How Many Washes Can a DTG Take?

The Rise and Durability of DTG Printing: Ensuring Long-Lasting, Vibrant Prints.

Proper Wash Care for Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing has gained huge popularity due to its ability to produce high-quality, detailed designs with sharp edges – even when it comes to photographic images. Think of transferring photographic images directly onto garments with crisp resolution, similar to a desktop printer. However, as the popularity of DTG printing keeps growing, concerns about its durability have surfaced.

Can DTG prints maintain their colours and details over time and through washes?

Understanding the Durability of DTG Prints The official estimate for the lifespan of a DTG printed garment is about 50 wash cycles. However, many printers – and ‘wearers’ – report that these prints can last significantly longer without fading or losing their crispness, provided certain conditions are met during and after the printing process.

What’s the Quality Like for DTG?

DTG printers have great software, and they are capable of handling all kinds of designs in various colours. This subtractive colour printing method (CMYK) is precise, and it produces very high-quality results – think a highly focused photographic image sustaining its quality on white t-shirt. With DTG printing, you can rest assured knowing that no detail is going to be lost, and you can also feel confident knowing that the end result is going to be everything you hoped for and more. Some people often worry about how long a dtg print lasts, or how to wash dtg printed t-shirts and garments. Find print and production resources as well as washcare guides here.

Key Factors Influencing DTG Print Longevity

Ink Quality

The quality of ink used in DTG printing is crucial. High-quality inks, often used with a bright under base that’s pretreated, enhance the vibrancy and durability of the print. This ensures that the colours remain vivid and the design stays intact over many washes.

Garment Quality

The fabric of the garment plays a significant role in the longevity of the DTG print. High-quality, 100% cotton garments tend to hold the print better, maintaining colour crispness and durability. Ensuring the fabric is properly pretreated and cured after printing is essential for long-lasting results. Read our Blanks Guide here and take a look at our shop if you’re interested in purchasing blanks.

DTG Printing Machinery

The quality and capabilities of the DTG printer itself are critical. A reliable machine ensures that the ink is properly applied, resulting in sharp and consistent prints. Poor quality machines can lead to subpar prints that fade quickly after a few washes.

Proper Wash Care

To extend the life of DTG prints, it’s important to wash them in cold water – ideally handwashing – using gentle detergents and avoid high-heat drying. Air drying is recommended to prevent the ink from breaking down, ensuring the print remains vibrant and intact.

How Long does Direct-To-Garment Printing Take to Print?

Direct-to-garment printing takes around one minute, dependent on the intensity and saturation of the design. This does vary on the material of the t-shirt and the general size, too. Usually, you can position your design in accordance to the size of t-shirt you have, which is very useful for customised orders and making your designs look cohesive with your pieces.

Ensuring Quality and Durability At Teesh

We understand how quality and durability in DTG printing is paramount. We recommend requesting a sample print to test the longevity yourself. Our team is available to consult you where possible, offering expert advice on the right printing method for the longest durability of your printing needs. Why not play around with the design studio to test different designs, or contact the team to talk about DTG options.

Pros of DTG Designs

Some of the pros to Direct to Garment designs include:

• Excellent results with photographic images.
• Ideal for smaller batches.
• Huge range of colour options.
• Maximum detail.
• Soft-hand feel.

‘Cons’ of DTG Designs

• Not cost-effective for bigger volumes.
• Some limitations to specialist effects (screen printing can use puff printing, for example).

So, there are arguably some cons to DTG printing, namely if you want to print very large volumes of t-shirts or designs. That being said, if you want to print smaller batches or if you want to have a lot of customisation with your design, then DTG printing is the way to go. You can take advantage of the spectacular results, and you can also ensure maximum detail with every garment that is printed. This alone makes it ideal for small companies or start-ups who want to make sure that they put a primary focus on scalability and quality.

Request a DTG Quote.

Visit our Direct to Garment Printing page for more information on Teesh’s DTG service. Contact us today to speak to the team and discover how our expertise can bring your designs to life with exceptional detail and durability. By following the best practices and choosing quality materials and inks in your DTG order, you can ensure your DTG prints remain vibrant and durable, wash after wash.