So, you’ve decided to buy or add a new direct-to-garment (DTG) printer to your business. Before you settle on a particular piece of equipment, there are a few questions to ask, and a few things you should really know before making that purchase. While the following speaks to DTG, many of these factors are important to consider when purchasing any type of manufactured equipment.
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The First, Most Important Question
Does the manufacturer of the machine you’re leaning toward make the product they sell? Print heads and ink are the basic and most important parts of a DTG printer. But some of the machines on the market have these components from another source, most commonly a desktop paper printer.
A manufacturer making its own print heads and ink ensures that you as a customer will be able to receive replacement parts, if needed, and a continual supply of ink. Buying a printer from a company that does not make its own component parts means you take a risk on whether the original manufacturer continues the supply chain.
Where to Buy
Most large DTG manufacturers sell their product through a network of dealers. This ensures there will be sales coverage in most regions of the country. Not all dealers are the same. Some have a great deal of expertise in the DTG process while others do not.
Selling DTG printers is unlike most other decoration equipment. More upfront instruction and support is necessary to be successful. In some cases, because of their range of product focus, a local dealer may not have the expertise to really give you the knowledge that you need to be successful in DTG.
The question to ask the dealer you choose is not how many printers they have sold, but how many they have installed, and how many customers they have trained.
Training is key to being successful. When choosing a printer, make sure the dealer will fully train you in the DTG process.
Training should cover maintenance, the pre-treating process, and proper preparation of graphics. Ask who will train you and find out how many customers they have trained along with their background in the decorated garment industry. Nothing beats on-site training at your location. This ensures that you know how the DTG equipment works in your situation.
Classroom and video training work, too, but those are better for additional training beyond the basics. During the training process, use your own print files and shirts, as this will give you the most real-world experience.
Product Safety and Durability
Material safety is crucial. This is something most shops don’t think about when looking at DTG printers. The fact that a product is water-based does not automatically make it safe, and not every manufacturer’s DTG ink and pre-treatment are the same. You need to ensure that the ink and pre-treat solution are safe for both your employees and your customers. All manufacturers should provide a safety data sheet (SDS) on their products when requested.
Please read the SDS of any products used in the production process. Understand any limitations or changes you might have to make to your shop’s environment or in your work process. Make sure SDS sheets concerning any hazardous products are readily available to your employees. It’s the law.
Many DTG manufactures use a third-party company to test their inks and pretreat fluid. The most prevalent in the industry is Oeko-tex. This certification ensures safe levels or no content of certain harmful products in finished goods, and tests for certain substances listed in the U.S. Government’s Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
Don’t confuse SDS and Oeko-tex. The SDS is provided to inform you about the safety of products, or chemicals, used during the production process. Oeko-tex certifies a product’s levels of certain harmful substances usually after the production process.
Some DTG manufacturers also test for the wash durability of their printed product. Most use an independent test certified by the American Association of Textile Colorists and Chemists (AATCC). This test takes a printed DTG sample shirt and subjects it to a high-intensity wash. After the wash test, the sample is compared to an unwashed sample and given a ranking between one and five — the higher the rank, the better it held up in the wash. Ask if the DTG printer you are looking at has undergone this wash test and inquire about its ranking.
Read the Warranty
In my opinion, the warranty is the most important thing to know and understand when buying a printer. Many of us never read it until a problem arises. One should read and understand the warranty before buying any equipment.
DTG printers are mechanical and electrical machines with many moving parts, and like all machines, could possibly have a breakdown that requires a technician to repair. Is the warranty on-site or return to factory? Having a technician visit your business to repair the machine is always best. Does the warranty state how long before the repair will take place?
How long are the print head and other electronics under warranty? They are usually the most expensive parts of the printer and should have the longest warranty. Does the company you are buying from offer an extended warranty or service contract? If so, how long can it be extended? Read all of the fine print, and if the warranty is not clear or certain things are not specified, ask for it in writing.
Know Your Maintenance Needs
The most controversial subject in DTG is maintenance. Because of the chemical composition of white ink, some type of maintenance is always required. Over the years the required amount of maintenance has been greatly reduced, but not totally eliminated. Not all printers approach the maintenance procedures the same.
Ask for the DTG printer’s manual and read it. Have the maintenance process — especially its costs — fully explained. If it differs from the manual, ask for further explanation. Many manufacturers have videos available that explain the process and the steps needed to complete your maintenance.
Print Samples from Your Own Files
When you ask to see a sample print, every self-respecting DTG seller is going to print the very best image file on the most ideal shirt that shows the brightest, most crisp design. But before you buy, have samples printed using your own files. You need to know if your art file needs special treatment or if the printer is capable of producing the colors you need.
