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Direct-to-garment printing is one of the most preferred print methods in the custom printing industry. The improvement in technology has not only upgraded the garments but also equipment that makes the decorating process easier and accurate as per the artwork specifications.
However, larger industrial machines are available for longer runs, and many shops use several of these machines to exclusively mass-produce DTG garments.
While we see that, custom decorating business is rapidly growing in demand, it is important to take care of your equipment and supplies.
Here, we will be discussing DTG printing ink:
Have you heard about Titanium Dioxide? It makes up your white ink. While it is not a metal.
It is a pigment formed from naturally occurring minerals.
It is commonly used due to its ability to reflect light back to the viewer, making it optically appear as a bright white.
Titanium dioxide often is used for applications such as reflective optical coatings, sunscreen lotions, and pigments in white inks.
Another little-known reality is that titanium dioxide is used to render it look white on edible items. So note you might be consuming TiO2 the next time you slice into a cake or cookie with white frosting.
All white inks have a specific point at which they start to cross-link or cure. Check with your manufacturer to ensure you are curing DTG inks for the proper time, at the proper temperature and with the proper pressure.
Get all the solvents out of the ink. The term “solvent” leads most people to think of bad chemicals. Most DTG Inks feature a solvent component known simply as water.
There are many ways to cure DTG inks, most typically with a heat press. Most decorators using this method also use some type of cover sheet.
Teflon sheet or parchment paper between the ink film and heating platen. Teflon typically will cause the ink especially white-ink designs to have a shiny or glossy appearance.
Parchment paper usually results in a dull or matte finish. While using the heat press, the ink film will be flattened and smooth.
Using a conveyor dryer will result in a slightly rougher feel and resemble high-end, screen-printed shirts.
No matter which white ink you use, it will need to be shaken because TiO2 tends to settle and can cause problems in a DTG printer. Always follow the ink or printer manufacturer’s recommendations when shaking white ink. This typically is done daily before starting the printer.
The TiO2 tends to be heavier than other white-ink components and gravitates to the bottom of the cartridge.
Ink formulations get better each year, but still, need to be shaken before use. Remember also that the white ink in the printer lines will settle after sitting for a while.
Thus, after a long weekend, the first couple of prints could include a faint white appearance when white ink is used if your printer does not recirculate it or you don’t take preventive measures to mitigate it settling in the lines.
To cure the DTG inks, all ink producers specify a common period and temperature. Consider the size or amount of white ink that has been imprinted on a garment. A small, relatively thin area would need less curing time.
A print with a strong white-ink field, like an enlarged or double-pass portion of a pattern, can take longer to cure time.
Why do DTG printers prefer CMYK ink for printing?
RGB is defined as an additive form of color, whereas CMYK is a subtractive type of color. You can have just about every other color depending on the percentages of each variable when red, green, and blue are combined (adding colored light to produce a similar color).
If you mix the three together in equal parts, you get white. That’s why in most art programs you get the color white if you set the maximum level (255) of the RGB colors in your palette.
DTG printers performance in cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) which combine to create the impression of the millions of colors that can be replicated. CMYK halftones have been used in the past. Pot-sizes differ.
These were placed next to each other and often overlapped to create the impression that full-color images were repeated from only four colors. Screen printers also print with single-color halftones to offer the impression of the color fading from 0 percent (no dots) to a complete 100 per cent fill.
Cleaning up the printer and its parts, such as wiper blades, capping points, and suction cups can help improve efficiency. Inks DTG
To the degree dry while exposed to sunlight. Dried ink on the cap surface of a capping device, which is meant to seal the print head from outside air entirely, may create an air gap.
This gap can allow air on print heads to seep in and dry the ink. Dried ink or too much residue on wipers may cause incorrect cleaning of the eyes, as well as problems with printing.
Keep the ink drain lines in mind too. Many printers provide a cleaning agent that will help keep the ink from drying and clogging the sheets.
Know, it is not just the ink you can see that will theoretically contribute to the inappropriate output of the DTG printer.
