DTG Inks – What You Need to Know?
Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing is a popular method for creating detailed and colourful custom apparel. At the heart of this process are DTG inks, which are specially formulated for use with DTG printers. Here’s what you need to know about DTG inks:
1. Composition and Types
Water-Based Inks
Overview
Water-based inks are specifically designed for fabric printing, known for their ability to produce vibrant colours and intricate details. These inks use water as the primary solvent for the pigment they carry and are mostly made of acrylic resins or mixtures of acrylic resin and polyurethanes.
Benefits
Deep Penetration: Water-based inks penetrate textiles deeply, resulting in a soft print.
Soft Feel: Made of soft resins and water, these inks provide a smooth, soft touch on fabrics.
Reactive Inks
Overview
Reactive inks are versatile and can be used for Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing, even though they were initially created for conventional printing. They are primarily used on natural fibres like cotton, viscose, wool, and silk.
Benefits
Permanent Bond: Reactive dye is the dye that can react with a fibre to form a covalent link, leading to durable prints.
Excellent Color Reproduction: Ideal for complex, colourful designs.
High Wash Fastness: Reactive inks ensure that garments can be washed multiple times without losing the print.
Considerations
Post-Processing: Requires longer post-processing steps like washing and steaming to fix the dye onto the fabric permanently.
Acid Inks
Overview
Acid inks are high-quality inks used in the high-end fashion industry, particularly for printing on delicate silks, soft cashmere, and swimwear.
Benefits
Durable and Vibrant: These inks provide excellent colour fastness and are resistant to fading or washing out.
High Colour Brilliance: Ideal for garments requiring frequent washing, such as swimwear made of lycra and nylon.
Resistance: These inks are known for their versatility, high chlorine and salt water tolerance and ability to produce vibrant and colorfast prints on these fibres.
Sublimation Inks
Overview
Sublimation inks are commonly used for printing on polyester fabrics. These inks have the unique property of transferring the dye directly onto the fabric under heat and pressure.
Benefits
Vibrant and Durable Prints: Resistant to washing out, cracking, and fading.
Colour Accuracy: Known for creating prints with great colour accuracy.
Considerations
Material Compatibility: Not suitable for natural fibres; they require materials like polyester for the dye to bond properly.
Notes
Not all printers can handle all the above-mentioned ink types. Printing processes will differ according to your printer and printhead type. When in doubt, always consult your ink and printer suppliers.
2. Color Range and Quality
DTG Direct-to-Garment (DTG) inks are available in several colours, enabling the creation of vibrant and precise prints. Consequently, the quality of these inks significantly influences the final product, particularly in aspects such as color brilliance, washability, and longevity. Superior DTG inks ensure that prints remain vivid and intact even after numerous washes, maintaining their original luster and durability.
3. Environmental Impact
Water-based DTG inks are more environmentally friendly compared to traditional plastisol inks used in screen printing. They produce less waste and contain fewer harmful chemicals, making them a preferred choice for eco-conscious businesses.
4. Printer Compatibility
Not all DTG inks are compatible with every DTG printer. It’s essential to use inks recommended by your printer manufacturer to ensure optimal performance and avoid damaging the machine.
5. Pretreatment
For the best results, garments often require pretreatment before printing with DTG inks. This step helps the ink adhere better to the fabric, enhancing colour vibrancy and detail retention. When using white ink, pretreatment is mandatory.
6. Cost Considerations
While the ability to produce small batches and customised designs without the need for screens or ink preparation can offset the cost, DTG inks can be more expensive than traditional screen printing inks.. This makes DTG printing cost-effective for short runs and one-off designs.
7. Maintenance and Storage
Proper maintenance of your DTG printer and ink system is crucial for consistent print quality. To avoid clogs and print issues, a cool, dry place should be used to store DTG inks, and they should be used before their expiration date.
8 .Conclusion
DTG inks play a crucial role in the Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing process, providing versatility, environmental benefits, and high-quality prints. By understanding the various types of DTG inks, their compatibility with different fabrics, and the maintenance requirements, businesses can fully leverage the potential of DTG printing for custom apparel production.
To ensure optimal results, always consult your ink supplier or print manufacturer. They should be your go-to resource for all questions and technical support.
9. Wanna learn more?
Have a look at our DTG printing online course for more info on DTG printing business and t-shirt design. Also, you will find lots of useful information, for free, in our YouTube channel.
10. DTGMerch Online Courses:
Check out this online course that might help you: How to Put Your Art on a t-shirt. In this online course, we will talk about which file formats are suitable for the different t-shirt printing methods.
And that’s about it!
If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me at hello@dtgmerch.com
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and we wish you all the best!