DTG Printer Guide: How Direct-to-Garment Printing Works, Pros/Cons, Costs & Buying Tips

เครื่องพิมพ์ DTG: คู่มือฉบับสมบูรณ์สำหรับการพิมพ์โดยตรงบนเสื้อผ้า

25 มกราคม 2026 บล็อก

อัน เครื่องพิมพ์ DTG (Direct-to-Garment printer) is an inkjet-based textile printer that prints designs directly onto a garment, most commonly T-shirts and hoodies. Unlike heat-transfer methods, DTG puts the ink straight into the fibers (especially on cotton), making it ideal for photo-quality prints, gradients, and small-batch custom orders-

If you’re building a custom apparel business—or adding garment printing to an existing print shop—DTG is one of the most important technologies to understand because it sits between การพิมพ์หน้าจอ (high-volume, low unit cost) and DTF (transfer-based flexibility).

What Is DTG Printing?

DTG printing uses water-based textile inks (usually pigment inks) that are jetted onto fabric through a print head, similar to a large-format inkjet printer. For dark garments, DTG typically prints a ฐานด้านล่างสีขาว first, then prints CMYK color on top to preserve brightness and detail.

DTG is known for:

High detail and smooth gradients
Soft hand-feel on the right fabric
Fast setup compared to screen printing
On-demand production (print one shirt profitably)

How a DTG Printer Works

1) Artwork preparation (RIP)

Your design is processed by RIP software, which controls:

Ink limits (especially white)
Pass count and resolution
Color profiles for different garment types
Underbase strategy for dark shirts

2) Pretreatment (critical for dark garments)

Pretreatment is a chemical solution applied to the garment to help:

White ink bond properly
Colors appear vibrant
Reduce bleeding and improve wash durability

Pretreatment can be:

Manual (sprayer + heat press)
อัตโนมัติ (pretreat machine for consistent results)

3) Garment loading and platen setup

The shirt is stretched flat on a platen. Proper platen height and tension are essential for:

Sharp prints
Avoiding head strikes
Consistent registration

4) Printing (white + CMYK)

Light garments: often CMYK only (less prep, faster)
Dark garments: white base first, then CMYK

5) Curing

Curing fixes the ink into the garment using a heat press or conveyor dryer, ensuring:

Better wash resistance
Reduced tackiness
Stable final color

DTG Printer vs DTF Printer (Quick Comparison)

DTG and DTF often compete for the same “custom T-shirt” market, but their strengths differ.

คุณสมบัติ	DTG (Direct-to-Garment)	DTF (Direct-to-Film Transfer)
ดีที่สุดสำหรับ	Cotton, premium feel, photo prints	Broad fabric compatibility (cotton/poly/blends), transfers
ขั้นตอนการทำงาน	Print on garment + cure	Print on film + powder + cure + heat press
Hand-feel	Often softer on cotton	Can feel slightly thicker depending on film/powder/ink load
Dark shirts	Needs pretreat + white base	Typically easier on darks (still requires good settings)
Small orders	ยอดเยี่ยม	ยอดเยี่ยม
การซ่อมบำรุง	Can be demanding (white ink)	Also demanding (white ink + powder handling)
ความอเนกประสงค์	Limited to garments (and some textiles)	Transfers can go onto many garment types and some other fabrics

Rule of thumb:

If your goal is premium cotton tees with the softest print and great gradients → ดีทีจี
If you need maximum fabric flexibility (poly, blends, workwear) and transfer workflow → DTF

When to Use เคลือบเย็น

Cold lamination is especially useful when heat could cause damage or distortion, since it doesn’t require temperature to activate the adhesive.

Common applications

Photos and inkjet prints (where heat can warp or affect inks)
Vinyl graphics and wide-format posters
Decals and labels
UV DTF A/B film lamination (printing on film A, laminating with film B)

Best Fabrics for DTG Printing

DTG performs best when ink can absorb and anchor into the fibers.

Best choices

100% cotton (combed ringspun is excellent)
High-quality cotton blends with high cotton content

More challenging

Polyester-heavy garments (dye migration risk, adhesion issues)
Low-quality, heavily textured, or “too fuzzy” fabrics
Water-repellent or heavily treated fabrics

If you plan to print on a wide range of synthetics, DTG may not be your only technology.

DTG Print Quality: What Makes It Look “Pro”

Professional DTG output isn’t just about the printer—most quality issues come from process control:

Key factors

Pretreat consistency (evenness + correct amount)
Correct curing time/temperature
Platen height (too high/low causes blur or head strikes)
White ink settings (opacity vs bleeding vs cracking)
Humidity control (prevents clogging and inconsistent ink flow)
Color profiles tuned for your garment brands

DTG Printer Costs: What You Should Budget For

DTG profitability depends on total cost per print, not just machine price.

