Your Stop for Name Brand Direct To Garment Printers
Compared to most garment printers, Direct to Garment (DTG) Printers can increase your productivity at half the cost of the other guys while also reducing the need for maintenance. With a quick turnaround, it’s suitable for small batches while also providing a minimal investment.
Our Selection of Direct to Garment (DTG) Printers:
Epson DTG Printers
Epson SureColor F2100 DTG Printer
Specifically designed for DTG printing, Epson’s SureColor F2100 is made for high production volumes for high-quality prints. Compared to previous generations of the Epson DTG Printer, the F2100 provides a speed up to two times faster. There is also a new feature included, a self-cleaning system that gives less downtime.
M&R DTG Printers
M&R i-Image ST
M&R’s i-Image ST Computer to Screen (CTS) Imaging System features a faster on-press setup and registration with complete control of all printing parameters. Designed to fit through a 81cm (32″) doorway, while having a maximum image area of 51 x 66 cm (20″ x 26″) or a 51 x 86 cm (20″ x 34″). Compared to a traditional film positive, computer-to-screen images hold better detail and less complicated halftone transitions.
M&R i-Image STE I
M&R’s i-Image STE I Computer-to-Screen (CTS) Imaging & Exposure System can expose and generate full-size images in under a minute. Unlike other models such as the i-Image S and i-Image ST, this model features a full-size flatbed UV LED for exposure capabilities. If you combine the i-Image STE I with M&R’s Uni-Kote Screen Coating System as well as a screen rinsing system, one operator will be able to coat, image, expose and rinse over 400 screens in an eight-hour shift.
M&R i-Image XE
Similar to other i-Image presses, M&R’s i-Image XE can expose full-size t-shirts in under a minute. You will be able to simultaneously image and expose a number of oversize screens for textile printing. The maximum size screen that will fit into this machine is a 152 x 152 cm (60″ x 60″) with an image area of 132 x 132 cm (52″ x 52″).
M&R i-Image S
With a smaller footprint and affordable pricing, M&R’s i-Image S has the ability to print up to 100 screens per shift. This compact machine is a good choice for small-to-medium sized shops. The image area holds up to 51 x 66cm (20″ x 26″) and can be used with a majority of screen frames up to 66 x 91 cm (26″ x 36″)
*All DTG Printers are Special Order and must be ordered over the phone. If you are interested in any of our DTG Printers or have questions, please give us a call at 860-289-3040
Have a Question? Need a Quote?
At Garston, we are always looking for the best innovations and the best products for all of our customers. We want to offer all of our screen printers with the most affordable direct to garment printers. Every printing shop could always be upgraded, that’s why we try to stock the best name-brand products in the industry..
Why Garston for Direct To Garment Printers?
Affordable Prices
Keeping up with all of the new screen printing technology can be overwhelming. But, here at Garston we keep our prices low and our products high-quality.
Customer Satisfaction
To keep all of our customers satisfied, we always go the extra mile and provide you with the necessary information and guidance.
Name Brand Products
Looking for products you can trust? Here at Garston, we only provide the best, well-respected and affordable name brands.
Qualities of Name Brand Direct To Garment Printer
Minimal Upfront Cost
When it comes to DTG printers, there are no setup costs compared to traditional screen printing techniques. It’s as easy as letting the machine warm up and getting straight to printing.
Less Hassle with Color
DTG Printers provide full-color printing options. So, instead of charging your customers by color, you’ll avoid this hassle at all costs.
Better Quality Prints
Direct to Garment printers allow you to directly attach ink to fibers. This ability will result in more detailed, vibrant prints.
Choosing a Direct To Garment Printer
Screen Printing on its own is an art and should be executed similarly every time you print, but it doesn’t mean you can’t shake things up every now and then. Such is the case with Direct to Garment Printers. Not every screen printer will think about heading digital, but it’s possible and you have the ability to add a direct to garment printer to your screen printing shop.
Here’s a few tips on how to pick out the best model for your needs.
1. See The Printer In Action
Reading online reviews and buying solely on those recommendations would be a costly mistake when it comes to DTG printers. Sure, a DTG printer is similar to an inkjet printer, but the cost is a major difference and you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Some manufactures will even let you demo a printer, so make sure to bring your own print and demo the machine you’re interested in. A larger price-tag doesn’t necessarily mean a better product. You should base your decision off reliability, quality and capability.
During your demo of the machine, pay attention to how well the ink reset functions works, how long the process takes, the amount of ink wasted or used, any ink flow problems, and nozzle checks.
