Understanding DTF Printing & Eco-Friendly Direct To Garment Printing

Great for full-colour designs!

TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE PERFECT FINISH, WE NEED YOU TO PROVIDE YOUR ARTWORK TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD. WE CAN ONLY BE AS PERFECT AS YOUR ARTWORK FILES.

The Best of the Best: Direct To Garment Printing

Direct to garment printing, also known as DTG, is another process we offer here at Woven Inc Limited. This process does exactly what it says: it prints your full-colour image directly onto your garment in minutes. Imagine a paper printer, but instead of paper being fed through, it’s your garment of choice.

Direct To Garment (DTG) printing is a revolutionary method of printing high-quality, full-colour custom apparel. With DTG, you can create stunning, intricate designs on a wide range of fabrics, including cotton, polyester, and blends. This technology has changed the game for the custom apparel industry, making it easier and more affordable than ever before to create personalised clothing that looks professional and lasts a long time.

Minimums?

DTG doesn't have any minimum unit requirements or set-up fees, so it becomes extremely cost-effective for one-offs or short runs, even for multi-colour designs. Obviously, single units are more expensive than full runs, but DTG is great because you can easily run single units to see what a physical product will look like—colour-wise, size-wise, and placement-wise. It’s an ideal pre-production process without worrying about extra screen setups.

What Machines Are You Working With?

Another brilliant reason to use Woven Inc for DTG is that the company recently upgraded its whole system. Instead of using heat presses to dry and cure garments, we have invested in high-quality drying drawers, which give you the perfect finish every time without the press marks and hazing you can get when using a heat press. Woven Inc currently has two Brother Pro GTX machines with two 6-drawer drying cabinets.

Direct to Garment Printing: What Is It?

DTG means Direct To Garment. In a nutshell, it's a digital apparel printing process whereby you lay your garment flat on a printer bed and a specialised inkjet prints directly onto the fabric.

With DTG, you have unlimited access to colours, although you will not get the same results as screen printing. Colours don’t tend to be as bright when using the DTG process, but we can get them to "pop" really well. Also, printing the same design on both white and coloured garments may show a slightly different shade.

DTG is suitable for all garment colours, but be careful when picking your fabric content as not all products can be DTG'd. This has since been upgraded, and some products with polyester content can now be printed on, whereas before this was not possible.

Advantages include:

• Versatility: Create designs not possible with other methods, including gradients, shading, and photographs.

• Durability: Unlike traditional screen printing, which can crack over time, DTG prints are soft to the touch and designed to withstand multiple washes.

• Eco-Friendly: Uses water-based inks, producing less waste and avoiding harsh chemicals.

PLEASE NOTE: MOST COLOURED GARMENTS need a pretreatment process. Unfortunately, it is not unusual to have a haze or bleach effect on some products. This is out of our control. If you are very specific about Pantone colours, please call us to discuss your options.

FAQs

How long does it take?

Generally, anywhere up to 14 working days is a normal turnaround from approving your artwork. During busy seasons, please allow up to 18 working days. Turnaround times are estimated times for completion, not set deadlines.

Can I see my design before placing an order?

We do not visualise orders before confirming and paying. Once payment is made, artwork is passed to our design team, who will send a visual back to you for approval before anything goes to print.

What size prints can I have?

Sizing varies depending on the product. For example, if you have an Extra Small garment and a 3XL garment, the print can only be as large as the Extra Small allows. Therefore, it will look large on the XS but small in comparison on the 3XL.

What is DTF Printing?

DTF printing, or Direct To Film printing, is an emerging technology that allows for high-quality prints on a variety of fabrics. The process involves printing designs onto a special film, which is then transferred onto the fabric using heat and pressure.

How it Works:

1. Print: The design is printed onto a film using specialised inks.

2. Powder: A powder adhesive is applied to the wet ink.

3. Cure: The film is heated to bond the ink and adhesive.

4. Transfer: Using a heat press, the film is applied to the fabric (cotton, polyester, or blends).

Benefits of DTF

• Vibrancy: Delivers incredible detail and colour vibrancy.

• Versatility: Works effortlessly on almost any material.

• Durability: Prints are highly resistant to cracking and fading, maintaining their look even after heavy wear.

Whether you are a business, sports team, or individual, DTF and DTG printing provide modern, reliable, and efficient ways to bring your ideas to life.