Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing for Promotional Products: The Complete Guide

Published by GiftSuppliers.ae | Knowledge Hub | Branding Methods Encyclopedia Reading time: approximately 13 minutes

When DTG printing — Direct to Garment — entered the commercial promotional products market in the early 2000s, it promised something that the industry had never had before: the ability to print a full-colour, photographic-quality image directly onto a garment using inkjet technology, with no screens, no minimum quantities, and no colour count limitations.

That promise was real — and it was transformative for a specific segment of the garment decoration market. DTG made it possible, for the first time, to produce a single personalised t-shirt with a photographic design, or a ten-piece run of full-colour branded polo shirts for a small team event, at a price point that was economically viable. For short-run, full-colour, photographic garment decoration, DTG created a category that had not previously existed at commercial scale.

Yet DTG has also been one of the most nuanced and frequently misunderstood decoration technologies in the industry. Its results vary more with substrate, pre-treatment quality, and operator skill than almost any other print method. Its position relative to the newer DTF (Direct to Film) technology — which in many commercial applications has superseded it — requires clear explanation for buyers making current specification decisions. And its distinct strengths in specific applications — particularly soft-hand photographic printing on white cotton — remain genuine and commercially valuable even as DTF has displaced it in others.

This guide gives procurement professionals, marketing teams, and corporate gifting buyers the complete knowledge to understand DTG printing — what it delivers, where it genuinely excels, and how it compares to the methods most likely to be specified alongside it in the UAE and GCC market.

CTA — Short-run full-colour garment decoration for your next programme? GiftSuppliers.ae manages DTG, DTF, screen printing, and embroidery for corporate apparel from single personalised pieces to 5,000-unit programmes. Request a consultation

What Is DTG Printing?

DTG (Direct to Garment) printing is a digital inkjet printing process that applies water-based pigment inks directly to fabric using a modified industrial inkjet printer in which the print head traverses the garment surface, depositing ink in precise droplet patterns following the digital image file.

Unlike conventional inkjet printing on paper — where the paper absorbs the ink as it lands — DTG printing on fabric requires the ink to bond with the fabric fibres through a chemical mechanism. Water-based pigment inks are held on the fabric surface by a binder system — a polymer binder that coats the fabric fibres and anchors the pigment particles after the ink is cured in a heat tunnel or with a heat press.

The critical variable in DTG printing quality is pre-treatment — the application of a liquid pre-treatment chemical to the fabric surface before printing. Pre-treatment serves two functions: it raises the surface pH of cotton fabrics (which is acidic, making pigment binding difficult without treatment) to a level that supports pigment bonding; and for dark garments, it provides a white reactive base that the white ink component of the DTG system bonds with, enabling colour reproduction on dark substrates.

Pre-treatment quality is the single most important determinant of DTG print quality, particularly on dark garments. Uneven pre-treatment application produces uneven white ink coverage, producing a patchy, dull colour result. Too much pre-treatment produces a visible stiff, textured feel in the treated area. Consistent, correctly applied pre-treatment — typically using an automated pre-treatment machine rather than a spray bottle — is the hallmark of professional DTG production quality.

How DTG Printing Works: Step by Step

Step 1 — Garment Preparation and Pre-Treatment The garment is loaded flat onto the DTG printer’s platen — a flat board sized to the garment. For white and very light garments, some operators print without pre-treatment, relying on the fabric’s natural surface for direct ink adhesion. For light-coloured garments, a light pre-treatment is applied to improve colour vibrancy and adhesion. For dark and black garments, pre-treatment is mandatory — the pre-treatment is applied evenly across the print area using an automated pre-treatment machine, then the garment is heat-pressed at 160–170°C for 30–45 seconds to cure the pre-treatment before printing.

Step 2 — RIP Processing The design file is processed through the DTG printer’s RIP (Raster Image Processor) software. For dark garments, the RIP generates a white underbase layer from the design’s non-transparent areas, which will be printed before the CMYK colour layers. The white underbase is the foundation that enables accurate colour reproduction on dark fabrics — without it, the CMYK colours are absorbed into the dark fabric background and are invisible.

Step 3 — Printing The garment-loaded platen is fed into the DTG printer. The print head traverses the platen multiple times — first laying down the white underbase layer (for dark garments), then the CMYK colour layers in subsequent passes. Printing time per garment ranges from 2–8 minutes depending on design coverage, colour complexity, garment size, and whether a white underbase is required.

