Does DTG print crack?

As the DTG inks are printed into the fabric, rather than sitting on top of it your DTG printed T-shirts shouldn’t crack or peel off. DTG is one of the most durable print methods on the market.

Does DTG wash out or fade?

Like a new pair of jeans, you may lose a little bit of vibrance after the first wash, however, this should be minimal if washed correctly and according to the care instructions of the garment. 

Beyond that, whether it’s a DTG printed hoodie, tote bag or T-shirt, they should stand the test of time with unrivalled durability. 

Please note, this is subject to the machinery being used and the quality of the inks; so if you have felt let down by DTG in the past, don’t rule out the process as a whole, it just might be a case of trying a different supplier with better quality inks and machinery.

Is DTG printing good quality & durable?

The quality and durability are very much down to the machinery and inks used. When using a DTG printing company like us, you can expect retail level quality, with vibrant prints that are on par with (or better than) traditional print methods like screen printing. 

As a company that offers both DTG and screen printing, we say this from a completely unbiased perspective.

The image below on the left was taken straight after the T-shirt was printed. The image on the right is a photo of the same T-shirt taken over a year later (after being worn and washed regularly for a full year – at least 20 washes).

While there are some slight differences due to the lighting and angle being slightly different, it’s clear to see that the print quality is still almost exactly the same as it was after being printed, having been worn and washed.

Products we can print with DTG

The most popular products for DTG printing are T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and tote bags. So long as a product has a high percentage of cotton in its composition and will fit in the printer, it can usually be printed with DTG. 

We’ve got lots of other items that can be DTG printed, so if you’re unsure if your preferred product can be DTG printed, just let us know and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.

Do you need to pretreat before DTG?

Yes, clothing products do need a pre-treatment applied before they can be DTG printed. In most instances, the printer applies the pre-treatment at the time of printing, ensuring a great finish and no sticky/smelly pre-treatment residue that you may experience with cheaper DTG setups.

Does DTG print white?

While some cheaper DTG printers are not able to print white, our market-leading machines can print white alongside thousands of other shades. This ensures that we’re able to print onto any coloured T-shirts you desire.

DTG printing on black shirts

DTG printing onto black T-shirts is no problem. When printing onto black or any colour other than white, the print will feel similar to a screen print; this is due to a base coat of white ink having to be put down before printing your design. This base coat ensures your design is vivid and all of the colours show up.

DTG printing onto polyester

We advise only DTG printing onto garments with no less than 70% cotton in their composition. For items with a high polyester composition, we advise screen printing or digital transfer printing for the best results.

DTG printing vs sublimation printing

Sublimation is best suited for all-over print coverage and sportswear. Sublimation inks only stick to polyester, so if you’re using any fabric that isn’t 100% polyester, then sublimation printing is not possible. 

DTG is the complete opposite, its inks only stick to cotton, so any fabric that has 70% or more cotton in the composition is ideal. 

DTG printing vs heat transfer and vinyl prints

Heat transfers and vinyl prints are best suited for non-cotton items like coats, jackets, bags and sportswear. In those instances, heat transfers are the best print method of choice. 

If printing onto T-shirts or anything with a high cotton percentage we’d always recommend DTG printing over heat transfer prints for the best results.

DTG printing vs screen printing

One of the most frequent questions we get is, “should I go for DTG printing or screen printing”.

When it comes down to quality, DTG is on par with screen printing, and in some circumstances better than screen printing. However, when it comes to choosing the right print method, it’s less about which is ‘better’ and more about which is most suitable. 

Many print companies try to argue that one method is better than the other but, generally, this is because they only offer one option. The reality is that both serve different purposes and work best in different situations.

If you’re bulk printing large volumes with a simple design, then screen printing may actually be the best option for you. However, if you want smaller volumes or have a very complex design, DTG is likely the best option.

DTG printer vs embroidery

There are a few elements that come into play when deciding between DTG and embroidery, the first is the fabric type and design size.

If the fabric is light (such as a T-shirt), but the design is large, then we’d generally recommend DTG. A large embroidery can be very heavy, especially on something like a T-shirt. 

On sweatshirts, hoodies, coats and other heavier items, a large embroidery wouldn’t be a problem and might actually be the best option. With fabrics like fleece, DTG isn’t possible, so embroidery is the only choice.

The second element to consider is design complexity. For complex designs, DTG printing is generally the best option as the ink pigments are far smaller than threads. With threads being a lot thicker than ink pigments, it’s harder to get the same level of detail. So if you have small intricate text or design elements it’s likely best to opt for DTG.

The last factor to consider is personal preference. In some instances, like a simple design on a cotton hoodie, both print or embroidery would work well. In that case, it’s entirely down to which one you prefer, as both decoration methods are highly durable and look great.

Our maximum DTG print size is 400mm x 500mm. However, smaller sizes and women’s T-shirts typically don’t allow such large coverage, with this in mind we always recommend keeping your design at 297mm x 400mm as this will likely fit on any T-shirt, regardless of gender or size. 

When it comes to large front or back prints on T-shirts, most brands choose to keep their design at the advised 297mm across the board.

Can I have my design at multiple sizes across an order?

You can, however, having your design at multiple sizes for different sized T-shirts across an order is typically a bad idea. Choosing to do that means you miss out on economies of scale. For example, if you buy 50 T-shirts, but 25 of those items have the print at one size, and 25 have the design at a different size, you’ll end paying for two 25-unit orders and not one 50-unit one.  Ultimately people buy and wear products because they either love the brand or design, not because the design is 10mm larger than the competing brand’s design.

Please note, in almost all instances an order can be a mix of T-shirt sizes, without an impact on the price.

We have DTG print locations up and down the UK and in Europe, ensuring we’re always local to you. 

We deliver nationwide and internationally; so whether you’re in Manchester, London, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Wales or somewhere else in the UK, Europe or the world, we’ve got your back.

DTG inks are water-based. The water-based NeoPigment™ inks are completely free of heavy metals, formaldehyde and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APE), making them non-hazardous, non-toxic and biodegradable. 

As part of our waterless printing system, the biodegradable ink and energy-saving process makes our printers the best option for eco-conscious brands.