2. What Type of Garment Are You Printing On?
A majority of DTG printers are used for T-shirt printing, but you also have the chance to print on other items including fleece, pants, bags or sweatshirts. If you have an extensive list of items you plan on printing, you need to make sure that the printer you select has the correct platens and fixtures for your desired applications. This can make the decision easier, helping you narrow down which printer will actually go along with what garments you plan on printing.
3. What Fabric Do You Use?
After you figure out what garments you want to decorate, you need to think about which fabrics you print on a majority of your production. Most DTG garments will be cotton, polyester, cotton/poly, or even polyester/spandex blends.
4. What Colors Do You Plan on Using?
The color of the garments you print on will directly impact the cost of each printing job as well as your choice of printer. Sublimation inks (which are mainly transparent) will limit your printing jobs to only white or light-colored garments. If you have a pigment or toner printing system, you’ll be able to print on light, white, black or even darker shirts.
If you mainly work with dark colored shirts, you will need to account for the use of white ink or toner that your DTG printer will use on the garment before printing colors such as: cyan, magenta, yellow or black process colors. To achieve better quality prints, you may also have to print two to four times more white than your process color ink or toner. This can add an additional charge to the overall printed product you need to be aware of.
4. Getting Started with a DTG Printer
Start off by deciding how you will integrate a DTG printer into your screen printing shop. Will you switch over some printing jobs to digital or will you entirely switch to printing just on a DTG printer? The choice is up to you, but you’ll need to weigh your odds and figure out which works better for your productivity and time management.
Alternatively, if you aren’t entirely sure about starting with digital printing, you can purchase a lower cost, low volume system that won’t be a large undertaking financially. This will help you learn how to work around production times, while only working with smaller budget. If you find that you are enjoying the process and wish to expand your use, you can invest and upgrade to a new printer within the next year or so.
Other Considerations
When it comes to mass production or short runs (which DTG Printers are better for) you might run into a few problems if you aren’t careful.
- Supplies and Blanks: Ordering the wrong blanks or not ordering enough could reflect your deadlines. Always be sure to double-check your orders and know what you have on hand at all times. This will decrease your chances of an overnight shipping cost.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Printing your first set of garments could result in utter chaos. But, no screen printer started out perfect and mistakes are bound to happen. It could be that you accidentally folded your shirt onto the wet ink, or perhaps you forgot to set the right ink color when printing.It could be a number of things that go wrong, but you need to remember that mistakes will set you back in both time and money.
- Printing on 100% Cotton Items: It’s possible to use a DTG Printer on a blend, but you will lose the brightness if you choose items with polyester blends.
- DTG Printers can be slow: Each individual item can take around 3-5 minutes depending on how you prep your art. If you are looking for high volume printing, screen printing is preferred.
Direct To Garment Printers FAQ
How Many Washings Can I Get Out Of Prints With a DTG Printer?
The quality and duration of your prints will depend on a few factors:
- The quality of your shirt
- How you pretreated the shirt
- How you wash the shirt
How Long Can I Leave a DTG Unused?
If you aren’t using your machine or you plan to not be using it for a few days, you should plan to do a system flush. Then you can leave the system stagnant for however long you want to.
What Is the Best Shirt to Use When Printing With a DTG Printer?
When choosing a shirt for printing, you need to consider three things: the weight, material, the production time and value of the shirt. The most well-known type of shirt used in DTG printing is 100% cotton. But, there are two types of cotton you must be aware of: carded and ringspun. Carded shirts are mostly used for wholesale, heavy use or work environments. Ringspun cotton is a lighter fabric with a soft feel and best quality prints.
What About Printer Redundancy?
Unfortunately, printer redundancy will happen in any digital printing technology. This includes nozzle clogs, printing defects, maintenance, printer steaks and other issues that make it almost necessary to have two printers. But, having too many printers will make you run into redundancy, and increase the possibility of inconsistency with colors – seeing that you are using multiple machines.
What Additional Equipment and Software Do I Need?
Any DTG Printer you work with will require additional equipment and materials. It’s best to contact your local supplier or the manufacturer to be sure you are using the correct materials. In general, pigment inkjet DTG printers will need a pre-treatment system and a conveyor oven or heat press, while toner DTG printers will need transfer paper and a heat press. If you use a transfer sublimation system, you will need to have transfer paper and a heat press to complete the process.
Honest, Fair Prices on All Direct To Garment Printers
At Garston, we are always looking for the best innovations and the best products for all of our customers. We want to offer all of our screen printers with the most affordable direct to garment printers. Every printing shop could always be upgraded, that’s why we try to stock the best name-brand products in the industry. Feel free to reach out to us at860-289-3040.