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NSDdesign · June 20th, 2014

Why can't it be easy to get it right off the jump. So much time is wasted testing and refining the process.

I wanna know, X-brand, X-color is X setting on X-machine, Hit it and run the job, Nope, it can't be that easy. It needs to be or else DTG printing will never overtake screenprinting, ever.

Anyone started taking notes of what works best? Let's compile a list, start a general chart of sorts.

jgabby · June 20th, 2014

In my opinion DTG has already overtaken smaller manual and automatic screenprinting press (aeoon)

I found PT process not easy when I started.

This is normal to test and trial on a batch of 30-50 t-shirts. Then PT would have not secret anymore.

Now I just takes notes of the brand to avoid, because all brand are not equal.

What DTG machine do you own ? PT and ink Brand ?

NSDdesign · June 20th, 2014

Neoflex, Dupont Ink, Image Armor PT and a Viper1.

jgabby · June 20th, 2014

seems you have the best of the best

:-)

NSDdesign · June 20th, 2014

I suppose, but I still find that the pretreatment process to be challenging and time consuming. Just wish it was a smoother process.

synful prod · June 20th, 2014

Melcojet 2010, wanger sprayer (for now EZ pretreat almost paid off on order) Image Armour for lights and Firebird Dark PT for darks and white ink. Dupont CMYK and Fire Bird White.

We get solid whites and usually good colors if its our printed designs.

Inspired Buffalo · June 25th, 2014

I agree it can be cumbersome.
However, there is one think that I would like to comment on.

DTG will never take over screen printing. It is just to long a process for large runs where deadlines are important.

DTG has a long, long way to go.

Dry-fit shirts are going to overtake the market eventually. This machine, spray and ink need to work with this type of shirt. Otherwise it will never be a big player in the market.

To costly to run. I am over 5000 grand just in ink the first 6 months of this year. M2 is too expensive. (I own)
Tech support and teaching locally as well as classes on the rip software should be offered. Not enough repair people.

It's a good machine but the companies that push these things needs to really up there game.
All my opinions of course.

rwshirts · June 25th, 2014

Question is.....what happened to the "pre-treated" shirt from the supplier? I remember reading about a company that was going to supply pre-treated shirts for the digital industy. Has that ever materialized? Is there a supplier that will wholesale you a pre-treated shirt?

FIREBIRDken · June 26th, 2014

Check out DTGReady.com
They have been supplying black pretreated shirts for about a year now. I understand they are working on newer styles and adding more colors.

EricDeem · June 26th, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inspired Buffalo


	I agree it can be cumbersome. However, there is one think that I would like to comment on. DTG will never take over screen printing. It is just to long a process for large runs where deadlines are important. DTG has a long, long way to go. Dry-fit shirts are going to overtake the market eventually. This machine, spray and ink need to work with this type of shirt. Otherwise it will never be a big player in the market. To costly to run. I am over 5000 grand just in ink the first 6 months of this year. M2 is too expensive. (I own) Tech support and teaching locally as well as classes on the rip software should be offered. Not enough repair people. It's a good machine but the companies that push these things needs to really up there game. All my opinions of course.

DTG will ABSOLUTELY take over screen printing. Not tomorrow but in time. Digital ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS wins. Go ask the offset printers that didn't think digital would take their market share. Screen printing has been going on for thousands of years. DTG with white ink isn't even a decade old!! With more machines like the Aeoon that can produce 400+ shirt per hour in full color its just a matter of time before the market with shift from analog to digital.

Regarding your comment about being in a time restrictive situation. How do you handle making a change to a design midway thru a print job when screen printing? Spend 3-4 hours burning new screens, registration etc...DTG spends 2 minutes updating the artwork in the RIP and hits print. In the amount of time (LABOR $$$) it takes to burn and prep a large 10+ color press I can literally print THOUSANDS of different full color designs on an Aeoon and be making $$$$ while the screen printer is still adjusting the flood bar and registration of the screens.

Oh and DTG is printing on white poly shirt without problems now. In a year I would say we will be printing on ALL colors of poly.

Will screen printing become extinct? NO.
Will screen printing loose a big portion of their market in time? YES.
Is DTG the fastest growing segment in the industry? YES.

In the future I foresee ink that don't require pretreatment and or garments from the big brands that are pretreated at the mill and white ink ready right out of the box. Its not a matter of if...just when.

Inspired Buffalo · June 26th, 2014

Good comments
Hope your right.

I will never screen print so I hope it does.

I have never screen printed. I don't know how. LOL

I am financially comitted and have grown bigger in the past 6 months.
We are getting more and more people coming to us for shorter runs and shirts that screen printers won't touch.

4,5,6 colors and more.

Thanks
Things I should think about.

teeman72 · June 27th, 2014

While there is definitely a market for dtg. I don't think that this will overtake screen printing any time in the next 5 to 10 years only from the fact the consumables are higher priced on dtg end and much more downtime potential with so little turn around time expected

estrada · June 27th, 2014

Pretrating and white ink are the biggest challenges in DTG.

Colors are super easy, fast and cheap. So in theory DTG should already be cheaper, faster and better quality than screen printed for light shirts.

Pretreating is getting easier with the use of automatic pretreatment machines. Every DTG printer should have one but they are still a bit expensive ($4,000 - $7,000). Hopefully we will see a drop in these machines as more competition enters the market.

The day DTG will rule over screen print is when white ink costs arround $70 a liter and printers are capable of printing 60 dark shirts an hour.

Of course the Aeoon already does this but only a few can afford it.

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