Custom Apparel Decoration · OEM / ODM Factory
DTG Direct-To-Garment Printing Service — Photo-Real, Screen-Free
Linushi’s DTG direct-to-garment printing service jets water-based pigment ink straight into the fabric, so full-color artwork — gradients, photographs, and fine line detail — lands soft and screen-free on every piece. We run DTG on cotton and cotton-rich blends from a 30-piece MOQ, with free digital mockups, private-label finishing, and worldwide shipping.
What Is DTG Printing
Full-Color Ink, Sprayed Straight Into the Fabric
Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing is a digital process that uses inkjet print heads to spray water-based pigment ink directly into a garment’s fibers — much like an inkjet printer working on cotton instead of paper. Because the color soaks into the cloth rather than sitting on top of it, the finished print is soft to the touch, breathable, and free of the heavy, rubbery feel of older transfer methods.
For brands, the real advantage is detail: DTG reproduces photographs, gradients, and unlimited-color artwork in a single pass, with no screens to burn and no per-color setup charge. That makes our DTG direct-to-garment printing service ideal for short, full-color runs — exactly where screen printing becomes slow and expensive. At Linushi, we run DTG as a managed production service: you send the artwork and garment spec, we handle pretreatment, printing, curing, and quality control under one roof in Sialkot.
The Production Workflow
How DTG Printing Works, Step by Step
Artwork & RIP Prep
Your file is cleaned, color-profiled, and processed through RIP software, which builds the white-ink underbase and CMYK channels for the print.
Pretreatment
Garments are sprayed with a pretreatment solution and pressed flat. This flattens the fibers, anchors the white ink, and stops color bleed — essential on dark fabrics.
White Underbase + CMYK
The printer lays a white underbase on darks, then jets CMYK pigment ink directly into the fibers in micro-droplets, building rich, photo-real color in a single pass.
Cure & QC
A heat press or tunnel dryer cures the ink so it bonds permanently to the fabric. Every piece is then checked for color, registration, and placement before packing.
Capabilities & Specs
DTG Printing Specifications at a Glance
- Resolution: up to 1200 × 1200 dpi for crisp text and photo detail.
- Color: full CMYK plus white underbase — unlimited colors, gradients, and photographic artwork.
- Max print area: approx. 40 × 50 cm (16″ × 20″) standard platen.
- Inks: water-based, non-toxic pigment inks — soft hand, eco-friendlier than plastisol.
- Best file types: PNG, TIFF, or PSD with a transparent background at 300 dpi, print-size.
- Color mode: RGB artwork preferred — DTG printers are tuned for vivid digital color.
- Wash durability: 40–60 washes with correct curing and cold-wash care.
- Turnaround: around 7 working days from approved mockup; rush slots on request.
Need volume on a simple, few-color logo instead? We’ll quote it on custom screen printing where the per-piece economics are stronger — and tell you honestly which method fits your run.
What DTG Runs On
Garments & Fabrics We Print
- 100% ring-spun combed cotton tees — the best surface for vivid DTG.
- Cotton-rich blends (50%+ cotton) for everyday wear.
- Hoodies & sweatshirts in cotton or cotton-heavy fleece.
- Tote bags & canvas accessories.
- Light garments — minimal or no pretreatment, softest hand.
- Dark garments — printed with a white underbase for full opacity.
- Tri-blends for a softer, slightly vintage finish.
- Denim & heavier cotton pieces for fashion runs.
Working with full polyester jerseys or mixed-fabric kits? DTG isn’t the right tool there — those run better on sublimation or DTF, and we’ll route the job accordingly so the print actually lasts.
Who It’s For
Applications We Print For
- Streetwear & fashion brands running small, full-color drops.
- Print-on-demand & ecommerce catalogs.
- Photo & full-color graphic tees with gradients and fine detail.
- Event & festival merch in short, fast runs.
- Startup brands sampling designs before a bulk commitment.
- Band & artist merch with intricate artwork.
- Corporate & promotional apparel for cotton garments.
