If you come across someone wearing a printed t-shirt, it is more likely to be printed with a DTG printer. Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology, DTG printing has become a norm for apparel printing. If you are wondering if a DTG printer prints t-shirts or not, here is the answer you were looking for.
A Direct-To-Garment printer is specially designed to print custom images and artworks on t-shirts and other clothing items. Such printers are equipped with high-tech features that ensure top-notch print quality with superior color accuracy and saturation. That means you won’t have to worry about the image and the print having different color shades. The sophisticated vacuum platen and print heads of such printers ensure that every t-shirt gets the highest print quality with the minimum printing time.
DTG printing is the oldest t-shirt printing technology after screen printing. Though screen printing serves the same purpose, DTG printing is a digital printing process with the lowest production time and the highest print quality in the industry.
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What’s a DTG Printer and How Does It Work?
Though DTG printing technology has reached every corner of the world, it is still new for many. DTG stands for Direct-To-Garment, which means when you load a blank t-shirt on the printer, it directly prints the image on the garment. You can edit and customize the picture before printing the final image to ensure the highest print accuracy.
This process makes DTG printing a lot different than screen printing. Screen printing involves processing the full-color image in separate parts. Then you need to print and develop a screen for each color. Once you get all the screens of different colors ready, you can put each screen on the shirt one by one until all the colors are combined and make a complete image with the help of a large screen printing machine. Now you know why DTG printing is more efficient and time-saving than screen printing.
To simplify the explanation, consider the DTG printing machine as an inkjet style printer used in homes and offices. But instead of printing the picture on paper, it is printed on clothing items like blank t-shirts. On top of that, it has better printing quality and more applications.
How is a DTG Type Printer Different from a Sublimation Printer?
If you are a custom print enthusiast, you must be aware of sublimation printers. If you are confused with how the DTG printing machine is different from the sublimation printer, here’s a simple explanation.
The two printers are different when compared together. A sublimation printer prints the inverted version of the original image on a piece of paper. Then this paper is pressed on the t-shirt with the help of heat. The picture is then printed on the t-shirt.
On the contrary, DTG printing involves directly printing on the cloth, which means you get high definition print quality with a lot less ink. Directly printing on the garment ensures the ink goes where it is supposed to, which isn’t the case with sublimation printers as it first prints on the paper. DTG printing also saves plenty of time and effort by reducing the numerous steps in the process.
The printing surface is also a prime differentiator between the two. The sublimation printer can only print light-colored polyester garments, which reduces the variety of clothing garments and hence hinders creativity. On the other hand, DTG printing has no such special requirements. It can print on light and dark-colored cotton and polyester clothes alike. It creates a base layer of white ink on the garment surface on which the image is printed and gets a better and clearer appearance.
Though there is a considerable price difference between these two, the sublimation printer usually costs around $1500. On the other hand, the DTG printing machine costs around $15000. Though sublimation printers are more affordable than DTG printers, you cannot achieve the best print quality with sublimation printers.
Why Would Someone Buy a Direct-to-Garment Printer?
Though it is highly versatile, it is okay to think why one needs to buy the DTG styled printer? Apart from its obvious printing benefits, here are some of the reasons why you should buy the direct-to-garment printer.
You Get the Best Image
When it comes to custom printing, the print quality makes a lot of difference. If you are a graphic designer, you understand the importance of the sharpness of the image, the saturation and accuracy of the color. You don’t have to worry about getting the finest image quality on your printed apparel when you have a top-quality printer. Thankfully, the latest DTG machines use the best quality inks with a superior print head, which substantially improves the output image.
A Meager Cost Per Print
You spend a very low cost per print when you print with a printer like the DTG G4. Depending on the image size and complexity, you would be spending from 15 cents to $3 per t-shirt print. The color of the garment also plays a key role as lighter shade shirts require less ink for print, while darker shirts need more white ink to create a print base.
They Last Longer
DTG type printers are made from superior material and parts, so they suffer negligible wear and tear. The print heads are made with the finest quality material and only the best ink from Kodak, so the print heads don’t get damaged. Even when they are not used for days, they do not cause any maintenance issues.
Shirts are Stylish and Attractive
Be ready to stand out in the crowd with your custom print t-shirts. When you own a DTG machine, you can print your designs and flaunt them however you want.
A Great Revenue Source
If you are a skilled graphic designer and want to leverage your skills, you can print your designs on t-shirts and sell them to earn good money. There is a massive market for DTG printed t-shirts. You can sell your DTG printed t-shirts and other apparel in offline and online stores and create a good income source for yourself.
