How to print on black and colored T-Shirts - White Underbase in Direct to Garment Printing

[@pvspeaks]

You guys have the best DTG related content. Awesome video editing 😎 I am sure you will get lots and lots of subscribers sooooooon. And I will always be the early n smart subscriber :)

[@DTGMerch]

Thank you so much! We are definitely glad to have you - you are one of our motivations to keep going! It's nice to know that someone likes our work. :-)

[@AlanValek]

I've experienced bad prints on white tees without a base with DTG printing. It seems like the tees can't hold the ink the well, the graphics look blurry and tend to bleed a bit into the fabric at the edges. Colored tees look much better where a base is used. I have a feeling that with DTG, you may need to put a base under most everything to get a print that's close to traditional screen print quality. Maybe the ink jet head moving back and forth several times on fabric, without a base, makes it difficult to lay a clean print, versus a single pull with screen printing.

[@DTGMerch]

Hi, Alan, hope you doing great today! In my opinion, some key issues for you to consider are fabric composition, fabric coatings (like optical brighteners and softeners), and incorrect ink application. Also, are your t-shirts completely dry before printing? While not usually necessary for CMYK-only inks, pretreating white t-shirts can significantly improve results.Without it, white tees can absorb ink more readily, which can lead to blurry graphics and bleeding edges, especially if the fabric is slightly damp, is coated or the printheads are delivering too much ink. However, when using white ink, even just for highlights, pretreatment is essential. Your comment about DTG and Screen Printing is also valid, when ignoring the different types of ink used in each method. Under normal conditions, this issue shouldn't occur. Thank you for your comment; I hope this clarifies the issue!

[@LifeAccountsandGrowingPains]

thank you for sharing

[@natanmandala]

So say that I have colored artwork that is on a white piece of paper, and when I take a picture of it, it looks like it has almost a slightly grayish white tint to the white paper, will that slightly, but barely grayish white color be printed? Or will only an absolute white not be printed? I'm having trouble understanding this?...SBN RESONATE

[@neatlines2323]

I have a white design that I want to print on black shirts( via print on demand). I’m afraid of transparent- thin layer of white color. Question is, should I prepare the file with white color only OR to change the color to slightly different color- so the basic coat will be applied (thicker level of paint)?

[@DTGMerch]

Hi! If I understand you correctly, you want to print a purely white design (not grayscale) on a dark shirt? Then the best would be to use 100% white on a transparent background.

[@neatlines2323]

@@DTGMerch yes, thank you! I tought if I prepare the white areas slightly saturated, that I will achieve the thicker layer of paint- because the machine create the under layer automatically.

[@MaggiFuchs]

@@neatlines2323 The white will be printed during the underbase, but in this case, since the design white only, it will usually print no color layer on top. So you will get the maximum underbase. Also, white is the brightest color, so you will get the maximum laydown of white. If you would change that to a different color, even if it is a light one like a pastel yellow, it will always be darker than pure white. Plus then it will print a color layer on top of the white... so... best is to really 100% pure white! Hope this helps! :)

[@neatlines2323]

@@MaggiFuchs OK, thank you very much, both of you guys!

[@ReverendHogwash]

Don't expect this type of quality from online shops like CustomInk; they'll cheaply print direct to garment without an underbase and you will end up very unhappy.

[@DTGMerch]

Hello and thank you for your participation. Well, I am afraid you are right. I do not know CustomInk (maybe it was a one-time thing?) But the print quality of some online print shops is not as good as it seems on their websites and catalogues. And I am very polite to this comment. I think the only way is to order from different stores, keep the good t-shirts and send back the not so good ones. Eventually you will find an online shop that offers the print quality you need for future orders. All the best to you, 😀

[@LRogersPhoto]

You can't get black on black shirt with DTG

[@amsakkejha3827]

What are the other options?

[@LRogersPhoto]

@@amsakkejha3827 I guess screenprint it yourself or pay someone, DTG is not a rich black