Digital Decorating:


Direct-to-Garment Printing Tips

By Terry Combs, Contributing Writer




June 8, 2017

The direct-to-garment (DTG) printing process rapidly is growing as a preferred decoration method for many garment printers. The water-based CMYK+ white-ink system requires the right shirt for the best finished product. Gildan® has met this challenge with the Gildan® Softstyle® 64000 adult T-shirt. This garment is manufactured with a high-stitch-density fabric for a DTG-friendly, smooth printing surface.

The semi-fitted Gildan® Softstyle® 64000 is a 100% ring-spun cotton, preshrunk jersey knit, with a fabric weight of 4.5 ounces.

In this Impressions Tech Tips Newsletter, sponsored by Gildan®, I’ve printed white and black garments, but 50 colors are available in a size range of XS-3XL. A companion style, the 64000L ladies’ T-shirt, also is available.

DTG printing is unique in that garment choice will, in part, determine the final image’s quality. Starting with the right garment will potentially result in a bright and vibrant image. Printing on a less-than-suitable garment, however, will not yield a perfect print, no matter how many variables you change. This goes beyond printing on 100% cotton, which is the ideal substrate for any DTG printer. You also need a high-stitch-density fabric, such as that found in the Gildan® Softstyle® 64000, for a smooth surface and best results.