What is DTG printing?: Best t-shirts for DTG printing
As your trusted blank clothing wholesaler, we’re here to help you get the most out of your prints. Below, we’ll share the best t-shirts for DTG printing, plus tips on what to avoid for the best results.
The Best Fabric for DTG: 100% Cotton
For the best print quality, choose a 100% cotton tee. Why? Natural cotton fibres absorb water-based inks better than synthetic alternatives, allowing you to produce long-lasting, vibrant prints. That’s why 100% cotton is widely considered the best blank t-shirt for DTG printing.
At Prestige Leisure, we stock a wide selection of 100% cotton t-shirts ideal for DTG—whether you're after a specific fit, colour, or fabric weight, we’ve got you covered.
The Jack&Jones Produkt range delivers high-quality t-shirts that are made for standout DTG prints. The JJ001 CANVAS TEE at 100% organic cotton provides a natural base for your DTG printing, absorbing the water-based inks into the fabric. If you have a customer looking for a more retail, oversized fit, the JJ002 FRAME TEE would make the best t-shirt for customisation.
What about Cotton-Polyester Blends?
While 100% cotton t-shirts deliver the best DTG results, blended fabrics—such as 80/20 or 60/40 cotton-polyester—can still be used. Just note that prints on blends tend to appear slightly duller due to reduced ink absorption. This isn’t always a bad thing; it can work well for fashion-forward or athleisure looks. The best t-shirts for printing in this style is the GD020 Dry blends at 50% cotton and 50% Polyester
Here are things to AVOID when DTG printing:
Cheap/homemade pre-treatment – Using the correct pre-treatment on your blank apparel is crucial and if not used, you risk your print coming out inconsistently and unevenly.
Poor Artwork – Make sure the artwork you are using is coming from a high-resolution file, designs with a background or designs with saturation issues to avoid disappointing prints.
Inconsistent garment placements – When printing in bulk, ensure you keep the same alignment for the whole batch to ensure consistency and avoid unhappy customers.
Dark or black fabrics – This is to ensure the print maintains its vibrance, avoid dark fabrics as the water-ink does not show up very well.
FAQ
DTG stands for Direct-to-Garment.
DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing is a method of printing designs directly onto fabric using specialised inkjet technology.
DTG (Direct-to-Garment) prints directly onto fabric using inkjet technology, ideal for detailed designs on cotton. DTF (Direct-to-Film) prints onto a film that’s heat-transferred to the garment, working on a wider range of fabrics with vibrant results.
It depends on what you need. DTG is better for detailed, high-quality prints on cotton with a soft feel. DTF is more versatile, working on various fabrics with bold colors and good durability—great for smaller runs and complex placements.