Step 4 — Curing After printing, the garment must be cured to permanently bond the ink with the fabric fibres. Curing is performed either in a heat tunnel (conveyor dryer) at 160°C for 90–120 seconds, or with a heat press at 160°C for 45–60 seconds with a silicone parchment sheet protecting the printed surface. Correct and complete curing is essential — undercured DTG prints wash out rapidly, losing colour density significantly after the first wash.

Step 5 — Quality Inspection Each printed garment is inspected for colour accuracy, coverage completeness, edge definition, and any artefacts from the pre-treatment or printing process before folding, packing, and dispatch.

HowTo Schema Summary — Preparing for a DTG Printing Order:

1. Supply artwork as a high-resolution PNG with transparent background (300 DPI minimum)
2. Confirm fabric composition — 100% cotton preferred for best results
3. Confirm garment colour — white, light, or dark — as this determines pre-treatment and underbase requirements
4. Specify print size and placement position
5. Request a printed sample garment before bulk production approval
6. Authorise bulk production in writing after sample approval

Materials Suitable for DTG Printing

100% Cotton — the optimal DTG substrate Cotton is the ideal DTG substrate — its natural fibre structure accepts and retains water-based pigment inks with the best adhesion, vibrancy, and wash durability achievable in DTG printing. Ring-spun 100% cotton produces the smoothest surface for DTG printing, delivering the finest detail reproduction and most vivid colour results. Combed ring-spun cotton (the premium variant used in fashion-grade t-shirts) is even more responsive to DTG printing, producing results approaching the quality of offset photo printing in their colour richness and tonal range.

Cotton-polyester blends (50/50, 65/35) Blended fabrics are compatible with DTG printing, but with some compromise in colour vibrancy relative to 100% cotton. The polyester fibre component does not accept water-based pigment inks as readily as cotton — the pigment binder does not bond as effectively to polyester fibres, reducing colour density and wash durability. On a 50/50 blend, expect approximately 15–25% reduced colour vibrancy relative to an equivalent 100% cotton garment with the same pre-treatment and printing parameters. For blended fabric programmes where maximum vibrancy is required, confirm ink system compatibility and request a pre-production sample.

Polyester fabrics DTG printing on 100% polyester is technically possible but produces significantly degraded results relative to cotton — reduced colour density, poorer wash durability, and a higher risk of dye migration (where the polyester dye bleeds into the white underbase, shifting colours). For polyester fabric programmes, dye sublimation (for light-coloured polyester) or DTF (for any colour polyester) are significantly superior alternatives to DTG.

Pre-treated dark garments Pre-treatment is the most technically demanding aspect of DTG on dark fabrics. The pre-treatment chemical (typically a cationic polymer solution containing a calcium compound that reacts with the white ink) must be applied evenly at the correct wet weight per unit area. Too little pre-treatment produces insufficient white underbase opacity, resulting in dull, washed-out colour. Too much produces a visible, stiff pre-treatment residue that feels plastic to the touch and is visible as a stain on the garment surface outside the print area — a common quality failure in low-quality DTG production.

Fabrics where DTG is not recommended Nylon, acetate, and synthetics without cotton content — the water-based ink binder system does not adhere reliably. Fabrics with silicone, wax, or Teflon finishes — these surface treatments repel water-based inks. Highly textured or heavily brushed fabrics — the raised surface fibres prevent the print head from reaching the fabric surface uniformly, producing artefacts in the printed image.

Advantages of DTG Printing

Photographic quality on cotton at any quantity DTG’s defining advantage — particularly on white and light-coloured 100% cotton — is the ability to produce genuinely photographic-quality full-colour results at any quantity, including single pieces. The colour range, tonal graduation, and fine detail achievable with DTG on white cotton is the finest of any garment decoration method, including screen printing and DTF. For applications where photographic quality on cotton is the non-negotiable requirement — personalised photo garments, artistic designs with complex colour gradations — DTG remains the superior method on white cotton substrates.

Soft hand feel on light garments without underbase On white and very light garments where no white underbase layer is required, DTG ink penetrates the fabric fibres with a very soft hand feel — the printed area feels only slightly different from the unprinted fabric surface. This soft-hand quality is superior to DTF (which always has a surface film feel) and approaches the no-hand-feel quality of dye sublimation (though with a very slight surface texture remaining). For premium branded t-shirts and fashion garments where tactile quality matters, DTG on white cotton without underbase delivers the best hand feel of any full-colour print method.

