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Can DTG Print on Polyester Shirts?
Initially, 100% Cotton fabric was used for any form of printing on T-shirts. DTG print on polyester T-shirts was unheard of. You’ll comprehend this better if you take a deeper look at the causes.
Being a natural fiber, cotton cloth is more durable than polyester. Under a microscope, cotton fibers reveal dye colors that are deeply embedded in the fabric. Natural fabrics also have a tighter weave, which contributes to the improved dye absorption.
Contrarily, the looser weave of polyester fabric allows the ink or dye pigments to sit on top of the fabric, preventing as much dye from penetrating the fabric. Consequently, white ink gives a darker polyester fabric a grey or washed appearance when printed on it.
You can really realize DTG print on polyester T-shirt, even though many printers would advise you to use 100% cotton or a cotton blend cloth for DTG. For DTG, they would rather you use a white polyester T-shirt. For instance, polyester shirts are not as texturized as cotton shirts. As a result, the print has a smoother finish.
Only after pre-treating the T-shirt with polyester and giving it plenty of time to cure before printing can this be accomplished. If a colored polyester garment is dried at the typical DTG temperature setting, dye migration—where the polyester’s dye seeps into the fabric—might happen. For instance, the print will seem pink if white ink is used on a red T-shirt.
Ways to Solve the Problem
By lowering the curing temperature from what they would typically use on cotton or other natural materials, DTG printers can effectively fix this problem.
DTG printing may work better on some polyester T-shirts with darker tones. To stop dye migration, nevertheless, a few measures must be taken. You must first apply a light coat of polyester pre-treatment to a polyester shirt with a darker color before DTG printing. In order to avoid manufacturing delays and meet deadlines, it is best to apply the pre-treatment a day beforehand.
The shirt will be prepared for printing once you have finished the pre-treatment and given it enough time to dry before using the heat press.
For just 45 seconds, the heat press’s temperature should be set at 265 F (130 C). To effectively seal the inks into the fabric, the T-shirt needs to cool before being heat-pressed again. Purchasing an automatic clam heat press that will open after the required period of time is a wise investment. With this kind of heat press, you may focus on other things without being concerned that the heat will harm your garment or the print. As an alternative to drying the shirt the traditional way, you can consider purchasing a conveyor dryer. This significantly shortens the drying time while speeding up your production. To effectively stop dye migration or color leakage, the conveyor for a polyester shirt needs to be set at low temperatures, and the conveyor belt speed needs to be reduced down.
Choosing A DTG Printer For Polyester Shirts
Before spending money on a DTG print on polyester shirts, it is best to do further research. Currently, there are a huge number on the market. These days, a DTG printer is offered by all prominent printer manufacturers.
Due to the characteristics of DTG printers and the fact that it is more affordable than screen printing, DTG has recently grown in popularity and gained a larger share of the printing market.
When beginning a small business, investing in screens, inks, and other screen-printing supplies can be expensive. Screen printing requires more time overall, so you must take it into account.
For polyester shirts, you should look for a DTG printer that provides you with
superior quality
To the touch is soft
Good washability
cheap per-print prices
high pace of output
With the right DTG printer for your polyester shirts, you can boost production effectiveness and efficiency while paying less for labor. You now have a competitive advantage over your rivals.
