Advantages of DTG Printing
When printing designs onto t-shirts, DTG (direct-to-garment) printing is better than screen printing. This may seem like a bold claim, but it is true. If you were to visit a screen printing shop, you would likely notice disorganization and untidiness. On the other hand, if you see a DTG printing shop, you will find a clean and organized workspace free of any mess or filth.
Review of the DTG facts
Let’s take a closer look at screen printing and DTG printing. Both processes have their advantages and disadvantages, and by understanding these, you can make an informed decision. It’s important to keep in mind that while screen printing has been around for centuries, technology continues to evolve, and being open-minded to new technologies can help grow your t-shirt business.
Setting Up For DTG Printing
The process of direct-to-garment printing is much simpler than screen printing. With direct-to-garment printing, you only need to scan the design into the computer and transfer it to the printer, which takes less than 15 minutes. In contrast, screen printing requires a separate screen for each color in the design, meaning that a 6-color print would take six screens for each color and the white under the base. As a result, the screen printing process takes at least 2 hours.
Cleanup
Cleaning up after using screens can be a tiresome and time-consuming task. With traditional printing methods, it can take up to an hour to complete the cleanup process. However, with DTG printing, the cleanup is very efficient, and only takes about 5 minutes to wipe the print heads with a clean, lint-free cloth. This type of cloth is commonly used in clean rooms to work on microchips and computer parts. Once the print heads are cleaned, the printer can be easily shut down.
DTG Printing is Environmentally friendly
DTG uses inks that are water-based and environmentally friendly. They meet all the requirements of consumer protection laws. Screen printing uses plastisol inks, which contain carcinogenic materials. These materials have been known to cause cancer if breathed in for any period. Water-based inks produce a soft hand and smooth finish. The fabric has no stiffness as water-based ink is absorbed by the material and not painted on.
Re-orders are a big problem with screen printing. For example, a customer wants a 6-piece fill-in order with six colors. The time to do this is at least 2 hours. If you do it with the DTG method, it takes about 6 minutes. Again, there is no mess to clean up.
Samples
Direct-to-garment printing produces superior samples compared to screen printing. It’s a hassle-free process for introducing new decorated apparel lines. With DTG, the design goes directly from the artist to the garment, making the process quicker and more efficient. You can produce a sample run in just a day and send it as a gift or WOW to your top customers. This cost-effective WOW marketing builds up deposits into your customers’ happiness accounts, ensuring a smooth stream of DTG orders throughout the year. Start WOWing your customers with DTG prints today!
The Winner Is!
The winner for the best t-shirt printing method is DTG printing. This is because of its easy setup, low minimums, and most importantly, the ability to provide samples to customers. It is crucial to give printed t-shirt samples to your customers so that they can feel the print, wear the shirt, and get others excited about it. This will help bring in potential future orders. DTG printing is a marketing essential that can increase revenue, smooth out the peaks and valleys of orders, and most importantly, impress your customers for years to come. You’re not just printing a DTG shirt, but a marketing piece that will ensure future orders for years. So, go DTG, or go home!
