DTG — direct-to-garment — gets mentioned a lot in custom printing conversations, and for good reason. It's a genuinely useful technology that's changed what's possible for small runs and complex artwork. But it's not the right choice for every order, and understanding where it excels and where it falls short will save you from choosing the wrong method for your job.

How DTG printing works

DTG is essentially inkjet printing, but for fabric. A specialised printer moves over the garment and deposits water-based ink directly into the fibres — much like a desktop printer deposits ink onto paper. There are no screens, no transfers, no setup files. You load the artwork, pre-treat the garment, and print.

The result is a soft-hand print that can reproduce full-colour artwork, gradients, photographic imagery, and fine detail with high fidelity. Because the ink bonds into the fibres rather than sitting on top of them as a layer, the print has a natural, breathable feel.

Where DTG excels

Small runs and one-offs. Because there's no setup cost — no screens, no digitising — DTG is economically viable for even a single unit. If you need one custom tee, DTG is your method. If you need 10 tees each with a different design, DTG handles that without any price penalty per design.

Complex, multi-colour artwork. DTG handles full-colour artwork, gradients, and photographic imagery without any additional cost for colour count. A design with 12 colours costs the same to DTG print as a design with 2. That's a significant advantage over screen printing, where each additional colour adds to both setup cost and per-unit cost.

Testing and sampling. Before committing to a large screen print run, DTG is an excellent way to produce a sample and check how the design looks on the chosen garment. The print quality won't be identical to screen printing, but it gives you a reliable sense of scale, placement, and colour before you commit to screens.

Where DTG has limitations

Cost at volume. DTG is slower per unit than screen printing and doesn't have the same economies of scale. At 100 units, a two-colour screen print will almost always be cheaper per unit than DTG. If you have a significant quantity and a simple design, screen printing will give you better value.

Fabric compatibility. DTG works best on 100% cotton garments. Cotton absorbs the water-based ink well and the pre-treatment (a chemical applied before printing to help ink adhere) bonds effectively to cotton fibres. On polyester or synthetic blends, DTG results are less reliable — colours can look muted or the ink may not adhere as well. If your garment is a performance fabric or synthetic blend, DTG is usually not the right choice.

Dark garments require pre-treatment. On dark-coloured garments (navy, black, forest green), DTG requires a pre-treatment layer to provide a base for the ink — otherwise the dark fabric shows through the print. This pre-treatment can sometimes be visible as a slight discolouration in areas of the garment near the print. It usually washes out over time, but it's worth knowing about on initial delivery.

Print feel on dark garments. On dark garments specifically, the white base layer required for colour accuracy can give the print a slightly raised or plasticky feel compared to a screen print or a print on a light garment. This is less noticeable on high-quality DTG printers but worth considering if feel is a priority.

The honest comparison

Screen printing produces more vivid, durable results at volume and is the industry standard for event merch and club gear for a reason. DTG is the right tool for small quantities, complex artwork, or situations where you can't meet a screen print MOQ.

They're not competitors — they're tools for different jobs. A good decorator will use both and tell you honestly which is better for your specific order.

Questions to ask yourself before choosing DTG

• Is my garment 100% cotton? (If not, DTG may not give good results)
• Am I ordering fewer than 30 units? (If yes, DTG is likely more cost-effective)
• Does my artwork have many colours, gradients, or photographic detail? (If yes, DTG handles this better than screen printing)
• Am I printing on dark garments and do I understand the pre-treatment implications?

Answer those honestly and you'll know whether DTG is the right method for your order.

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