Cost buckets

Printer + warranty/service
Ink (white ink is usually the biggest driver on dark shirts)
Pretreatment fluid
Maintenance supplies (cleaning solution, wipers, caps, filters)
Curing equipment (heat press or conveyor dryer)
Labor time (pretreat, load, print, cure, QA)

What impacts cost per shirt the most

Coverage area (full-front uses much more ink than a small logo)
White underbase usage (dark garments cost more)
Rejects/reprints from pretreat or curing mistakes

DTG Maintenance

DTG printers can produce amazing prints, but they demand discipline—especially with white ink.

Daily best practices

Nozzle check + test print
Short cleaning cycle (as needed)
Keep capping station clean
Keep printer environment stable (temperature/humidity)
Agitate/recirculate white ink if your system requires it

Weekly/monthly

Deeper cleaning routines
Replace consumables (wipers, dampers/filters depending on model)
Inspect platen and height calibration

Why DTG clogs happen: White ink contains pigment that can settle. If the printer sits idle, clogs become more likely. A consistent routine is the difference between a profitable DTG shop and constant downtime.

Common DTG Printing Problems (and Fixes)

1) Dull colors on dark shirts

สาเหตุ: Underbase too thin, bad pretreat, incorrect profile
แก้ไข: Adjust white density, improve pretreat evenness, recalibrate profiles

2) Pretreatment “box” marks

สาเหตุ: Over-pretreat or uneven spray, wrong press settings
แก้ไข: Use a consistent spray pattern, reduce pretreat volume, adjust press time/temp

3) Ink cracking after washing

สาเหตุ: Too much ink load, under-curing, wrong pretreat
แก้ไข: Tune ink limits, confirm curing parameters, verify pretreat level

4) Head strikes / blurry prints

สาเหตุ: Garment not flat, platen height wrong
แก้ไข: Re-load garment, reduce wrinkles, re-check height clearance

5) Clogging/nozzle dropouts

สาเหตุ: Idle printer, poor humidity, dirty cap/wiper
แก้ไข: Daily nozzle checks, stabilize environment, keep cap/wiper clean

DTG Printer Buying Guide

Before buying, decide what you’re optimizing for: speed, quality, reliability, or lowest upfront cost.

1) Production volume

How many shirts per day/week?
Mostly light shirts or dark shirts?
Small logos or full front prints?

2) Print size and platen system

Standard adult platen vs oversized prints
Sleeve/neck label platens for upsells
Quick-change platens reduce downtime

3) White ink management

Look for:

White ink circulation/recirculation design
Easy maintenance access
Strong support documentation

4) Pretreat workflow

If you print dark shirts daily, budget for:

A consistent pretreat method
Either a good manual station + technique or an automatic pretreat unit

5) Service and parts availability

DTG is a maintenance-heavy category. Fast parts + knowledgeable service can matter more than tiny spec differences.

Best Use Cases for DTG Printing

DTG shines when:

You sell on-demand custom tees (Shopify/Etsy/marketplaces)
You need photo prints or complex artwork
You do small batch runs for events, bands, creators
You want a premium look on cotton garments

DTG is less ideal when:

You need the lowest cost at high volumes (screen printing wins)
Your garments are mostly polyester or performance wear (DTF or other methods may fit better)
You want decals/transfers for many product types (UV DTF or DTF)

FAQ: DTG Printers

What does DTG stand for?

DTG stands for Direct-to-Garment, meaning the printer prints directly onto the fabric.

Do I need pretreatment for DTG?

Usually:

Light shirts: sometimes not required (depends on ink and garment)
Dark shirts: typically yes, pretreat is essential for white ink performance

Is DTG durable?

Yes—when pretreat and curing are done correctly. Most durability complaints trace back to process issues, not the technology.

DTG vs screen printing: which is better?

ดีทีจี: best for small runs and high detail
Screen printing: best for large runs with lowest unit cost

Can DTG print on polyester?

Some systems can, but it’s generally more challenging than cotton due to dye migration and adhesion behavior. Test your exact garments.

Conclusion: Is a DTG Printer Worth It?

A DTG printer is worth it if your business needs:

On-demand, high-detail garment printing
Premium cotton results
Fast setup and flexible order sizes

To succeed with DTG, treat it like a production system, not just a machine: pretreat consistency + curing discipline + maintenance routine are what turn DTG into a reliable profit center.

เครื่องพิมพ์เสื้อยืดเครื่องพิมพ์ Erasmart A3 DTG

One model, fully optimized for stable white ink printing, anti-clog maintenance, and easy daily operation—ideal for custom apparel, small shops, and on-demand production.

ข้อมูลจำเพาะที่สำคัญ

พารามิเตอร์	ค่า
แบบอย่าง	EraSmart A3 DTG Printer (EraSmart-A3L)
ขนาดการพิมพ์	A3 (300 × 420 mm)
ช่องหมึก	CMYK + ขาว (WW)
ปณิธาน	Up to 5760 × 1440 dpi
ความสูงพิมพ์	0–130 mm (Infrared auto measurement)
RIP Software	Acrorip

แบ่งปันกับ PDF

อาจเป็นเช่นเดียวกับคุณด้วย