Yes, Stanley/Stella shirts are great for DTG, because DTG prints best on 100% cotton and most Stanley/Stella tees are 100% organic ring spun combed cotton. At French Press Custom there is no minimum, so one shirt is a real order. White and light colors give the softest, brightest print, and dark shirts get pretreat and a white underbase.
We are an official Stanley/Stella dealer in Santa Fe Springs. The full lineup is on our Stanley/Stella hub.
How does DTG work on a Stanley/Stella shirt?
DTG (direct to garment) is an inkjet print straight onto the shirt. We print on an Epson SureColor F2100. There are no screens, so full color art, photos and gradients print as easily as a one-color logo.
What changes the result is the shirt color:
- White and light shirts. No white underbase is needed, so the colors go straight onto the fabric and soak into the cotton. This is where DTG looks and feels its best: soft, with almost no layer on top.
- Black and dark shirts. The shirt is pretreated and a white underbase is printed first so the colors read on the dark fabric. The print still looks good, with more contrast.
On the Creator 2.0, our calculator treats White, Natural Raw and Heather Grey as light shirts and colors such as Black, French Navy and Faded Olive as dark.
A second print location, such as a back print, is its own DTG pass. Get an exact price for your quantity, shirt color and print locations in our instant quote calculator.
Why does organic ring spun cotton print well with DTG?
DTG ink is made to bond with cotton fibers. A blend with polyester prints more muted, and a fuzzy surface can leave small fibers poking through the print. Stanley/Stella's product data lists the Creator 2.0 as 100% organic ring spun combed cotton, 24 singles, single jersey, fabric washed. Combed, ring spun yarn has fewer loose fibers, so the surface is smoother, and an all-cotton tee gives the ink the fiber it wants.
The same goes for most of the tee range:
| Stanley/Stella tee | Fiber | Weight | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creator 2.0 | 100% organic ring spun combed cotton, 24 singles | 5.3 oz/yd² | Medium |
| Crafter | 100% organic ring spun combed cotton, 28 singles | 4.6 oz/yd² | Medium |
| Sparker 2.0 | 100% organic carded cotton, loose knit | 6.3 oz/yd² | Relaxed |
| Freestyler | 100% organic open end cotton | 7 oz/yd² | Relaxed |
Fiber, weight and fit are from the Stanley/Stella product API. The Creator 2.0 and Crafter are combed and ring spun, the smoothest surfaces in the range for DTG. The Sparker 2.0 and Freestyler are heavier tees with a relaxed fit.
When is DTG the right choice, and when is it not?
DTG has the edge on small runs, one-offs and full color art on light shirts. It is the method we use for:
- Samples and one-offs. No minimum, so you can see a real printed shirt before a larger run.
- Photos and gradients. The inkjet head lays down full color detail without separating the art into screens.
- Soft prints on white or natural. On a Creator 2.0 in White or Natural Raw, the ink soaks into the cotton.
Two cases where another method is usually the better fit:
- Dark shirts with a simple design, 12 or more pieces. DTF is worth a look. It starts at 12 pieces, and the transfer carries its own white layer, so it prints the same on any shirt color. See DTF printing on Stanley/Stella.
- 36 or more shirts with a few spot colors. Screen printing gives bright, solid spot colors, and water-based and discharge inks become part of the fabric. See why Stanley/Stella blanks print so well for screen printing.
How should you wash a DTG printed Stanley/Stella shirt?
Stanley/Stella's care data for the Creator 2.0 is: machine wash cold (86°F), do not bleach, tumble dry low, iron low heat (230°F), do not dry clean. For a printed shirt, turning it inside out before washing and not ironing directly on the print helps the print last. Our DTG wash test shows how prints hold up over repeated washes.
Our take
As the Stanley/Stella dealer in Santa Fe Springs, we use DTG on Stanley/Stella for brand samples, launch drops of 1 to 50 pieces, photo prints and anything with gradients. The Creator 2.0 in White or Natural Raw gives the softest, sharpest DTG result. On black, DTG still prints well, but look at DTF next to it before you decide.
Stanley/Stella's full collection, including colors and sizes, is on their website.
Ordering from Los Angeles or Orange County
- Where we are. 14130 Rosecrans Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, serving Los Angeles and Orange County. Pickup is free, or we ship by UPS or FedEx anywhere in the US.
- Minimum. None for DTG. One shirt is a real order.
- Timing. About 2-3 weeks after art approval. Rush available depending on the schedule. Tell us your date.
- Contact. Mon-Fri 8am-4pm PT, (562) 407-3800, sales@frenchpresscustom.com.
Get an instant DTG quote on a Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stanley/Stella good for DTG printing?
Yes. DTG prints best on 100% cotton, and most Stanley/Stella tees, including the Creator 2.0 and Crafter, are 100% organic ring spun combed cotton. White and light colors give the softest, brightest result.
Do Stanley/Stella shirts need pretreatment for DTG?
Dark shirts do. On black and other dark colors the shirt is pretreated and a white underbase is printed first so the colors show. White and light shirts need no white underbase, so the colors print straight onto the fabric.
Is there a minimum for DTG on Stanley/Stella?
No. DTG has no minimum at French Press Custom, so one Creator 2.0 with a front print is a real order. That makes DTG the usual choice for samples, one-offs and small launch drops.
Does DTG look different on a black shirt?
A little. A dark shirt is pretreated and gets a white underbase before the color, and the print still looks good, with more contrast. On white and light shirts the ink soaks straight into the cotton, which is where DTG feels softest.
Which Stanley/Stella shirt is best for DTG?
The Creator 2.0 is our first pick: 100% organic ring spun combed cotton, 5.3 oz/yd² (180 g/m²), medium fit, in XXS to 5XL. The Crafter is a lighter 4.6 oz/yd² option with the same fiber.
How long does a DTG order take?
About 2-3 weeks after art approval. Rush is available depending on the schedule, so tell us your date when you request a quote.
