Pixels To Print: Direct-to-Garment Printing
- NorthPoint
- Jan 20, 2021
- 2 min read

One of the newer printing methods for apparel that has gained popularity in recent years thanks to technological improvements is direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. The DTG process is used mainly to print small quantities of apparel and compared to the screen-printing process that requires hours of work and more expensive set up costs, DTG printing offers a similar full-color imprint but in much less time and without the heavy setup up costs.
How It Works
Working
very similar to how an inkjet printer would, direct-to-garment technology uses
a digital printer to apply specialized water-based ink directly to the garment to
be absorbed by the fibers of the material. DTG printers also offer a lot of
color options which means that you can print detailed and precise designs with
almost no color limitations. With DTG, the entire design is printed in one go.
And since it doesn’t have color limitations, there’s no extra setup time to
start printing, so your order will typically be fulfilled as soon as the print
file comes through.

What Is It Used For
Direct to Garment Printing is used for one-offs and low quantity apparel orders because of its ability to print on demand and with almost no set up time. It is also great for full color designs, but is mostly cost efficient for small orders; otherwise, heat transfer or screen printing may be the way to go for larger orders!
Pros
Produces low quantities easily and efficiently
Low cost per unit
Preserves the soft feel of the garment
Full color high-detail printing
Cons
Slower and more expensive for large quantities
Darker colored garment may require a pretreatment, which can be an additional cost
To learn more about how we can use the best printing method for your needs, reach out to us at NorthPoint and check out our previous blogs posts on imprinting methods, such as Screen Printing, Dye Sublimation, and Heat Transfer.
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