Direct To Garment (DTG) and Direct Transfer Film (DTF) printing are two of the most popular methods for printing on fabric. Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the best method for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements.
To help you make a decision, we’ve put together a brief overview of both DTG printing and DTF printing. We’ll go over the key differences between the two methods, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each.
By the end of this article, you should have a better understanding of which printing method is right for you.
What Is DTG Printing?
Direct To Garment (DTG) printing is a popular computer-based printing technology that is used for garment printing. DTG printing uses a sophisticated print head to spray a water-based ink directly on a garment’s fibers. The ink is absorbed by the garment fibers and allowed to dry.
DTG printers can print multiple t shirts and polos at the same time which helps to cut down on the number of man-hours needed to print large batches of t shirts.
DGT printing is a growing trend in the textile industry. This printing method offers a number of advantages over traditional printing methods, such as screen printing and heat transfer printing.
The DTG printing method is ideal for prints that demand a high level of detail or for prints that are too intricate to be produced through traditional screen-printing methods.
Unfortunately, DTG printing can not be used on materials such as polyester, as the DTG’s water-based ink has to be absorbed by a garment’s fibers. Materials such as polyesters tend to repel water.
EveryTees recommends using DTG printing only on cotton-based garments such as t shirts and polos.
DTG printing is also a great option for smaller print runs or for highly detailed prints that need to be produced quickly.
The Advantages Of DTG
The direct-to-garment printing industry is one of the few that is growing at a fast pace. This technology has several advantages over older printing methods that have made it the go-to method for many t-shirts printing shops. Here are some of the advantages of DTG printing:
– the quality of the print is high, and the colors are vibrant.
– it is a cost-effective method, especially if you are printing on a small number of garments.
The Advantages Of DTF
The DTF printing process is a relatively new process that has a number of advantages over other methods of printing. The DTF process produces a special printed transfer that is pressed onto a garment.
DTF printing provides a number of advantages, including:
- Works with almost all types of fabrics
- No colours limit, can print any colour.
- Vivid colors, highly detailed printing
DTG vs DTF
Both Direct to Garment (DTG) and Direct Transfer Film (DTF) methods produce hi-quality printed garments. The DTF method is superior to the DTG method because it can be used on a wide range of materials and is not limited to only cotton.
It is interesting to note that DTG printing was invent first and was widely accepted by t shirt printing shops as t shirts are mainly cotton based. Over time, the need for DTF printing arose as polyesters, and nylons became more popular.
Print Quality
Both printing types produce colorful, vivid designs, the DTG print method design is said to have a course, textured feel as the ink become embedded into the fibers. Whereas the DTF print method feels smooth and slippery as the ink is placed on top of the garment’s fibers.
Durability
EveryTees believes that both print methods offer consumers great value in terms of durability and will last for a long time. Our online research suggests that both print methods have the ability to last over 50 wash cycles. Which should translate to many years of use.
Source: https://ricohdtg.com/direct-to-garment-printing-durable
Cost
The cost of DTG printing is generally higher than that of DTF printing. The main reason for this is that the DTG inks are more expensive and the process requires a pretreatment step before printing. However, the DTG method offers some advantages over DTF, such as a wider color gamut and the ability to print on a variety of fabrics.
Lead Time
Lead time is the time it takes from when an order is placed until it is shipped. Lead time for both direct to garment and direct transfer film printing is generally 5 to 7 working days.
Environment Impact
Both DTG and DTF technologies are relatively new and have been designed to reduce their impact on the environment by using water-based, more eco-friendly inks, and reducing the need for water as both print methods require very little water for “cleanup”.
Which One Is Better For You?
Everytees believes that both direct to garment and direct transfer film printing methods offer consumers many advantages over more traditional forms of garment printing.
Choosing one method over the other would require the need for additional information such as the quantity of garments, style of garments, colours and design work used, and the lead time needed.
Please feel free to contact us via email, WhatApp or phone to find out which print method is best for your unique garment printing application.
Hire EveryTees for Both DTF & DTG Printing
Looking for a top-quality printing service that offers both DTF and DTG printing? Then look no further than Everytees! We are a leading provider of printing services for both businesses and individuals, and we are proud to offer both DTF and DTG printing at the highest quality possible.