No minimum order Like DTF, DTG has no physical setup costs — no screens, no dies, no digitising. Single-piece personalised production is as cost-effective on a per-unit basis as hundred-piece runs. For bespoke personalised garment gifting — single custom t-shirts as employee welcome gifts, unique artist collaboration pieces, or one-off personalised team gifts — DTG’s no-minimum characteristic makes it the practical choice.

Unlimited colour complexity DTG printing reproduces the full CMYK colour gamut with no colour count limitations — a ten-colour logo costs exactly the same to print as a two-colour logo. This makes DTG ideal for complex brand identities, photographic designs, illustrated artwork, and designs where the creative ambition is not constrained by print colour economics.

Limitations of DTG Printing

Pre-treatment dependence on dark garments The quality of DTG on dark garments is entirely dependent on pre-treatment quality. Inconsistent pre-treatment — the most common quality failure in DTG production — produces uneven, dull, patchy results that are visible as colour variation across the print area. This variability makes DTG quality control on dark garments significantly more demanding than on light garments, and more operator-skill-dependent than most other print methods. Buyers specifying DTG on dark garments must insist on samples demonstrating consistent pre-treatment quality before approving bulk production.

Lower wash durability than screen printing on dark garments DTG on dark garments — where the white underbase and CMYK layers sit above the fabric surface rather than penetrating it — has lower wash durability than screen-printed plastisol on equivalent fabrics. The white underbase is the most vulnerable layer — it sits at the bottom of the ink stack and is in direct contact with the fabric surface, where washing friction and detergent chemistry attack it most aggressively. Under commercial laundering conditions, DTG prints on dark garments may show visible fading and colour loss after 20–30 wash cycles. DTF on equivalent dark garments generally demonstrates better wash durability than DTG under the same conditions.

Slower production speed than screen printing or DTF DTG garment production rate — 2–8 minutes per piece, including loading, printing, unloading, and pre-treatment handling for dark garments — is significantly slower than screen printing (which can produce several hundred pieces per hour once set up) and slower than DTF heat press application (which requires only 10–15 seconds per piece after transfers are produced). For high-volume uniform programmes (500 pieces and above), DTG’s production speed disadvantage relative to screen printing produces a significant lead time differential. DTG is best suited economically to quantities below 50–75 pieces for most design complexity levels.

Polyester performance limitation As noted in the materials section, DTG performs poorly on polyester relative to cotton. In a UAE corporate gifting and apparel market where polyester and polyester-blend fabrics are extremely common — moisture-wicking polo shirts, performance sports fabrics, polyester event t-shirts — DTG’s cotton limitation significantly constrains its applicability relative to DTF (which works on any fabric) and sublimation (which excels on polyester).

White underbase visibility on very dark garments On black and very dark garments, the white underbase layer sometimes shows as a slight bright halo at the boundary between the printed design and the surrounding dark fabric — particularly noticeable at design edges where the colour gradient transitions to the dark background. This halo effect is a characteristic limitation of DTG’s layer-based white underbase approach. DTF’s white underbase is built into the transfer film and peels away from non-design areas, eliminating the halo issue for most applications.

DTG vs Other Branding Methods

DTG vs Screen Printing Screen printing is superior to DTG for: polyester and blended fabrics, dark garment colour durability, high-volume economics, and production speed. DTG is superior to screen printing for: white/light cotton with photographic designs, very short runs (under 25 pieces), unlimited colour complexity without cost increase, and personalised one-off garments. The commercial crossover point where screen printing becomes more economical than DTG is typically 50–100 pieces for multi-colour designs — above this quantity, screen printing’s lower per-unit cost at scale generally outweighs DTG’s setup-cost advantage.

DTG vs DTF (Direct to Film) This is the most commercially significant comparison for current buying decisions, as DTF has largely superseded DTG for short-run full-colour garment decoration in many UAE production facilities. DTF is superior to DTG for: dark garment wash durability, polyester and blended fabric applications, production speed (faster per piece once transfers are produced), and consistency across fabric types. DTG is superior to DTF for: soft hand feel on white/light cotton without underbase (DTF always has a surface film), and colour quality on white cotton specifically where maximum tonal range and colour depth are the priority. For most commercial promotional products applications in the UAE market — dark garments, polyester fabrics, mixed fabric types — DTF is now the preferred specification over DTG.

