DTG printing is the most exciting thing to happen to the garment industry since automatic screen machines and dyesub. There are, however, things you need to know.
1) the ink has a shelf life. the longer it sits around the bigger the chance you will have bad ink.
2) production times are nowhere near screen printing. while you can print short runs profitably, longer runs need much better control of costs to be competitive.
3) printing a single shirt can take 4 minutes or more from start to finish.
3) this is a complicated piece of equipment with close tolerances. not paying attention to that fact will yield nothing but frustration.
4) these machines like to run. the more you run it the happier it will be. the less you run it or the longer it just sits around the more chance you will have for problems like head clogs.
5) the ink is expensive.
6) pressing the shirts after printing adds to the time to print, consider a tunnel dryer like screen printers use.
7) color matching is a big issue. make sure you understand how colors work on a pc, how that are translated in the rip, and how your machine treats them.
8) unlike screen printing or embroidery, bitmaps (raster images) are your friend. imo this is one huge advantage over other forms of decorating.
I don't think there is more to say than has already been said.
However, my words of wisdom on the subject are simple. If you are a really good screen printer you have a chance at being a really good DTG printer. If you are a bad screen printer you will be a really bad DTG printer.
DTG is a thinking mans game. Look around your shop. If your gear is dirty and not maintained PLEASE do not by DTG equipment you will be sorry you did.
Not entirely. I have been printing for 23 years. My experience in four color process printing is what has made the difference in our approach to DTG. We do not view DTG as press the button and go. Our knowledge of true process color seperations for darks in screen printing cut the learning curve.
But what I was actually saying was - a good printer is someone that really cares about the product that leaves the shop. So if you are a good screen printer you probably will be a good DTG printer. If you are a bad screen printer - someone who doesn't care about delivering a great product - your DTG will suck too. DTG is not an easier softer way to success if you don't care.
My experience in four color process printing is what has made the difference in our approach to DTG. We do not view DTG as press the button and go. Our knowledge of true process color seperations for darks in screen printing cut the learning curve.
The main limitation for me is that at 51 units you loose all economies of scale and cannot offer 1000 units at bigger discounts.
The obvious issue is down time. My direct competitors spend more time delaying or cancelling jobs as their Kornits choke...
2 things: Yes I do agree on the user treating the machine like a tractor!
Personally I would love to have my own DTG but a partnership is the way I am proceeding. A Brother it is!!!
Cant wait as I have soo many designs ready to go!!!
2 things: Yes I do agree on the user treating the machine like a tractor!
Personally I would love to have my own DTG but a partnership is the way I am proceeding. A Brother it is!!!
Cant wait as I have soo many designs ready to go!!!
and I'm thinking, maybe one of those reasons is so that you could readily "switch" to screen printing if a certain design (initially printed in your Kornit) gets a volume order. Maybe making a design "DTG and Screen Printing compatible" is (at times) a great idea...
I've been screen printing for a couple of years now, and have just recently been considering switching over to DTG.
The information in this thread has been invaluable and I want to thank everyone that's posted their experiences with DTG!! I've still got a lot more research to do, but this has given me great insight as to some of the complications with DTG.
I've been screen printing for a couple of years now, and have just recently been considering switching over to DTG.
The information in this thread has been invaluable and I want to thank everyone that's posted their experiences with DTG!! I've still got a lot more research to do, but this has given me great insight as to some of the complications with DTG.
Switching is not the answer. Learning how to marry the decorating disciplines you have is. I am a long term scree printer, embroidery and DTG printer. Having both mediums is very usefull.
That's pretty much the conclusion that I've drawn. Though now I'm leaning more towards not even messing with DTG since it seems the only real benefit I would get out of it would be printing one off's
Which in that case, I'd rather just find a DTG printer to partner up with and work out a deal to have them print the small stuff for me.
What if a sheet fed printing co. wanted to get into DTG? I have the software and the graphics knowledge and have been dealing with ink, halftones, cont. tones, spot colors and solids for the last 17 years. I have a really good customer base for shirts and all have expressed interest if I proceed. I see paper-based reproduction as a dwindling market. I want to diversify by getting into a market that isn't going to be replaced so easily (Unless nudity gains wild popularity), but not replace our printing on paper (the equipment is well maintained and paid for).
