Direct-to-Garment (DTG)

Direct-to-garment printing removed two of the biggest friction points in custom apparel decoration: screen setup fees and minimum order requirements. Before DTG, a full-color photographic print required separating the artwork into individual color layers, making a screen for each, and printing in volume to offset the setup cost. DTG eliminates that entirely. The printer reads the file and applies it in a single pass.

The practical use case for DTG is small runs with complex artwork. A limited-edition tee with a detailed illustration. A personalized item where every piece has a different name or number. A proof run before committing to a full screen-printed order. These are the scenarios where DTG is the right choice, not because it produces better results than screen printing, but because it removes the setup overhead that makes small runs expensive.

The limitation is fabric. DTG bonds best with 100% cotton or high-cotton blends. On polyester or synthetic fabrics, the ink does not adhere reliably. On dark garments, the printer must apply a white underbase before the color layer, which adds a step, increases cost slightly, and can give the print a slightly softer hand feel than a direct-on-light-garment application.

Above 24 pieces, the math usually favors screen printing. But for small runs, artwork with more than six colors, or one-off pieces where no setup cost can be amortized, DTG is the most practical path from file to finished garment.