- Memorial & one-off keepsakes and personalized pieces.
Choosing a Method
DTG vs Screen Printing vs DTF
No single method wins every job. Here’s the honest breakdown we give every buyer at quote time, so you choose on fabric, order size, and design — not hype.
DTG (This Service)
Best for: small-to-mid full-color runs on cotton. Softest hand feel, photo-real detail, no per-color setup. Fades gradually rather than cracking. Less suited to full polyester or very large bulk runs.
Screen Printing
Best for: bulk orders with few colors. The cheapest per-piece at high volume and the most wash-durable, but each color needs a screen, so setup makes small or photographic jobs costly.
DTF Transfer
Best for: mixed fabrics and dark synthetics. A film transfer heat-pressed onto almost any material — polyester, nylon, blends — with strong durability, but a slightly raised, less-fabric-soft finish than DTG.
Why Linushi
A Factory, Not a Print Shop
30-Piece MOQ
Print a real production run without committing to thousands of units — ideal for testing a drop.
Free Mockups & Samples
Approve a digital mockup, then a physical pre-production sample before we run the full order.
Private-Label Finishing
Relabel, custom neck tags, hang tags, and packaging so the garments ship as your brand.
Worldwide Shipping
Door-to-door delivery to the US, UK, Europe, and beyond, with tracking on every order.
Ordering
How to Order DTG Printing
Send Artwork & Get a Quote
Share your design, garment type, quantity, and colors. We reply with pricing, a method recommendation, and a turnaround estimate.
Free Digital Mockup
We send a digital mockup showing your print on the chosen garment so you can sign off on size, placement, and color.
Pre-Production Sample
For larger runs, we print a physical strike-off sample to confirm hand feel and color before mass production begins.
Bulk Print & Ship
Once approved, we print, cure, QC, and finish your order — then ship worldwide with tracking.
FAQ
DTG Printing Questions, Answered
What is DTG direct-to-garment printing?
DTG is a digital printing method that uses inkjet print heads to spray water-based pigment ink directly into a garment’s fibers. The ink soaks into the fabric for a soft, breathable finish, and it reproduces full-color, photographic artwork in one pass with no screens to set up.
What is the minimum order for DTG printing?
Our DTG printing service starts at a 30-piece MOQ. That keeps small drops, sampling, and test runs accessible while still giving you genuine factory production quality and pricing.
Does DTG printing work on dark garments?
Yes. Dark fabrics are pretreated and printed with a white ink underbase first, then the color layer on top, so designs stay bright and opaque rather than sinking into the garment color.
Can you DTG print on polyester or blends?
DTG performs best on 100% cotton and cotton-rich blends of at least 50% cotton. For full polyester jerseys or mixed-fabric items, we recommend sublimation or DTF instead, which bond far better to synthetics — we’ll route your job to the right method.
How durable are DTG prints and how many washes do they last?
With correct curing and cold-wash, inside-out care, DTG prints typically last 40–60 washes. They fade gradually and softly over time rather than cracking or peeling — a look many streetwear brands actually prefer.
DTG vs screen printing — which is better?
DTG wins for small-to-mid runs and detailed, full-color or photographic designs because there’s no per-color setup. Screen printing wins for large bulk orders with few colors, where it’s cheaper per piece and slightly more wash-durable. Tell us your quantity and design and we’ll recommend the right one.
What file format and resolution do you need?
Send a PNG, TIFF, or PSD with a transparent background at 300 dpi at the final print size. RGB color mode is preferred, since DTG printers are tuned for vivid digital color reproduction.
What is the turnaround time for DTG orders?
Standard turnaround is around 7 working days from approved mockup, depending on quantity and finishing. Rush production slots are available on request — share your deadline and we’ll confirm what’s possible.
Start Your Run
Get a Free DTG Printing Quote
Send your artwork and garment spec today. We’ll come back with pricing, a free mockup, and an honest method recommendation — from a 30-piece MOQ, shipped worldwide.