5 Expert T-Shirt Design Tips and DTG printing techniques for Clothing Factories and Design Studios

Designing an eye-catching T-shirt can be both fun and rewarding. Today, many design studios and clothing factories around the world have purchased DTG printer machines to print these personalized shirts. However, even the simplest designs require a strategic approach to avoid common pitfalls. 

Here are 5 expert design tips and DTG printing techniques to help you create impressive T-shirt prints.

1. Determine the Best Image Size for T-Shirt Printing

Size matters when it comes to T-shirt designs. Avoid the standard "one-size-fits-all" approach. Instead, tailor the design size based on the shirt's purpose and garment characteristics

Additionally, consider the specific printing location, such as a chest logo or a large back design, to determine the best image size.

Here are some practical reference suggestions:

● Front Printing:

Chest Logo: Recommended width within 8-10cm, 6-8cm from the collar.

Front Large Image: Recommended width within 35cm, 6-8cm from the collar.

● Back Printing:

Back Logo: Recommended width within 8-10cm, about 6cm from the collar.

Back Large Image: Recommended width within 42cm, 8-10cm from the collar.

For different T-shirt sizes, the pattern can be proportionally enlarged. 

However, note that the distance between the edges of the enlarged pattern and the collar will be shortened, requiring some adjustment. The final image size should be fine-tuned based on the specific pattern and T-shirt style to ensure the best visual effect.

2. Use High-Quality Images

Ensure images are at least 300 dpi for clarity. 

If the image is not 300 dpi (e.g., 72dpi), you can use image processing software to enlarge the image without loss of quality, then reduce the enlarged image to its original size in PS software and increase the dpi to 300. 

Images in CMYK mode are closer to the printed colors and allow for easier color adjustment.

3. Choose the Right Fabric T-shirt

The fabric is one of the key factors affecting the custom T-shirt printing effect. Prioritize all-cotton or high-cotton T-shirts.

● Avoid using T-shirts with high silicone content

Silicone is a water-resistant and wrinkle-resistant agent commonly used in textile processing. 

Excessive silicone content can hinder the penetration of pretreatment liquid into the fabric fibers, affecting the bond between ink and fabric, and thus reducing the color fastness of the fabric. 

To determine if a blank T-shirt contains silicone, touch and observe. T-shirts with high silicone content are usually slippery and non-absorbent.

● Prioritize selecting T-shirts with a smooth and lint-free fabric 

This is particularly crucial for dark T-shirts, as they typically require a layer of white ink applied as a base color before DTG printing. Excessive lint can lead to a rough appearance of the printed pattern, negatively impacting both the feel and colorfastness.

4. Necessary Pre-treatment and Post-treatment

● Pre-treatment

Pretreating the T-shirt before printing can improve ink absorption, and the appropriate ink needs to be selected. The function of the pretreatment liquid is to make the ink film quickly and increase the color fastness and color performance. 

Ink and treatment liquid need to be matched to achieve the best results. For dark T-shirts, in addition to spraying the treatment liquid before printing color patterns, a layer of white ink also needs to be applied to enhance the brightness and accuracy of the pattern colors, and at the same time improve the durability of the printing.

HPRT DA067D digital textile pigment printing machine adopts a unique one-stop design, integrating white ink pre-treatment and DTG printing to effectively improve production efficiency. This industrial-grade digital t-shirt printer has a double-station design and can print 160 A4-size dark T-shirts per hour.

● Post-treatment

After DTG printing T-shirts, post-treatment is also required. Applying heat would enhance the brightness of the pattern color, and improve color fastness and washing resistance. 

The usual setting temperature is 150℃, and the time does not exceed 5 minutes. The temperature and time can be adjusted appropriately according to different fabrics.

5. Color Management

Use professional color calibration tools to match the colors of images and prints. The colors displayed on the screen and those printed can differ; thus, using Pantone color charts and professional calibration tools to match these colors is crucial.

Note that during the drying process, the ink may darken as water evaporates due to the high drying temperatures. Therefore, color calibration should be done using dried patterns.

Following these practical tips will ensure your custom T-shirts are vibrant and high-quality. 

HPRT, a leading digital fabric printing machine manufacturer in China, offers a series of products catering to diverse applications in the clothing and fabric industry. 

Our product lines include direct-to-garment printers, roll-to-roll direct-to-fabric digital textile printers, high-speed dye sublimation printers, and the new DA18FS Hybrid printing solution with inline pretreatment and flatbed screen.

For purchasing, upgrading a digital textile printing machine, or seeking digital fabric printing solutions, feel free to contact us. The HPRT team is dedicated to serving you!