Generally, no. Most CMYK inks are stable because of how they are formulated. If the CMYK ink sits for more than an extended period of time, shake it a bit.
But this typically is not necessary unless the manufacturer recommends it.
Since CMYK inks generally are translucent, if you print only yellow ink on a black shirt, it virtually will blend into the shirt and you won’t be able to tell it’s supposed to be yellow.
However, white under base helps provide a covering that allows the true yellow color to appear correctly. Lighter-colored shirts can take a thinner layer of white ink than a black or red (dark-colored) shirt.
Conduct any checking to decide the right settings and white-ink laydown for the job at hand, but on an ash gray shirt, you don’t need as much white ink as a black shirt! When you have to double-pass the white ink on black shirts that decreases prices and print time.
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It’s currently cold outside in most parts of the world, so forced-air heaters are required to sustain reasonable room temperatures. The concern is that humidity levels in winter (and in desert areas in summer) will plunge to incredibly low levels.
A standard DTG printer can execute best with humidity ranges between 35 percent and 85 percent, the sweet spot is known as 50 percent -60 percent area. This will help keep the inks on print heads from drying prematurely.
Buy a good hygrometer, because it’s inexpensive, and place it on the printer if not nearby.
You can also see the temperature and humidity levels so that you can fix an issue of humidity until it causes a printer issue.
There are many choices for direct-to-garment (DTG) printers available in the market. Whether you need an affordable printer within your budget range or have the means for something more powerful (like a Kornit), you’re bound to find something that suits your print shop’s needs.
Unlike buying a manual/automatic screen printing press, buying the wrong DTG machine can kill your fledgling shop before it can even open for business. DTG machines are not as universal and modular as a screen printing press, nor are they plug-and-play machines that make you money when you turn them on. As such, this guide aims to help you identify which DTG printer is the right fit for your print shop.
At the height of DTG’s popularity, the most affordable way to get started with DTG printing was to buy a converted DTG printer. You’re basically buying a modified inkjet printer specifically altered for DTG printing. You could previously find them on sale from various sellers, but direct-to-film (DTF) printing’s lower entry costs and impressive print quality have overtaken the popularity of converted DTG printers. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a converted DTG printer these days.
Most of your available DTG printer options are about $5,000 or more, although you might be lucky to get one for a decent price.
The VersaSTUDIO BT-12 comes bundled with a printer and finisher unit in a small, compact size that fits on any table; stack them together for maximum space saving. Its printing capabilities are fully enclosed to protect you from harmful chemicals that may be released during printing. Additionally, Roland DG takes pride in building a robust, high-quality DTG printer for newcomers with a machine that’s easy to set up and bundled and easy-to-use software, durable printheads, and plenty of powerful options for your print shop.
Roland DG does offer optional accessories you can add to your printers, like additional platens of different sizes. However, they don’t offer bundle deals, so you may need to purchase these accessories separately. Given its size and limited printing capabilities, it won’t be ideal once your print shop’s business begins to take off and you get more orders in a month.
While it’s meant for light-colored garments, you can still print on slightly darker shirts with pretty good results – as long as you double up on printing them. That does mean higher ink costs, so you’ll need to consider the math of ink costs before you decide if it’s a good idea.
The compact Ri 100 is another good choice for newcomers to DTG, with its small size and a price tag of about $4,500 or so. It features an “all-in-one design that is safe and easy to use,” while its smaller footprint (much like the BT-12) allows you to place it almost anywhere. Being easy to use is also a great bonus for newcomers still learning the ropes of DTG, allowing them to learn the intricacies of DTG printing and eventually make money from selling custom items.
You’re not limited to cotton or poly garments; you can even print designs on light tote bags. Moreover, the printer has a finisher to help “fix the ink and lock in the design;” the printer stacks nicely on top of the finisher to “maximize functionality without sacrificing space.” You can easily print high-quality images, including photographs, that will catch your customers’ attention while making a good profit thanks to the overall cost savings of the Ri 100: once you’re set-up, you can start making money.