If you can attend a trade show or get a private demo with a DTG equipment dealer, this is best. If not, a live video session also works well. The main priority is your need to see how many, if any, changes are needed to make sure your file prints correctly. A qualified DTG dealer should be able to help you not only produce a perfect print but produce the perfect art file for DTG production as well.
There are many more questions to ask, but this captures some of the essential things you need to know. Once you have done your research and have the answers, this knowledge should make your buying choice much easier.
DTG, or Direct to Garment, is a digital printing technology that uses a specific printer to apply ink directly to a garment. This printing method, DTG Printing, makes fashion more sustainable by Print on Demand options.
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DTG printing achieves very high resolutions and details. Complex Graphic designs, photos, and texts can be printed without coating the number of colours and quantity to be printed. It easily handles multiple colours without complex adjustments.
It just prints any design fed into the printer with the same quality as the print file. This is useful for personalised products and modern e-commerce websites. For smaller runs, DTG is more cost-effective than conventional screen printing.
Direct to Garment printing is a digital printing technique that involves printing the design directly onto the fabric using specialized inkjet printers. The printer sprays the ink onto the garment, creating the desired design.
DTG printing allows for intricate designs and detailed artwork with a wide range of colours. It can accurately reproduce gradients, shading, and intricate details like photographs.
DTG printing is incredibly fast, making it perfect for on-demand or short-run orders. You can create high-quality designs in just minutes by loading your image and garment and hitting print. For example, You can print a 10×10 inch design on a t-shirt in one minute. Small orders take approximately 2 days to complete in DTG printing. This speed allows for quick product creation, ideal for capitalizing on new ideas or trends without heavy time or inventory investment.
Dark printed clothes may crack over time due to the need for a white background, where white ink is used, which can form colloidal objects. DTG printing is limited to relatively flat products and may not work well on uneven surfaces.
There are 3 major limitations of DTG printing:
Fusing or Coating Marks on the Product
DTG t-shirts undergo a pre-treatment process which leaves behind some marks, and noticeable stains on them. It’s due to the fusing and coating process before loading the t-shirts into the DTG machine.
Apparel Products Having A Weird Odor
The weird odour is generated by a fixation agent known as the pre-treatment liquid used for all DTG prints.
Design Color Matching Disclaimer
It’s important to note that they may look different on a real product than what you see on your computer monitor. Even if you have calibrated your monitor to a specific colour profile, various factors influence the final appearance of colours on a DTG-printed product.
If you just look at the printing cost leaving behind the setup costs, DTG is around 5x costlier than screen printing. DTG setup costs range from ₹12 lakhs to ₹20 lakhs, while screen printing costs range from ₹4lakhs to ₹10lakhs. DTG printing is often more cost-effective for small quantities or designs with multiple colours due to no setup fees and suitability for intricate designs. However, screen printing may be more economical for bulk orders. Ultimately, the choice between DTG and screen printing depends on factors such as design complexity, quantity of garments, and budget considerations.
Screen printing is faster for bulk orders due to the setup required for each colour, making it efficient for bulk production once stencils are created. For instance, if the order quantity is per design, it takes approximately 3-5 days to complete using screen printing. However, in DTG printing, it takes approximately 6-8 days to complete the same quantity.
Therefore, while screen printing is ideal for bulk orders, DTG printing offers speed advantages for on-demand and intricate designs.
The answer is “Yes,” but the longer answer is “You can increase your profits even more with multiple DTG printers.” Direct-to-garment printing requires less setup time than screen printing, saving you both time and money spent on labour.
You also increase your profits since you are able to start the printing process in a quicker period of time. DTG printing also gives you the option to do smaller orders with one design just as efficiently as a larger, more complex order with lots of colours.
Your ability to handle orders of various sizes and complexity means you are able to increase your bottom line for each quarter and the entire fiscal year.
The lifespan of a DTF (Direct to Film) print can vary depending on various factors such as the quality of the print, the environmental conditions it is exposed to, and the quality of the ink used.
In general, DTF prints can last up to 2-3 years without noticeable fading or degradation. Also, High-quality, fade-resistant ink can help to prolong the life of the print.
DTF printing can not fading upto 2-3 years. Proper storage and handling can help to prolong the life of a DTF print and ensure that it remains vibrant and high-quality for as long as possible.
However, some DTF prints can last up to 5 years or more if they are properly stored and protected from environmental factors such as sunlight, moisture, and heat.
Both DTG and sublimation printing have their pros and cons. DTG printing allows for detailed designs without the need for screens, making it cost-effective for small orders, but it can be pricier for larger quantities and less durable than sublimation.
On the other hand, sublimation offers vibrant colours and durability but can be more expensive and less suitable for detailed designs. The best method depends on your specific needs, such as design complexity, budget, and turnaround time. Consider factors like the type and quality of the design, the material, price, and turnaround time when making your decision.
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