Printing with a DTG printer is the second most popular way of printing clothes after the DTF printer.

Nowadays, people have higher requirements for clothes, that they should be comfortable and airy at the same time, but also have a recognizable personality.

DTG printing is very good at meeting the above needs, so it has become one of the main methods of printing personalized customization.

Working principle of DTG printer

There are generally two types of DTG printers, the flatbed digital direct printing machine and the digital direct printing machine with guide tape.

Flatbed digital direct printing machine,is mainly used for printing on finished textile products and scraps containing cotton, such as: T-shirts, sweaters, underwear, shirts, jeans, trousers, canvas bags, towels and so on.

Digital DTG direct printing machines can be set up to print in a loop (i.e. print one at a time on one side and then punch backwards on the other side) and multiple times in both directions (i.e. the head prints from front end to end and prints directly forward from the end, instead of going back to the original point to start over).

A digital direct printing machine with a guide belt cannot print images on finished garments because its mechanical structure is only suitable for printing on fabrics or fabric parts.

It is mainly used for printing on cotton knit fabrics and woven fabrics, as well as canvas and denim.

Replacement ink can also be directly sprayed on polyester fabric, without sizing and steaming and washing, so we have environmental protection without pollution.

What are the advantages of DTG PRINTER

Using the DTG cycle printing method is in line with general work habits; high efficiency, the machine does not stop, machines and people work together with each other.

It also has the advantages of high printing precision, no need for plate making, flexible batch size and small footprint.

At the same time, in accordance with the modern concept of environmentally friendly production, the technology of digital direct printing basically does not pollute the environment.

It is very suitable for children’s clothing, high-quality clothing and other products with high environmental requirements.

In the past there was always the case that the manual printing would fade because the color fastness was not good enough. Now, direct digital printing technology greatly improves color fastness.

What is the difference between DTG printer and DTF printer?

DTG printing first requires a pre-processing step. This is because the cotton fabric has many fiber holes on the surface, so it needs a pre-treatment solution first to make the surface smooth and flat.

Without this pre-treatment solution , some of the ink will penetrate inside the fiber structure, resulting in irregular colors or unevenness, which will affect the final print results.

The reason for printing white ink is that the fabric is not completely white, and if it is a dark colored garment, the ink can be absorbed without the color showing through.

So, the surface of the colored garments is first uniformly printed with a layer of white ink, then printed with various design colors, and finally heat-pressed in a single-color mold.

DTF printing requires no pre-treatment and uses PET film as an aid to transfer the design onto the garment with the help of  heat press.

Since the consumable used with it is a hot fusible powder, this large area will be hermetically sealed and will affect the breathability of the clothing.

Therefore, it is recommended to use a small printing area or to use a recently newly discovered technology that produces breathable powder and breathable film, which overcomes the problem of the previous part of the print not being breathable.

DTG printer requirements for the operating environment

DTG printing machine is a high-precision printing equipment, for which there must be certain requirements for the environment where it is installed.

In addition to temperature and humidity, electromagnetic and airborne dust also have an great impact on quality of printing.

Temperature: The most suitable temperature environment for DTG printing is 19~32℃.

If the local climate cannot meet the conditions, you need to add an air conditioner to ensure that the DTG operates at the right temperature.

If the temperature is too low, it will affect the fluidity of the ink, the printer nozzle can be easily blocked, which does not contribute to the stability of the printing machine.

If the temperature is too high, the heat dissipation will also have some impact on the machine.

Humidity: the ideal ambient humidity for DTG T-shirt printers is between 25 ~ 70%.

Too high humidity will affect the printing effect, and if the humidity is too low, it can easily cause static electricity, which will lead to ink floating and scattering, as well as some other problems.

Electromagnetic problems: The workshop environment for DTG printers should be away from transformers, microwave ovens and other strong sources of electromagnetic radiation.

Strong electromagnetic sources tend to interfere with the normal operation of the printer.

Dust in the air: too much dust will affect the line of sight of the print, and fine dust easily enters the print head, affecting the accuracy of the nozzle, but also on the printed circuit board, and also contaminates the ink.

It is best to set up the printing environment in a clean room.

Clogged print head: This problem occurs if the nozzle is not cleaned timely and regularly.

If the nozzle is not cleaned on a timely and regular basis, there will certainly be some ink left around, this part of the ink at room temperature will dry and harden over time, clogging the nozzle, since it is outside the nozzle opening.

Ink quality: The size of the ink particles should allow normal ink flow through the nozzle, too large particles tend to clog the nozzle.

Frequent replacement of ink with different quality will also have some impact.

So, are you still worried about the problems that can occur with DTG printers?

Don’t worry, a full range of consulting services, technical guidance will be provided unconditionally, designed to help you better understand and use the DTG printer.