What Is Direct-To-Garment (DTG) Printing On T-Shirts? A Modern Guide for Creators

Curious about those vibrant, photorealistic prints you see on indie merch? That's direct‑to‑garment (DTG) printing in action. Instead of pushing ink through a mesh screen, DTG uses a specialized inkjet printer to spray water‑based inks directly onto the fabric. It's like printing a photo on your favorite tee.

**How DTG Works**

First, the garment (usually 100% cotton) is pretreated so the inks bond properly. Then a high‑resolution printer applies CMYK inks onto the fibers, followed by a quick cure. Because there are no screens to burn, DTG can reproduce gradients and complex artwork effortlessly.

**When DTG Shines**

- **Short runs & one‑offs** – Perfect for on‑demand drops or limited editions without high setup costs.
- **Full‑color art** – Photographs, illustrations and multi‑color designs print beautifully with smooth fades.
- **Soft hand feel** – Water‑based DTG inks soak into the fibers instead of sitting on top like plastisol, leaving the shirt soft to the touch.

**Where DTG Falls Short**

DTG performs best on light‑colored cotton garments. Prints on dark shirts require extra pretreatment and a white underbase, which can add cost. It’s also slower per shirt than traditional screen printing, so larger runs may benefit from screens.

**Why Creators Love DTG**

DTG empowers creators to test designs without committing to large inventory. Whether you’re launching a capsule collection or offering personalized merch, you can print only what you sell.

**Print With Original Thread Co.**

Through our partnership with Morningstar, we offer DTG alongside screen printing and embroidery. We'll advise you on the best method for your art and handle fulfillment so you can focus on creating. Ready to turn your digital art into wearable art? Let’s make it happen.