DTG (direct-to-garment) printing works like an inkjet printer, spraying water-based ink directly onto a garment, where the ink soaks into the fibres. It is the better choice when you print on 100% cotton or high-cotton blanks and want a soft print that feels part of the shirt, especially large designs on light colours.
This matters if you are choosing a print method or a provider for an Etsy apparel shop. The method decides which blanks you can offer, how the print feels in the hand and how it looks on a black shirt, and all three shape how buyers feel about the shirt when it arrives. Knowing where DTG is strong, and where a transfer method fits better, keeps your product choices and your listing copy honest.
How DTG printing works
A DTG print goes through a short, repeatable sequence:
The shirt is loaded flat onto the printer's platen so the print area is smooth.
On dark garments, it first gets a pretreatment coat and a white ink underbase. Light garments skip this step.
The printer sprays water-based ink straight onto the fabric, much like a desktop inkjet prints on paper.
The print is heat-cured so the ink sets in the fibres.
Because the ink goes into the fabric rather than sitting on it, one provider describes the result this way: the "ink absorbs into the fibers, so the print feels part of the shirt." That soft hand is DTG's main selling point. There is no screen to make for each colour, so DTG, like DTF, runs "with no setup fees or minimum orders", which is why it fits print on demand.
Which fabrics suit DTG
DTG "needs 100% cotton or high-cotton garments" and is "not recommended for nylon or polyester, as synthetic fibers repel water-based ink." Another provider's guide puts it as "best suited for natural fabrics like cotton, bamboo, linen, or such fabric blends."
The catch for Etsy sellers is that one style can have different fibre content by colour. Here is what the makers' own sheets say for blanks you will see in print-on-demand catalogues.
| Blank | Fibre content (maker's sheet) | DTG fit |
|---|---|---|
| Bella+Canvas 3001 | 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Ash 99/1) | Good |
| Comfort Colors 1717 | 100% ring spun cotton, garment-dyed | Good, white ink needs care |
| Gildan 5000, most colours | 100% cotton (Sport Grey and Antique colours 90/10) | Good |
| Gildan 5000 heathers | 50/50 cotton/polyester | Below high-cotton, ask your printer |
| Gildan 64000, many heathers | 65/35 polyester/ring spun cotton | Weak, mostly polyester |
| Gildan 18500 hoodie | 50/50 cotton/poly | Below high-cotton, ask your printer |
| 100% polyester | Synthetic | Not recommended |
Sources: Bella+Canvas 3001, the Comfort Colors 1717 sheet, and Gildan's US sheets for the 5000, 64000 and 18500. The Comfort Colors sheet adds that "Special consideration must also be taken when printing white ink on garment-dyed cotton." For a side-by-side of two of these tees, see Comfort Colors 1717 vs Bella+Canvas 3001.
When DTG gives a softer result than transfers
A transfer such as DTF is a film that sits on top of the fabric. One provider describes DTF as "A thin, smooth layer you can feel sitting on top of the fabric", and another notes that a DTF print "has a plastic feel and might be slightly stiff initially" and that "The breathability for these prints is relatively low." DTG avoids that layer, which makes a visible difference in a few cases:
Large designs on light shirts. A full-front graphic on a white, natural or pastel 100% cotton tee needs no underbase, so the whole area stays soft, with no film layer on top.
Soft, worn-in artwork on light shirts. Faded vintage textures and distressed looks sit in the fibres instead of reading as a sticker.
Large prints on summer tees. One provider rates DTF breathability as relatively low, so for a big print on a shirt worn in the heat, DTG avoids that trade-off.
Where DTG is weaker
DTG has real limits, and they matter for a POD catalogue:
Dark shirts. They need the pretreatment and white underbase, and one provider notes that on black or colourful garments the print "may be less vibrant" and gradients are "tricky to print."
Polyester and polyester-heavy heathers. Water-based ink is repelled by synthetic fibres, which rules out many athletic blanks and limits some heather colours.
White on white. At least one provider does "not print white ink on white garments".
Durability expectations. One provider estimates a DTG print "Lasts 50+ washes with proper care before color fades gradually", against its estimate for DTF of "50-100 washes before fading, cracking, or peeling shows." These are a single provider's estimates, not guarantees.
DTF, by comparison, "can print on cotton, polyester, nylon, and blends alike", and its white ink layer lets transfers work on any fabric colour. We go deeper in DTF vs DTG printing for Etsy t-shirts and printing on dark garments.
Preparing a file for DTG
The file rules are close to those for any garment print:
Use PNG. One provider says "For DTG products, PNG is usually the best option because it supports transparent backgrounds." JPEG has no transparency, so its background can print as a white box.
Aim for 300 DPI at print size. One provider recommends 300 DPI for JPEG/PNG files, while another recommends at least 150 DPI for DTG, so check your provider's own requirement.
Size the file to the real print dimensions so the DPI is calculated correctly.
Work in sRGB. One provider recommends the sRGB IEC61966-2.1 profile and warns that converting to CMYK first can reduce colour information.
Our print file requirements for POD walks through each of these.
Where Alomations fits
We are upfront about this: our catalog products are not printed with DTG. Apparel in the Alomations catalog is printed with DTF, with sublimation for the products that need it, and production for US orders is in the US. Because DTF handles cotton, polyester and blends alike, the same process covers the 100% cotton tees and the cotton and polyester sweatshirts and hoodies in the catalog. Catalog prices are listed per product as "from" prices, for example Gildan 5000 from $6.89, Bella+Canvas 3001 from $8.40, Gildan 18000 from $10.90 and Gildan 18500 from $13.90 (read October 17, 2026), with shipping quoted separately.
Whichever method you choose, the file side is handled the same way. Every Alomations design comes back print-ready at 12 inches and 300 DPI (3,600 pixels on the long side), as a transparent PNG with an SVG alongside, in light and dark versions so it reads on white garments and on black.
Frequently asked questions
Is DTG good for black shirts?
It works, with a pretreatment coat and a white ink underbase first. One provider notes that prints on black or colourful garments may be less vibrant, so check a sample before you list.
Can DTG print on polyester?
It is not recommended, because synthetic fibres repel water-based ink. DTF prints on polyester and blends, and sublimation needs polyester or another synthetic.
Does DTG have minimum order quantities?
According to one provider, DTG and DTF both run with no setup fees or minimum orders, which is why both suit print on demand.
How long does a DTG print last?
One provider estimates 50+ washes with proper care before the colour fades gradually. Washing inside out in cold water is a sensible habit for any printed shirt.
To get print-ready files and list catalog products without holding stock, start on the Alomations free plan.