The Ri 100 is meant to print on light-colored garments, and the double print trick with the BT-12 won’t work as well since darker substrate colors can drown out the ink colors.
Greece-based PolyPrint offers the TexJet shortee2, a small entry-level DTG printer with plenty of customization options for any print shop. Though not as small as the Ri 100 or the VersaStudio BT-12, it’s still a decently compact package that can even fit in your car, allowing you to bring it along to trade shows for on-site sample printing. With an ink drop size of 3 picoliters, it boasts “scalpel-sharp detail and photo-realistic quality” for all your prints.
There’s also a built-in sensor that automatically adjusts the position of the platen before a print job is started, making it much easier to get printing without issues. Additionally, you can leave the printer on idle for up to 30 days with no ink waste or blockage, and maintenance only takes up to 5 minutes: hassle-free printing is guaranteed.
The one downside is that its dark-colored garment print speeds are pale compared to its light-colored ones: 20 per hour and 80 per hour, respectively. Additionally, the printer only accepts Power and Dupont inks; it may not be able to support compatible inks, so be warned.
Once you’re ready to upgrade, mid-range printers offer your growing shop far more capabilities that entry-level printers lack. Once you’ve settled on a printer brand, you’ll usually stick with it until your next big upgrade, as proprietary technologies – including ink – make cross-compatibility between different printers impossible.
The F is one of the more popular mid-range DTG printers in use, alongside Brother’s GTXPro (which we’ll get to soon). With the sterling reputation of Epson, the F offers a robust DTG printer with “up to twice the print speed” of their previous DTG printers. It makes use of Epson’s proprietary UltraChrome DG inks, providing prints that are “durable, vibrant, and safe” while also having vibrant colors and “equal pricing for color and White inks”
It also comes with a “Highlight White Ink mode,” which allows for simultaneous printing of white and color inks, resulting in excellent “image quality, speed, and efficiency” for your custom apparel applications. It even comes with the Epson Garment Creator Software for all your design management and cost estimation needs for every job you have.
Most users of the F are happy with what it can do, especially with its versatility and ability to accept compatible inks (despite Epson recommending only using their proprietary inks) while still delivering great results. Being less maintenance intensive also helps make it a powerful asset for consistent printing.
The bigger brother to the shortee2, the echo2 shares many similarities with the shortee2 except for its slightly larger size, larger print area (16.1” × 23.6”), and hybrid DTG and DTF capabilities. This means you’re essentially getting a two-in-one printer for a relatively low price point, enabling you to have more substrate versatility while retaining color vibrancy. This printer is better for more established shops offering DTG prints, especially with its advanced features the shortee2 doesn’t have.
The echo2 is also designed to print on light and dark-colored garments, but some reviewers have stated its wash fastness isn’t very good. On top of that, some cite the printer as being surprisingly difficult to use, despite getting support from the manufacturers.
Ricoh’s mid-range printer, the Ri , is a step up from the entry-level Ri 100 and even their other mid-range DTG printer, the Ri . Engineered to deliver “uncompromisingly high performance, innovative features, and unrivaled value,” the Ri boasts incredibly fast print speeds: less than ten seconds for light garments and under a minute for dark garments (both exclude platen loading and unloading time). The variable print speeds available ensure timely printing with top-notch results.
The Ri ’s “Jig Head Maintenance” automatic procedure makes it possible to quickly maintain the printheads without needing supervision, eliminating the need for messy cleanup jobs. “[A]utomated maintenance systems and advanced system monitoring” also help to ease the printing process with “smart alerts and notifications,” on top of auto height adjustments and quick-change magnetic platens for precise prints every time.
The main complaints from users stem from machine issues, including clogged ink, which arose on an infrequent basis. Some also lament the lack of deeper customer support, having to wait a long time for a reply to their complaints.
