WHAT IS DTG PRINTING
DTG, short for direct-to-garment printing. It's a digital process in which water-based ink is applied directly to the garment. Once cured under heat, the ink bonds with the fabric to create a soft, vibrant and durable print. It is particularly well suited to detailed artwork, gradients and photo prints on T-shirts, where accurate colour reproduction and fine detail are essential.
HOW DTG PRINTING WORKS
The three key stages of the DTG printing process, from preparing the artwork to curing the finished garment.
FROM DIGITAL ARTWORK TO GARMENT
Your artwork is processed through specialist software before being sent directly to the DTG printer. This allows fine lines, gradients and complex colours to be reproduced without creating screens or transfers.
PRINTING ON LIGHT AND DARK GARMENTS
Colour is printed directly onto lighter garments. Dark garments first receive a white underbase, preventing the fabric colour from showing through and giving the finished design greater brightness and definition.
CURING THE PRINT FOR LASTING DURABILITY
After printing, the garment passes through a commercial dryer under controlled heat. This cures the water-based ink, helping the finished print retain its colour, soft feel and durability through repeated wear and washing.
INSIDE OUR DTG PRINTING FACILITY
See how digital artwork becomes a finished garment inside The T-Shirt Bakery's professional DTG printing facility.
INDUSTRIAL DTG PRINTING WITH KORNIT
We use industrial Kornit Atlas printers to produce DTG orders at a professional scale.
Our Atlas DTG machines make bulk printing easy, with a daily capacity of 3500 prints.
💡 EXPLORE DIRECT-TO-GARMENT PRINTING
Find practical guidance on artwork preparation, garment choice, print quality and choosing the right printing method.
PREPARING ARTWORK FOR DTG PRINTING
Learn how image resolution, file size, colour settings and transparent backgrounds can affect the quality of your finished print.
HIGH-DEFINITION ARTWORK
Start with a high-definition image containing enough detail for the intended print size. A small image cannot simply be enlarged without losing quality: the pixels are stretched, making the finished design look blurred or blocky, much like a photograph taken out of focus. Our guide to image resolution for custom T-shirt printing explains this in more detail. We may also be able to improve unsuitable artwork before production.
THE BEST FILE FORMAT AND COLOUR MODE
If your artwork was created as a vector graphic, an SVG is normally the best file to supply because it can be resized without losing quality. A high-resolution PNG is also excellent for DTG printing and is the format most frequently submitted to The T-Shirt Bakery. We recommend supplying colour artwork in RGB. PDFs are less reliable because they may contain vector artwork, low-quality images or a mixture of both. See our artwork guidelines before submitting your design.
REMOVE UNWANTED BACKGROUNDS
If you want the garment colour to show around your design, the artwork must have a transparent background. Otherwise, any white or coloured area behind the image may be printed as part of the design, leaving a visible rectangular background on the garment. PNG and SVG files can both support transparency. If you cannot remove the background yourself, let The T-Shirt Bakery know before placing your order and we may be able to prepare it for printing.
🛍️ BEST-SELLING CLOTHES FOR DIRECT-TO-GARMENT PRINTING
Personalise a T-shirt, hoodie, sweatshirt or vest with your own logo, artwork, photo or design. Choose a garment below, upload your design and we'll print it to order—no minimum order required.
👕 CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT DTG PRINTED
Choose from custom T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and vests, all printed to order with your artwork, logo or design. Explore our complete custom clothing range to find the right garment for an individual design, business, team, Bristol event or larger order.
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT OUR UK DTG PRINTING
👔 CUSTOM CLOTHING FOR BRISTOL BUSINESSES
From independent Bristol businesses to nationwide companies, we supply printed and embroidered clothing that keeps teams looking professional. Our range covers branded workwear, staff T-shirts and hospitality uniforms for cafés, bars, restaurants and hotels.
CLOTHING MADE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Find custom clothing for your industry, with flexible order quantities, quantity savings and help selecting the right garments for your team.
🏢 FRESH PRINTS FOR BUSINESSES BIG AND SMALL
Trusted by independent Bristol businesses and nationwide companies across the UK.
DTG Printing: Your Questions, Answered
Artwork tips, order sizes, turnaround times, and more — let’s break it down.
💡 Complex Artwork? No Problem
DTG printing is ideal for detailed logos, intricate illustrations, and full-colour photography. Unlike screen printing, we don’t charge per colour—so go wild with gradients, fades, and as many hues as you like.
Need design support? Here’s why hiring a graphic designer will boost your brand.
🚀 Fast Turnaround, No Setup Costs
No screens. No setup delays. No minimums. Just upload your artwork and we’re ready to roll. Whether it’s 1 or 1,000 pieces, we keep the quality high and the turnaround fast.
📦 Got 50+ Pieces? Let’s Talk
Need 50 or more garments printed? Get a custom quote today. We’ll assign you a dedicated account manager to handle everything from setup to shipping.
Tell us about your next DTG printing project—let’s bring it to life.
🧵 Not Just DTG…
Looking for embroidery services, DTF (Direct to Film) or custom hoodies? We do that too. Want to learn more about the best UK t-shirt printing techniques? We’ve got you covered.
LOOKING FOR MORE THAN JUST DTG PRINTING?
DTG printing is ideal for detailed, full-colour designs, but your project may need a different approach. Explore our UK T-Shirt Printing service for nationwide custom printing, bulk order support, multiple print methods and delivery across the UK.