Over the past few years, there’s been a significant rise in the popularity of direct-to-garment printing in Singapore. As its name suggests, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing is a printing method by which text or graphics can be directly printed on fabrics. This is very convenient for producing apparel with complex and detailed designs in an array of colours.
DTG printing works on all kinds of garments, such as shirts, hats, and everything in between. However, do remember that the fabric you use for DTG printing matters and not all of them provide the same results. In fact, some fabrics deliver better outcomes than others. If you’re planning to make printed apparel using the DTG method, here are some of the most effective fabrics you should use.
1. Cotton
Cotton is a durable yet affordable natural fabric that’s incredibly soft to the touch. This fabric can easily absorb water-based inks, making it one of the best fabrics for DTG printing. This is especially true for 100% cotton fabrics. However, note that your result may still depend on the consistency of your fabric material.
Compared to thinner materials, thicker cotton materials are more absorbent of ink, so they result in more vibrant colours and long-lasting prints. Generally, there are different types of cotton, and their quality depends on the manufacturer. To achieve the best possible results, you must choose cotton fabrics that are softer and smoother than others. Some of the best cotton types you can choose from are regular cotton, organic cotton, ring-spun cotton, and combed cotton.
2. Linen
Like cotton, linen is a natural fabric made from the flax plant, and as a natural fabric, it’s known for being highly absorbent of moisture. For this reason, it can easily take on printed designs. However, compared to cotton, linen is rougher and wrinkles more easily. As such, it may not be the most popular choice for printed T-shirts. Nonetheless, it’s frequently used in non-casual clothing, such as jackets and pants.
3. Polyester
Polyester is a synthetic fibre that’s often used in dye sublimation. This fabric is very easy to wash and doesn’t require ironing, which is common in athletic wear. Polyester is the best to use for DTG printing compared to other synthetic fibres. However, water-based inks used in DTG printing are generally repelled by polyester.
Dye migration is where dye from polyester materials bleeds into the ink printed on the garment. Because of this, in order to successfully print on polyester, you must pretreat the fabric beforehand. As a rule of thumb, light-coloured polyester fabrics are better for DTG printing since the inks function better and don’t vanish into the fabric as in the case of dark-coloured polyester.
4. Blended Fabrics
Blended fabrics are a type of fabric made up of both natural and synthetic fabrics. If you cannot utilise 100% cotton fabrics, you can always try blended fabrics that are either 80% cotton and 20% polyester, 70% cotton and 30% polyester, or 50% cotton and 50% polyester.
Poly-cotton is the most common blended fabric used for DTG printing. This fabric is lightweight and breathable yet strong and wrinkle-free because of the polyester. Lots of T-shirts are made of a poly-cotton blend. However, not all blends can be printed successfully since the success of the print depends on the amount of polyester. The more cotton there is in the fabric, the better the outcome.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that DTG is one of the best garment printing methods. However, to ensure the success of this printing method, it’s essential to choose carefully the material you’ll be using for printing. For the best possible results, it’s highly recommended that you only use cotton, linen, polyester, and blended fabrics when printing on garments using the DTG method.
For the most excellent and reliable DTG printing in Singapore, Direct T-Shirt is the printing company you should trust! We offer a variety of high-quality printing services, such as DTG, silk screen, and heat transfer printing, at very reasonable prices. If you’re looking to print custom T-shirts in bulk, we also provide an affordable class tee printing service. Don’t hesitate to contact us today for more information about our amazing services.
