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Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing is the digital revolution of custom apparel. Using industrial inkjet technology, we spray your design directly onto the fabric — no screens, no setup, no color limits. DTG reproduces photographic images, complex gradients, and unlimited colors in a single pass. With no minimum order quantity and no setup fees, it is the perfect method for samples, small batches, on-demand fulfillment, and designs that would be too complex or expensive to screen print.
Overview
Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing works exactly like a high-end inkjet printer, except instead of paper, the "page" is a t-shirt. A specialized printer equipped with textile-grade CMYK + white ink cartridges sprays your design directly onto the garment at up to 1440 DPI resolution. The ink is water-based and absorbs into the fabric fibers, creating a soft, breathable print that feels like part of the shirt. Unlike screen printing where each color requires a separate screen, DTG reproduces millions of colors in a single pass — making photographic images, complex gradients, and intricate artwork effortless.
Before printing, garments are pre-treated with a bonding solution that helps the ink adhere to the fibers — especially important for dark garments where a white ink underbase is required. The pre-treatment is sprayed evenly using an automated system, then heat-set to create a smooth printing surface. After printing, the garment passes through a heat press (330°F for 90 seconds) or a conveyor tunnel dryer to permanently cure the ink. The entire process takes just minutes per shirt, with zero setup time between designs. Our dual-printer setup means we can run two different designs simultaneously.
DTG printing has transformed the custom apparel industry by making it economically viable to print a single shirt with a full-color design. There are no screens to burn, no films to produce, and no minimum order quantities. This makes DTG ideal for print-on-demand businesses, sample runs, personalized gifts, small brand launches, and any project where variety matters more than volume. Major retail brands like Amazon Merch, Printful, and Teespring built entire empires on DTG technology.
The technology has advanced dramatically since its early days. Modern DTG printers use piezoelectric printhead technology borrowed from commercial photo printers, delivering textile-grade CMYK + white inks at resolutions that rival screen printing in vibrancy while surpassing it in detail. White ink formulations have improved substantially — today's white underbase on dark garments is brighter, more opaque, and softer than ever before. Combined with improved pre-treatment chemistry and faster cure times, DTG in 2026 delivers retail-quality results that are virtually indistinguishable from the decorated garments you buy at major retailers.
Types of DTG Printing
We offer multiple dtg printing techniques to match your project goals, budget, and desired look.
Printing on white and light-colored garments is the simplest form of DTG. The printer applies CMYK inks directly onto the pre-treated fabric — no white underbase needed. Colors are vivid and the print has virtually zero hand feel since the ink absorbs completely into the fibers. This produces the softest, most breathable prints and the fastest turnaround. Light garment DTG is the most economical option because it uses less ink and skips the white underbase step entirely.
Printing on dark (black, navy, red, etc.) garments requires an additional step: a white ink underbase. The printer first lays down a layer of white ink in the shape of your design, then prints the CMYK colors on top. This ensures colors appear vibrant and opaque against the dark fabric. The print has a slightly thicker feel than light-garment DTG, but modern printers and inks have made dark-garment DTG remarkably soft. Pre-treatment on darks is critical — our automated sprayer ensures even, consistent coverage for optimal white ink adhesion.
Our industrial DTG printers can print oversized designs up to 16" x 20" — much larger than standard DTG print areas. This allows for large chest prints, all-over front designs, and dramatic visual impact. Oversized DTG is popular in streetwear and fashion where oversized graphics dominate. The larger print area uses more ink and takes slightly longer per garment, but the visual impact is worth it for statement pieces.
White ink is not just for underbases — it can be the star of the design. White DTG printing on dark garments creates a striking, clean look that is popular for minimalist logos, typography-focused designs, and vintage aesthetics. We can print opaque bright white or dial back the saturation for a softer, heathered look where the garment color shows through slightly. White ink DTG is also used for discharge-style effects without the chemical process.
DTG excels at reproducing photographic imagery that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive with screen printing. Our 1440 DPI resolution captures every gradient, shadow, skin tone, and fine detail in your photography. We use ICC color profiles calibrated to each garment color to ensure the printed result matches your original image as closely as possible. Photo-realistic DTG is used by artists, photographers, and brands that need exact color reproduction of complex artwork.
Our DTG setup is optimized for print-on-demand fulfillment — printing and shipping individual orders as they come in. With zero setup time between designs, every shirt in a batch can feature a completely different image. We integrate with Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom storefronts to receive orders automatically. Each garment is printed, cured, quality-checked, and packed for shipping within 24-48 hours of the order being placed. This is how modern e-commerce apparel brands operate without holding inventory.
Ideal For
Our Process
From artwork submission to finished product — here is exactly what happens when you order dtg printing from French Press Custom.
Submit your high-resolution design file (300+ DPI PNG with transparent background is ideal). Our team reviews color profiles, dimensions, and print placement. Unlike screen printing, DTG requires no color separations — your file goes straight to the printer. We check for resolution issues, color gamut compatibility, and suggest placement adjustments if needed.
Your design is processed through our RIP (Raster Image Processor) software, which converts the image into printer-ready commands. The RIP applies ICC color profiles calibrated to the specific garment color and fabric type, ensuring accurate color reproduction. White ink channels are generated automatically for dark garment prints. This step is what separates professional DTG from consumer-grade results.
Every garment is sprayed with a water-based pre-treatment solution using our automated sprayer for perfectly even coverage. This bonding agent ensures the ink adheres to the fabric fibers properly. For dark garments, pre-treatment is critical for white ink opacity and vibrancy. Garments are then heat-pressed at 330°F to set the pre-treatment and create a smooth, flat printing surface.