DTG vs Dye Sublimation Sublimation is definitively superior to DTG for 100% polyester light-coloured garments — better colour vibrancy, zero hand feel, and superior wash durability. DTG is the only option for full-colour printing on cotton and dark fabrics where sublimation is not applicable. These methods address different substrate domains and are rarely direct competitors for the same specific application.

DTG vs Embroidery DTG and embroidery address different design categories on fabric. Embroidery is the premium choice for corporate logo marks on polo shirts and corporate apparel — three-dimensional, highly durable, premium tactile quality. DTG is appropriate for photographic, illustrative, or complex full-colour designs where embroidery cannot reproduce the colour complexity. For corporate polo shirts with a standard logo mark, embroidery is the appropriate specification. For a creative event t-shirt with a full-colour photographic design, DTG or DTF is appropriate.

Artwork Requirements for DTG Printing

File format: High-resolution PNG with a transparent background is the preferred DTG artwork format. The transparent background defines the design boundary — areas outside the design are transparent (not white), ensuring that only the intended design areas receive ink. TIFF files are also accepted. Vector artwork (AI, EPS) is converted to raster by the RIP at the appropriate resolution — vector input is valuable for ensuring maximum sharpness at the print resolution.

Resolution: Minimum 300 DPI at the final print size. For designs with very fine detail, photographic content, or small text, 300 DPI is the minimum — higher resolution (up to the printer’s native resolution, typically 1200–1440 DPI) improves fine detail reproduction.

Colour mode: DTG artwork should be submitted in sRGB colour mode. DTG RIP systems are calibrated for RGB input — the RIP translates RGB values to the printer’s CMYK plus White ink channels. Do not convert to CMYK before submission. Provide visual colour references (Pantone Coated equivalents where available) for brand-critical colours, and request a printed sample for colour verification on the specific garment substrate.

White ink layer for dark garments: The white underbase layer for dark garment printing is generated automatically by the DTG RIP from the design’s opacity map — the RIP places white ink under all non-transparent design pixels. No separate white layer from the buyer is required. However, for designs with intentional semi-transparent elements (where the dark garment colour should show through), confirm with your supplier how the RIP handles partial opacity areas.

Background transparency: The most important single artwork requirement for DTG: every area outside the intended design must be transparent (not white). A white background submitted as a DTG file will print a solid white rectangle under and around the design on dark garments — the white underbase extends to the background boundary, creating a clearly visible white box. Confirm that the submitted file has a fully transparent background before submitting.

Production Considerations

Pre-treatment consistency for dark garment programmes: For dark garment DTG programmes, the pre-treatment application must be automated — spray-bottle manual application produces the inconsistent coverage that causes the most common DTG quality failures. Professional DTG facilities use dedicated automatic pre-treatment machines (Firebird, Schulze, and similar) that apply pre-treatment at a controlled wet weight per square metre with consistent coverage. Confirm with your supplier that automated pre-treatment equipment is used for all dark garment production.

Ink freshness and agitation: DTG white ink is the most maintenance-demanding component of the DTG print system. White ink contains a high pigment loading of titanium dioxide particles that settle in the ink supply system and print head, causing clogs and inconsistent flow if not regularly agitated. Professional DTG facilities run daily agitation and maintenance cycles on white ink systems. Inconsistent white ink management produces the patchy, uneven white underbase that is the most visible DTG quality failure on dark garments. Ask your supplier about their white ink maintenance protocol for quality-critical dark garment orders.

Curing temperature and time validation: DTG ink cure quality is the second most common quality failure point. Undercured ink washes out after the first one or two wash cycles — a quality defect that is not visible on the finished garment but manifests immediately in recipient use. Validate cure quality with a wash test on a sample garment before bulk production approval: wash the sample in a domestic machine at 40°C and inspect for colour loss after drying. A correctly cured DTG print should show minimal colour loss after the first wash.

UAE climate considerations: Pre-treatment chemicals used in DTG production are temperature-sensitive — they have optimal working viscosity and coverage characteristics within a defined temperature range. UAE production facilities maintain air-conditioned working environments, but pre-treatment stored at ambient UAE temperatures before use may require acclimatisation. For production facilities without air-conditioned pre-treatment storage, confirm that pre-treatment temperature management is part of the facility’s quality protocol.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Specifying DTG for polyester garments: The most common fundamental specification error in DTG procurement. Many buyers — particularly those familiar with DTG from consumer on-demand services — assume that DTG works equally well on all fabric types. It does not. On polyester, DTG produces significantly degraded results — reduced vibrancy, poor wash durability, and dye migration risk. For polyester corporate apparel, DTF or dye sublimation are the correct specifications.