DTG (Neoflex) is what we are considering, but this thread has made me question if this is the right move.
For those of you offering both (DTG and Screen Printing), at what quantity does DTG become more expensive (Say at 1 or 2 Colors)?
Clearly a big difference! By the way, this includes labor cost, since we have employees. The numbers are different if you don't want to calculate labor.
We basically have a big excel sheet that tells us which is faster and which is cheaper, based on our values for production times, ink costs, etc. (Sometimes the deadline is a bigger factor than money!)
Thats the thing 1-1000000 colors same for DTG. It does not care. Now white shirt vs dark colored. Dark requires white ink (pita).
You really can only get about 8-10 shirts per hour on a dtg a few more if white shirt no white ink.
I draw the line at 50 shirts for a simple 1-2 color. Full million color requiring 6 screens at 100-150
Great information! That is exactly what I was looking for!
I have read a lot about this process requiring pretreatment with DTG, but the 2 machines that we have looked at in detail (Anajet and Neoflex) seem to mention that no pretreatment is required.
What exactly is pretreatment and why (or why not) would it be required?
Every DTG machine needs pretreatment for white ink. You have to spray the pretreatment on the garment in order for the white ink to sit on top of the fabric instead of absorbing into it. It also binds the white ink together so you have to use a pretreatment that is compatible with your ink.
Is pretreatment something that the printer lays down? Not unless you buy a Kornit
Or is it done by hand from a spray bottle, or? Usually done by one of two ways:
1) Paint sprayer by hand. You have to practice and test wash shirts to be sure you are laying down the right amount.
2) Pretreat machine, usually available for $4-5,000
Some people do use other methods such as a spray bottle or a paint roller, and some do the roller or brush in addition to a paint sprayer.
Is it visible after the image is cured? The goal is invisible.... If it is visible, you did it wrong (either too much pretreat, or too much heat).
First month in---we are trying to use a treated paper once we lay down ink to cure. The paper is sticking to the print. Have tried lower (325) and higher (335) temps with the same results. 3 minute press time. HELP!
You're probably not using the right type of paper. Curing paper needs a non-stick coating so it doesn't stick to the ink (usually either silicone, Quilon or Teflon). You can feel the difference between plain paper and paper that has been coated. Your pressure could also be too high on the heat press. You're looking for light pressure when curing.
There are 2 kinds of paper make sure you have the right one. For a quick test go buy parchment paper at a grocery store and see if that fixes your problem.
Try this light or hover for first minute.
Then medium for last 2 min. This should improve your colors as well.
The first minute is critical. Keep in mind that many use a tunnel dryer with good results. I.e. No pressure.
I'm starting to feel a bit scared after reading all this. So if not DTG then what? I want to be able to take custom orders but i want to be able to design my own for retail sale. AHHH Help!!
Cilya
over 3 years since i wrote this, here is an update.
a) pretreat all garments, light and dark.
b) learn how the machine works and how to replace every part that can go bad.
c) never work on the machine while it is plugged in (fried motherboard)
d) clean the machine often. it will run better. this includes the encoder strip and wheel, capping station, wiper assembly, ink delivery system and any place else dust will accumulate
e) keep enough spare parts, 2 of everything that costs under $100 and maybe one of other critical elements. this includes encoder strip, ribbon cables, printhead carriage, print head and capping station/wiper assembly.
f) when your machine won't print don't assume it is the print head. the capping station may be dirty or not seating the print head or your lines may be a little clogged. learn how to clean the capping station or just replace it. learn how to flush your lines with cleaning solution.
g) know your costs so you can price affectively.
h) offer different products such as portraits that can command a higher price.
i) get intimate with your rip software and understand how it works and what each option is for. contact the developer company if you have to (if your vendor doesn't know or won't tell)
j) do your homework, make sure you go to the vendor and bring some artwork with you to see the entire process before you buy. you need to know all the steps and see it in action as you would have to do with someone just walking in with a picture and wanting it printed on a shirt.
On the money. Yes, pretreat them all. Yes figure out tunnel conveyors. Yes buy spares. Yes become intimate with the machine. Our staff has learned to say hello to it in the morning, and offer it lunch. Then make sure it's happy at 5pm.
Happy Turkey Day. Good advice right on target. Thanks for the post.
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