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What is direct-to-garment printing?
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Direct-to-garment, or DTG, printing is an exciting technology that works well for printing on soft substrates and fabric materials, like t-shirts, tote bags, and more! The DTG technology works by laying down ink, directly onto a pre-treated fabric. As with direct-to-film technology, direct-to-garment technology also prints white ink! This white ink feature allows you to create full color, vibrant prints with a soft hand.
Most fabric types work well with direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, except for polyester, which can be tricky. That's where direct-to-film (DTF) technology shines, making a hybrid printer like the Epson F1070 an excellent choice for those looking to diversify their printing options. DTF allows for better adhesion on polyesters and synthetics, making it ideal for projects that DTG may struggle with.
When preparing your garments for DTG, you can purchase pretreated shirts or handle the pre- treatment process yourself. Using a pretreat solution or an advanced system like the Viper Pretreat System ensures your garments are ready for high-quality prints. After treating the shirts, you can store them in an airtight, temperature-controlled environment, saving time since there's no need to press them immediately.
It’s crucial to note that pretreating is always necessary when printing on darker fabrics or when white ink is involved. This step not only enables vibrant colors but also significantly improves ink adhesion, ensuring your design stays vibrant wash after wash. When printing on white, pretreat isn’t required and some prefer not to use it. However, we highly recommend always using a pretreat process for the best results. Speaking of durability, you can get about 50 washes with DTG and DTF shirt. The wear and tear you might find is DTG prints tend to fade slightly over time, while DTF prints are more prone to minor cracking. That said, both methods can deliver long-lasting results if you follow proper care instructions.
One standout feature of the Epson F1070 is its user-friendly software. The software has built-in settings already set for you and ready to be fine-tuned to match your printing needs. The printer screen will also help guide you through maintenance tasks, ensuring you use the correct settings for each project. One of the key settings you’ll learn about is the under base—a crucial layer of white ink applied underneath your design when printing on dark garments. The under base ensures your colors pop, giving your prints a professional, high-quality finish. And with the F1070's versatile platen sizes, whether you're printing a 10x12 full-size design or using the optional smaller platens like 4x4 for sleeve logos, this machine has you covered.
The printing process of DTG is simple. Design your artwork, load up your platen with your pretreated item, print, and press the printed shirt in your heat press to seal the print. Products like T-seal and parchment papers are used for this final step.
In short, whether you're tackling large, vibrant prints or smaller, intricate designs, the Epson F1070 provides the flexibility and performance you need to achieve stunning, professional-quality results on a wide range of fabrics. So, if you're serious about elevating your custom apparel business, these hybrid printing solutions should be at the top of your list.