Direct-to-garment
DTG printing, from a single piece.
Photographic detail printed straight into the cotton. No screens, no color limits, no minimum, and a soft hand you can feel through the shirt.
The method
A very precise inkjet for fabric
DTG sprays water-based ink straight into the garment, so the print soaks into the fibers instead of sitting on top of them. On dark garments we lay a white underbase down first and print full color over it. That is how you get a bright, sharp image on a black tee. Then it is heat-cured and locked in. No thick plastic layer on the chest, so the finish stays soft and breathable.
Spec sheet
DTG at a glance
The four things people ask before they commit, answered up front instead of after the quote.
Minimum order
1 piece
What that means
Nothing to burn and no setup charge, so one shirt costs close to what the hundredth does. Print a sample before you commit to a run.
Color count
Unlimited
What that means
Photographs, gradients and fine detail print as they are. No separating artwork into spot colors, and no per-color charge.
Best on
100% cotton
What that means
Ring-spun cotton takes the ink cleanest and holds it longest. High-cotton blends from around 80% up print well too.
Delivered in
7–10 days
What that means
From approved artwork. Against a hard date? Say so in the brief and we will tell you honestly before you commit.
Fabric
DTG lives on cotton
The blank decides how the ink behaves. Here is what DTG does on each of the ones we stock.
Ring-spun cotton tee
180 GSM · 100% ring-spun cotton
The best case for DTG. A smooth face holds photographic detail, and the ink cures into the fiber rather than onto it.
Heavyweight tee
240 GSM · 100% cotton
Boxy, opaque, hangs straight. The coarser face suits bold artwork more than the very finest detail.
Fleece hoodie
400 GSM · 80/20 cotton-poly
Prints, but the brushed pile softens fine detail. We press the panel flat first and lay a heavier ink deposit for a clean edge.
Performance knit
140 GSM · 100% polyester
Not a DTG fabric. Polyester will not absorb water-based ink, so these go DTF or screen print instead.
Picking a blank
Fiber split matters more than weight here. 100% cotton gives the sharpest, most durable DTG print; high-cotton blends from about 80% up are fine.
Below that the ink has less cotton to bond to, so the color sits lighter and softer. Heavy synthetics do not hold it at all.
Not locked on a blank? Start with the Garment Guide.
Print area
Where a DTG print lands
The platen sets the maximum, not the artwork. These are the zones we print most and the sizes that fit them.
Full front
Highest visibility · up to 13×15 in
The default for graphics and tour art. Drop the print 2–3 inches below the collar so it does not ride up over the chest.
Left chest
High visibility · 3×3 to 4×4 in
Reads as uniform rather than merch, which is exactly why corporate and hospitality orders live here. DTG holds small type and thin rules cleanly at this size.
Full back
High visibility · up to 13×15 in
Where date lists and sponsor blocks go. The only zone with room for small type that still has to be read across a room.
Sleeve & hem
Accent · 2×2 to 3×11 in
A second touchpoint rather than a headline. The platen has to sit flat, so we keep the art inside the flat panel and clear of the seam.
Expert guidance
Send the artwork and we will mark placement and print size on the proof before anything goes on a garment.
How it works
From file to boxed order
There are no screens to burn on a DTG job, so it starts moving the day your artwork lands.
Send the file
Send artwork at 300 DPI or higher at final print size, PNG on a transparent background, in CMYK rather than RGB. Tell us the garment and quantity if you have picked them.
Quote back same working day
Approve the proof
You get a digital proof with print size and placement marked, and a printed sample when the run justifies it. Nothing goes on a garment until you sign it off.
Unlimited revisions before press
We print and ship
We print, cure and check the run piece by piece, then fold and box it the way you asked for. Tracking lands in your inbox, or collect locally if that is faster.
7–10 days standard on DTG
No deposit to get a quote
Blanks that take DTG
211 blanks in the catalog are set up for direct to garment.
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American Apparel – Custom Unisex Heavyweight Cotton Garment-Dyed Tee
View Product: American Apparel – Custom Unisex Heavyweight Cotton Garment-Dyed Tee$13.90 -
AS Colour – Custom Access Faded Cap
View Product: AS Colour – Custom Access Faded Cap$7.63 -
AS Colour – Custom Authentic Singlet
View Product: AS Colour – Custom Authentic Singlet$7.63 -
AS Colour – Custom Barnard Tank Top
View Product: AS Colour – Custom Barnard Tank Top$7.63 -
AS Colour – Custom Base Long Sleeve T-Shirt
View Product: AS Colour – Custom Base Long Sleeve T-Shirt$11.64 -
AS Colour – Custom Basic T-Shirt
View Product: AS Colour – Custom Basic T-Shirt$8.48 -
AS Colour – Custom Basic Tote Bag
View Product: AS Colour – Custom Basic Tote Bag$7.63 -
AS Colour – Custom Block Long Sleeve T-Shirt
View Product: AS Colour – Custom Block Long Sleeve T-Shirt$9.15
FAQ
DTG questions we get asked
Can you print on black shirts?
Yes. We lay a white underbase down first and print full color over it, so the artwork stays bright and sharp on dark garments.
Is there a minimum order for DTG?
No. There are no screens and no setup charge, so a single piece is fine. It just costs a little more per piece than a run does.
How long does a DTG print last?
40 to 50-plus washes when it is cured properly and cared for. Wash inside out on cold and keep it out of a hot dryer, and it will outlast the garment.
What file do you need for DTG?
300 DPI or higher at final print size, PNG on a transparent background, in CMYK rather than RGB. We will tell you if a file will not hold up before we take the job.
Can you print polyester or activewear?
Not with DTG. Water-based ink will not bond to synthetics. DTF or screen printing is the better call, and we will say which when you send the garment.
Send the file. We will print it.
Stay haunted · ThreadGhost · Los Angeles