Accepting a digital proof as a colour approval for dark garments: On dark garments, the final colour appearance of a DTG print is profoundly influenced by the pre-treatment quality, the white underbase opacity, and the interaction between the ink system and the specific garment fabric. A digital proof shows the design on a dark background — it cannot show how the white underbase reproduces on the actual fabric, how the CMYK colours interact with the specific ink and fabric combination, or the hand feel of the pre-treatment area. A physical printed sample on the actual production garment is mandatory before dark-garment bulk production approval.

Not communicating washing instructions to recipients: DTG prints — particularly on dark garments — require specific washing care for maximum durability. Standard recommendations: wash inside out, cold wash (30°C maximum), gentle cycle, no tumble dryer, no ironing directly over the printed area. For corporate gifting programmes where personalised DTG garments are distributed to recipients unfamiliar with DTG care requirements, include clear washing instruction labels or care cards with each garment.

Selecting DTG over DTF without evaluating the application: In the current (2025) UAE market, DTF has largely superseded DTG for most commercial short-run garment decoration applications. Before specifying DTG, confirm with your supplier that DTG (rather than DTF) is the appropriate choice for your specific fabric, garment colour, design type, and quantity. For most applications on dark garments, polyester fabrics, or blended fabrics, DTF will deliver superior results. DTG retains genuine advantages for soft-hand photographic printing on white cotton — if this is your specific requirement, confirm it explicitly.

Regional Insights — UAE, GCC and Africa

UAE: DTG printing in the UAE promotional products market has experienced significant evolution since DTF technology matured commercially around 2020–2021. Many UAE garment decoration facilities that invested in DTG equipment in the 2015–2020 period have since added DTF capability alongside DTG — and in most production workflows, DTF has become the preferred method for dark garment, polyester, and standard commercial short-run applications.

DTG retains a distinct position in the UAE market for specific premium applications: custom photographic t-shirts for personalised corporate gifting (onboarding welcome packs, employee anniversary gifts with personal photographs), premium artist-collaboration event merchandise, and any application where the superior photographic colour quality of DTG on white ring-spun cotton is the primary specification requirement.

The UAE’s on-demand personalised product market — driven by e-commerce platforms and corporate HR gifting programmes — maintains consistent DTG demand for personalised white cotton garments. Platforms offering same-day personalised t-shirt production in Dubai typically operate on DTG technology, leveraging its no-minimum-order and single-piece production economics.

Saudi Arabia: The Saudi market mirrors UAE patterns in DTG adoption, with DTF having largely displaced DTG for dark garment and polyester applications. DTG maintains relevance in the Saudi personalised gifting market and for premium photographic print applications on white cotton — particularly for Vision 2030-themed motivational merchandise with complex photographic and illustrative design content.

Africa: In South Africa, DTG adoption followed a similar trajectory to the UAE — initial commercial growth from 2015–2020, followed by partial displacement by DTF from 2021 onwards. South African DTG production serves the personalised gifting, event merchandise, and retail custom print markets. For other African markets, DTG-produced garments are typically sourced from South African or UAE suppliers for premium personalised applications.

CTA — Full-Colour Garment Decoration for UAE and GCC GiftSuppliers.ae manages DTG, DTF, screen printing, and embroidery for corporate apparel — advising on the right method for your specific fabric, design, and quantity. Get a method recommendation and quote

Case Study: DTG vs DTF Decision — Corporate Personalised Welcome Kit Programme

Organisation: The UAE regional office of a global consulting firm 

Brief: Personalised branded t-shirts for a new joiner welcome kit programme — one personalised t-shirt per new joiner, produced within 48 hours of name confirmation, approximately 40 new joiners per month 

Two garment options under evaluation:

Option A: White 200 GSM 100% ring-spun cotton t-shirt with a complex photographic-style illustrated design (full gradient colour, multiple tonal layers, a detailed cityscape illustration) incorporating the recipient’s name in the design composition

Option B: Navy 200 GSM 100% cotton t-shirt with the firm’s corporate logo in three brand colours and the recipient’s name in white text beneath

Method evaluation:

For Option A (white cotton, photographic design): DTG was the recommended method. The complex photographic cityscape illustration with smooth gradient transitions and multiple tonal layers is a design type where DTG’s colour range and tonal resolution on white cotton produces the superior result — DTF would produce a visible surface film layer that subtly compromises the premium hand feel appropriate for the photographic aesthetic. The white substrate means no white underbase is required, producing DTG’s best-case hand feel.

