Full Colour Direct-To-Garment Printing

Rich, Detailed Design in Full Colour Digital Print.

If you’ve been shopping for custom apparel for some time, you may have encountered the industry term “DTG” or “Direct to Garment” printing. But if you haven’t had the time to research further, you may not yet understand what it is or what it can do for your brand and image.

Direct-to-Garment or DTG printing is a process by which images are rendered digitally on apparel of your choosing using a high-quality printer and special fabric-safe inks. Because the design is transferred digitally, this process is perfect for delicate, intricate, or complex designs, particularly ones that involve multiple colours. It is also the perfect method for accurately transferring full colour photographs onto apparel - perfect for special occasions where memories are front and center!

While screen-printing has long been a favourite method for apparel decoration (and still remains one of our preferred methods), DTG printing offers speed and high-levels of detail, unmatched by any other decoration option.

Step 1: Choose your garment!

Select your apparel of choice and choose DTG from the available customization options. While you can customize virtually any type of apparel, DTG customization tends to look best on light coloured, cotton-based fabrics.

Pro Tip: DTG inks look best on light coloured, cotton-based fabrics. If you would like to customize a complimentary garment or product (such as a matching bag), our designers are happy to help you choose a customization option best suited for that product.

Step 2: Set your design in motion!

Once you have selected your garment type, you’ll need to provide your logo. (See below for recommended file types). If you have concerns about your graphic, you can rest easy knowing that our graphic and design experts will review your logo to ensure that it is the highest resolution necessary for looking its best on the finished product.

If you have never had a logo, or need to refresh your brand, we can help! We will work with you every step of the way to develop an image that best represents your business and makes the most of the detail that DTG printing has to offer.

Pro Tip: The higher the resolution your logo, the better it will look on your finished product.

Step 3: The proof is in the e-mail!

Before you settle on the final version of your design, you will receive a digital proof of your image (company name/logo/graphic etc.). We ask that you approve this digital proof before we commence with printing. If you need to make changes to your proof, please reply directly to the email you receive. Once you’re completely satisfied with your design, we’ll get straight to work!

Step 4: It’s all in the details!

Once you’ve confirmed your design, all that’s left to do is wait. Our team will ensure that you’ve provided the right resolution and the best possible image to render your design perfectly on your selected garment. If there are any concerns, we’ll be sure to let you know. But to ensure you have full control, here’s a quick run-down of our image recommendations:

Print images typically come in two types: vector and raster. If you’ve spent time on the internet, you are probably already familiar with raster images which are comprised of pixels. Image formats such as .jpg or .gif are typically compressed raster images, meaning they contain many pixels but are rescaled or downsized using a mathematical algorithm. While raster images work fine for most purposes, their key limitation is that they cannot be easily enlarged. If you’ve ever had an image become blurry or pixelated, it’s because you’ve tried to make a compressed image larger. If you don’t need to enlarge your image, raster images will work just fine. Remember, the higher the resolution, the better!

File extensions: .BMP, .TIF, .GIF, .JPG

If you need your logo or graphic to work at multiple sizes, without getting into the mathematical specifics, know that vector images are infinitely scalable. This means that they can be resized as large (or as small) as necessary without loss of quality. Graphic artists will typically design logos using vector graphics so they can appear on everything from business cards to door signs to t-shirts without loss of detail. Bonus: lots of detail is contained in a small file size!

File extensions: .SVG, .EPS, .PDF, .AI, .DXF

If you need help with your logo file, or require assistance in any way, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our design experts are always happy to lend a hand to ensure that you are completely satisfied with your finished product.