The GTXpro, another popular choice among DTG printers, aims to give “more flexibility and more capabilities” to custom apparel shops by providing fast and efficient printing. With a maximum print area of 16” x 21”, you can reliably print on various types of substrates easily while having a solid print output that doesn’t sacrifice overall print quality. Easy maintenance also ensures you can avoid the fear of “clogged nozzles” while ensuring the printer is ready to print anytime you need it.
Brother also makes a point to emphasize the GTXpro’s “large gap between the print head and the substrate means you can easily print over seams, across zippers and on top of pockets.” Meanwhile, its certified proprietary inks promise eco-friendly printing from start to finish, including “innovative packaging [that] uses less plastic.” Some users claim that Brother doesn’t fully use its bulk ink bags, which means wasted ink.
The F’s larger cousin, the F promises “professional-quality, one-pass prints at industrial-level speeds.” It uses many features found in the F on top of other new additions, such as the automated garment thickness detection that ensures consistent print quality on any substrate to the replaceable bulk ink system for better cost-effectiveness with ink use per job. The F also has an integrated print stand allowing “easy repositioning and standard mounting points” while operating on “standard 120 V power.”
In terms of ease of use, the F leads with its automatic cleaning and more efficient use of ink. The main downside might be the high cost of consumables, but other users reported that its print quality isn’t as vibrant or sharp on light garments as other competitors; wash durability is also somewhat lacking. A suggested workaround for the latter is pretreating the light garment for better results and washing fastness.
These are the big guns within the industry. You’ll want to get one of these to deliver a consistently fast and robust printing service. Their high speed and amazing print quality are powerful additions to boost your print shop’s standing. While they are powerful, they are also prohibitively expensive: it would make sense to have high-volume orders to take care of, either from contract printing jobs or when working for an international clothing brand.
Kornit is well known for its wide range of industrial printers for various applications, including textiles and upholstery. Billed as an “economical single-step solution” for DTG printing, the Storm HD6 is ideal for large print shops looking to scale up without making a hefty investment into more expensive DTG printers. Kornit claims the Storm HD6 is an ideal “profitable, single-step solution for sub-500 run lengths and one-offs” with its fast print speeds, “[s]uperior color gamut, brighter whites, and more vibrant colors” in every print.
The Atlas is one of Kornit’s more expensive options outside its top-of-the-line Atlas MAX and Atlas MAX POLY (specifically for poly-based substrates). Still, it offers plenty of utility and versatility to large print shop owners looking to do more with DTG printing. Its strengths include the superb CMYKRGB ink channel for more vibrant colors and photorealistic quality prints, as well as automatic wrinkle detection, fast print turnaround times, and exceptional quality-of-life features to make printing much easier.
Aeoon is an Austrian company founded in that makes various industrial-grade DTG printers, including the Kyo PLUS. The Kyo series is said to be the “fastest DTG printer on the market,” with its ability to print 180 pieces in an hour. Its main draw is its three-platen setup, allowing users to print three shirts simultaneously from a single machine, and its quality-assured industrial print heads for excellent “high-resolution, photorealistic motifs.” The PLUS model also has integrated heat presses within its frame, enabling better wash fastness and print quality while reducing printing time.
M&R’s newest POLARIS system is another state-of-the-art DTG printer available for large print shops that need to meet high-volume sales. Paired with their Stryker automatic press, the POLARIS can deliver incredibly fast printing speeds thanks to its 16 stainless steel printheads with up to 1,800 dpi resolution and a maximum print area of 15” x 19”. The POLARIS also features many beneficial automation features, including digitally-controlled flashes and heat presses, precision garment placement with the laser locator system, and dual nozzle pretreatment sprays.
Print shops of any scale will have many choices available to them, and it’s a matter of knowing what you need now and in the future. Entry-level printers are the best and most cost-effective way to get started, but once business ramps up to 100 shirts or more being printed daily, you’ll need to upgrade to a mid-range for better print quality, faster turnaround times for orders and the ability to keep up with demand. Once your business is making huge gains with orders going above 500, industrial DTG printers are the next step to scale and meet your high-volume quotas.
Make sure you do your own research before purchasing: information is a powerful asset to know what will work best for your print shop.
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