
- Color printing. The printheads spray cyan, magenta, yellow and black, plus white where needed, to build the full image in a single pass.
- Curing. The shirt goes through controlled heat so the ink bonds into the fibers. A properly cured print is what separates a shirt that lasts from one that fades early.
On industrial equipment these steps run as one controlled process rather than a series of manual jobs, which is where consistency from the first shirt to the last comes from.
What can DTG print well, and where are its limits?
DTG prints detailed, colorful artwork best: photographs, illustrations, gradients, watercolor textures and designs with many colors. Its limits are fabric and file quality. It needs high cotton content to bond properly, and it reproduces exactly what is in your file, so a small or blurry image will print small or blurry.
Where DTG shines
- Photo shirts and portraits. Skin tones, soft backgrounds and fine detail come through without being simplified.
- Multicolor illustration. There is no extra cost per color, so complex art is no harder to run than a simple logo.
- Small runs and one offs. Gifts, samples, personalized names and test designs for a new brand.
- Soft prints. The ink becomes part of the fabric, so the print breathes with the shirt.
Where another method may fit better
- Polyester and performance fabric. Water based DTG ink does not bond well to synthetic fibers.
- Exact spot colors on very large runs. A single brand color repeated across thousands of shirts is the classic screen printing job.
- Low resolution artwork. No printer can add detail that is not in the file. Our guide on how to prepare artwork for DTG printing shows how to set up a file that prints sharp.
How does DTG compare with screen printing, DTF and vinyl?
DTG is best for full color designs and small to medium runs on cotton. Screen printing wins on large runs of simple designs, DTF transfers handle polyester and blends, and heat transfer vinyl suits names, numbers and simple shapes. The right method depends on the fabric, the artwork and the quantity, not on which one is newest.
Here is how the four methods compare on a cotton shirt.
| Method | Feel on cotton | Colors and detail | Minimums | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTG | Soft, ink sits in the fibers | Unlimited colors, photos and gradients | None, one shirt is a normal order | Full color art, small runs, samples, personalized shirts |
| Screen printing | Ink layer sits on the surface | One screen per color, best with a few flat colors | Usually required to cover screen setup | Large runs of a simple design |
| DTF transfer | Thin flexible film pressed onto the fabric | Full color, sharp edges | None needed | Polyester, blends, hats and mixed garment orders |
| Heat transfer vinyl | Smooth layer on top of the fabric | Solid colors, cut shapes, no photos | None needed | Names, numbers and simple text |
If you are deciding between the two most common options, our full breakdown of DTG vs screen printing walks through cost at different quantities, feel and durability side by side.
How long does a DTG print last?
A properly pretreated and cured DTG print lasts for the normal life of the shirt when it is washed with reasonable care. Fading and cracking usually trace back to weak pretreatment, under curing or harsh laundry habits rather than to the method itself, which is why equipment and process matter so much.
Customers can help a print stay bright with a few simple habits: wash the shirt inside out in cold water, skip bleach, tumble dry low or hang dry, and never iron directly on the print. The full picture, including what to look for when you test a sample, is in our guide to DTG print durability.
What file and placement do you need for DTG printing?
The ideal DTG file is a PNG with a transparent background at 300 dpi, built at the real print size. For a full front print that means around 4500 by 5400 pixels. Anything you want to show the shirt color through must be truly transparent, because white areas print as white ink.
Placement is the other half of the decision. Our standard print areas are front up to 12 by 16 inches, back up to 12 by 16 inches, left chest up to 5 by 5 inches and top back up to 12 by 4 inches. A centered chest graphic, a small left chest mark with a large back print, or a single full front design each give the same shirt a very different look. The print placement guide explains what each area is good for.
The easiest way to check size and position is visual: upload your artwork, preview it on the shirt color before you pay, and adjust until it looks right.
Who prints DTG in house in South Florida?
Imperial Custom Apparel prints DTG in house in Hollywood, Florida, on industrial Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS equipment with water based ink. We have been printing since 2019, there is no minimum order, and every file is checked by a real person before it goes to the printer.
The Kornit system handles pretreatment and printing as one controlled process, which keeps whites opaque on dark shirts and colors consistent across a run. You can read more about the equipment and process on our DTG printing in Miami page, or see why we chose this method for most cotton work on our why DTG page.
- Custom tees from $25 with a full color front print, one shirt or many.
- Live preview on the real shirt color before you pay.
- Online orders ship within 2 business days, or pick up by appointment in Hollywood, FL.
- Larger business and team orders are quoted per job.
For a single shirt or a small batch, the fastest route is to design a shirt in our online designer and let the file check confirm everything before it prints.
Frequently asked questions
Is DTG printing good quality?
Yes, DTG printing produces high quality, detailed prints when it is done on industrial equipment with proper pretreatment and curing. It reproduces photographs, gradients and unlimited colors with a soft feel because the ink bonds into the cotton fibers. Print quality still depends on your file, so a 300 dpi PNG with a transparent background gives the sharpest result.
Can DTG printing be used on polyester?
DTG printing works best on 100% cotton and high cotton blends, because water based DTG ink is formulated to bond with natural fibers. On polyester and performance fabrics the ink does not anchor well, so the print can look dull or wear quickly. For synthetic garments a DTF transfer is usually the better choice.
Does DTG printing wash out over time?
No, a properly cured DTG print does not wash out, and it lasts for the normal life of the shirt with reasonable care. Washing inside out in cold water, avoiding bleach and drying on low heat keeps colors bright. Prints that fade quickly usually point to weak pretreatment or under curing rather than to DTG printing itself.
Is there a minimum order for DTG printing?
No, there is no minimum order for DTG printing at Imperial Custom Apparel, so one shirt is a normal order. DTG needs no screens and no setup, which makes single pieces, samples and personalized shirts practical. Custom tees start from $25 with a full color front print, and pricing per piece improves on larger quantities.
Where can I get DTG printing near Miami?
Imperial Custom Apparel offers DTG printing in Hollywood, Florida, about 20 minutes from downtown Miami. We print in house on Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS equipment with water based ink, with no minimum order. Design a shirt online with a live preview, or call or text (954) 280 0627 for larger orders and pickup by appointment.
Print your design with DTG, starting at one shirt
Upload your artwork, check the live preview on the real shirt color and order from $25 with no minimum. Printed in house in Hollywood, FL and shipped within 2 business days. Questions? Text or call (954) 280 0627.
Start designing