The garment is loaded onto the DTG printer platen and secured flat using our alignment system. Correct platen height, garment smoothness, and print placement are verified before every print. For multi-location prints (front + back, sleeve hits), each location is positioned and printed separately. Our dual-printer setup allows us to alternate garments for continuous production.
The printer sprays your design directly onto the fabric using CMYK + white textile inks at up to 1440 DPI resolution. For dark garments, white ink is laid down first as an underbase, followed by the color layer in a single pass. Light garments receive CMYK ink only. Each shirt takes 30-90 seconds depending on design size, color density, and whether a white underbase is required.
Printed garments pass through a heat press (330°F for 90 seconds) to permanently cure the ink into the fabric fibers. Proper curing ensures the print bonds with the fibers and withstands repeated washing without fading or cracking. We test wash-fastness samples on every production run and maintain strict temperature calibration on all equipment.
Each garment is inspected for color accuracy, print sharpness, ink coverage, registration, and garment quality. We compare prints against the original artwork file and reject any pieces that show banding, color shifting, or ink gaps. Finished orders are folded, counted, sorted by size, individually poly-bagged if requested, and packed for shipping or pickup.
See Our Work
Real photos from our production floor in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Every project is printed in-house with our professional equipment.
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Epson F2270
DTG Printer
Industrial CMYK + white, 1440 DPI resolution
Epson F2270
DTG Printer
Second unit for high-volume and dual-run production
Automated Pre-Treat Sprayer
Pre-Treatment
Even, consistent spray coverage on every garment
Heat Press (16x20")
Curing
Digital temp ±2°F & pressure for pre-treat set + ink cure
RIP Software Station
Color Management
ICC profiled, white channel control, color calibration
Conveyor Tunnel Dryer
Curing
For high-volume continuous DTG curing runs
Compatible Products
DTG Printing works on a wide range of garments and products. Here are the most popular items our customers order.
Transparent Pricing
We believe in upfront, honest pricing. Here are typical price ranges — get an exact quote for your specific project.
| Quantity | Price Range |
|---|---|
| 1-5 pcs | $19 - $29/pc |
| 6-12 pcs | $15 - $23/pc |
| 13-25 pcs | $12 - $18/pc |
| 26-50 pcs | $10 - $15/pc |
| 51-100 pcs | $8 - $12/pc |
| 100+ pcs | $7 - $10/pc |
DTG pricing is per-piece and includes full-color printing with unlimited colors. Dark garment printing costs slightly more due to white ink usage. Blank garments are additional. No setup fees.
Project Spotlights
See how we've helped businesses like yours with custom dtg printing.
Independent Etsy Seller — Pasadena, CA
The Challenge
An Etsy seller needed a reliable local partner for print-on-demand fulfillment — individual orders with different designs every day, no inventory, and customers expecting retail-quality soft prints on premium blanks.
Our Solution
Set up a daily DTG fulfillment workflow: orders received by noon ship same day. Each shirt gets a unique full-color design printed on Bella+Canvas 3001 blanks with water-based ink for an ultra-soft hand feel.
Results
“They handle individual orders with different designs every day and the quality is consistently perfect. Our customers always comment on how soft the prints feel.”
— Rachel T., Pasadena, CA
Family — Montebello, CA
The Challenge
A family needed 30 memorial shirts with a full-color photograph printed overnight for a service the next morning. Traditional screen printing requires days of setup and cannot reproduce photographic images.
Our Solution
DTG direct-to-garment printing — uploaded the high-resolution photo, color-corrected for fabric, and printed all 30 shirts on black Bella+Canvas 3001 with white ink underbase for vivid color on dark garments. Order completed same day.
Results
“They turned around 30 beautiful memorial shirts in one day. The photo quality was stunning — everyone at the service was amazed. Cannot thank them enough.”
— Maria G., Montebello, CA
Streetwear Startup — Los Angeles, CA
The Challenge
A new streetwear brand needed 36 total samples across 12 unique designs to photograph for their lookbook and send to influencers. Screen printing 12 separate designs at 3 pieces each would cost thousands in setup fees alone.
Our Solution
DTG printing eliminated all setup costs — each of the 12 designs was printed individually with full-color artwork including gradients, halftones, and fine typography. Printed on a mix of Bella+Canvas 3001 and Comfort Colors 1717 per the brand's spec.
Results
“Being able to print 12 different designs at just 3 pieces each without paying thousands in setup fees was a game-changer for our launch. The quality was retail-level.”
— Andre K., Los Angeles, CA
Honest Assessment
Every decoration method has strengths and trade-offs. Here is an honest breakdown to help you decide.
Head-to-Head
Side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right method for your project.
| DTG Printing | Screen Printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Quantity | 1-100 pieces | 50-10,000+ pieces |
| Color Limit | Unlimited | Up to 18 per location |
| Setup Cost | None — zero setup fees | $25/screen (per color) |
| Cost at 25 pcs | $11-17/pc | $7-11/pc + setup |
| Photo Printing | Excellent — photographic quality | Limited — halftone/simulated process |
| Customization | Every shirt can be different | Same design for entire run |
| Eco-Friendly | Water-based inks, minimal waste | Plastisol inks, screen chemicals |
| Turnaround (small) | As fast as 24 hours | 5-7 business days (screen setup time) |
Still not sure? Tell us about your project and we'll recommend the best method for you.
Customer Reviews
Real reviews from verified customers on Yelp and Google — here's what they say about our dtg printing.
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Everything you need to know about dtg printing at French Press Custom.
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