For Option B (navy cotton, corporate logo): DTF was the recommended method. The corporate logo in three colours on a dark navy ground is precisely the application where DTF outperforms DTG: the DTF white underbase is contained within the transfer film and produces no pre-treatment area artefacts; the colour vibrancy on navy is consistently superior to DTG with equivalent pre-treatment investment; and DTF’s slightly better wash durability on dark fabrics is relevant for a garment intended for regular wear.

Outcome: The firm specified both options — Option A DTG for the illustrated design, Option B DTF for the logo-only design — and ran the programme as a tiered welcome experience with the illustrated design t-shirt for senior joiners and the navy logo t-shirt for all joiners. Both methods produced results that fully met quality expectations within the 48-hour turnaround requirement.

Key lesson for buyers: DTG and DTF are not universal substitutes for each other — they have different performance characteristics that make one or the other the better choice depending on the specific combination of fabric colour, design type, and quality priority. Understanding these differences allows informed specification decisions rather than defaulting to a single method regardless of application suitability.

Frequently Asked Questions About DTG Printing Promotional Products

Q: What is the difference between DTG and DTF printing? 

DTG (Direct to Garment) prints ink directly onto the fabric surface using a modified inkjet printer. DTF (Direct to Film) prints the design onto a PET film with adhesive powder, which is then heat-pressed onto the fabric. DTG on white cotton produces superior photographic colour quality and softer hand feel. DTF produces better wash durability on dark garments, works on polyester and any fabric type, and has faster per-piece throughput once transfers are produced. For most commercial applications on dark or polyester fabrics, DTF is now the preferred specification.

Q: Why do DTG prints on dark shirts sometimes look dull or faded? 

This is almost always caused by inadequate or uneven pre-treatment of the dark garment before printing. Pre-treatment is required to create the reactive base that bonds the white underbase ink to the dark fabric — without consistent pre-treatment, the white underbase is patchy and the overlying CMYK colours appear dull and washed out. Professional DTG production uses automated pre-treatment equipment at controlled wet weight per area for consistent results. If you receive dull DTG results on dark garments, inadequate pre-treatment is the most likely cause.

Q: How many washes will a DTG print survive? 

On white and light cotton garments (no white underbase), a correctly cured DTG print typically survives 40–60 wash cycles before significant colour loss. On dark garments (with white underbase), durability is typically 30–50 wash cycles under domestic laundering conditions (30°C, gentle cycle, inside out). Commercial laundry conditions (higher temperatures, stronger detergents) reduce this significantly. Correct washing care — cold wash, inside out, no tumble drying — is the most important determinant of DTG print longevity.

Q: Is DTG suitable for polyester t-shirts? 

DTG on 100% polyester produces significantly degraded results compared to cotton — lower colour vibrancy, poorer wash durability, and risk of dye migration from the polyester substrate into the white underbase. For polyester garments, DTF (for any colour) or dye sublimation (for white/light colour) are the appropriate alternatives. If polyester fabric is specified for a short-run full-colour garment programme, DTF is the correct default method in the current UAE market.

Q: Can DTG print on coloured cotton garments (not just white and dark)? 

Yes — DTG prints on all cotton garment colours. The pre-treatment and underbase requirements scale with the darkness of the garment colour: white requires no pre-treatment and no underbase; light pastel colours may require light pre-treatment and a light underbase; mid-tones require moderate pre-treatment; dark and black require full pre-treatment and a dense white underbase. The colour accuracy and vibrancy of the printed design relative to its digital proof scales accordingly — the closer the garment colour to white, the more accurate the result.

Q: What artwork format does DTG require? 

The preferred format is a high-resolution PNG file (300 DPI minimum at final print size) with a fully transparent background. Transparent background is critical — white background areas will print as solid white ink on dark garments, creating a visible white rectangle around the design. All text should be rasterised or outlined. Submit in sRGB colour mode. Avoid CMYK conversion — DTG RIP systems are calibrated for RGB input.