🔍 WHAT IS DTG PRINTING
DTG is 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 THE DTG PROCESS WORKS
Follow 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 both individual DTG orders and larger production runs.
Our DTG printing capacity reaches up to 3,500 prints per day, allowing us to handle larger orders efficiently while continuing to offer no minimum order.
💡 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.
🛠️ NOT SURE IF YOUR ARTWORK OR PHOTO IS READY TO PRINT?
🛍️ BEST-SELLING CLOTHES FOR DIRECT-TO-GARMENT PRINTING
Choose from four of our most popular garments for direct-to-garment printing. Each product can be personalised with your own logo, artwork, photograph or design, whether you need one garment or a larger order.
👕 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, event or larger order.
💬 WHAT CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT OUR UK DTG PRINTING SERVICE
Read more feedback from customers on our Google Reviews and Trustpilot pages.
🧒 CUSTOM KIDS’ CLOTHING FOR DTG PRINTING
Create custom kids’ T-shirts for birthdays, school activities, clubs, family celebrations and everyday adventures. Add their name, favourite artwork or a colourful design to comfortable clothing made to be worn and enjoyed.
TURN THEIR FAVOURITE PHOTO INTO A T-SHIRT
Turn a photo of their family, favourite pet or a special day into a personalised T-shirt made just for them.
⭐ WHY DTG CUSTOMERS CHOOSE THE T-SHIRT BAKERY
Professional DTG printing, helpful personal service and flexible order quantities, with delivery throughout the UK.
DEDICATED ACCOUNT MANAGER
Get personal help with garment selection, artwork quality, and order planning, with support tailored to your DTG printing project's requirements.
NO MINIMUM ORDER
Order a single personalised garment, a small batch or a larger quantity, with savings available on volume orders.
DTG PRINTING EXPERTISE
We use professional DTG printing equipment to reproduce detailed, full-colour artwork with a vibrant finish and soft feel.
FAST TURNAROUND
Orders are normally printed within 5–10 working days, with nationwide delivery to homes, businesses, schools and organisations.
LOOKING FOR A BROADER UK PRINTING SERVICE?
DTG printing is ideal for detailed, full-colour designs, but your project may need a different approach. Visit our UK T-Shirt Printing service for nationwide custom printing, bulk order support, multiple print methods and delivery across the UK.
👔 CUSTOM UNIFORMS FOR BUSINESSES
From independent businesses to nationwide companies, we supply printed uniforms and clothing that help teams look professional and strengthen brand recognition. Browse our custom clothing for businesses, including hospitality uniforms, staff clothing, event apparel and branded merchandise.
CLOTHING MADE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Find clothing suited to your business, with flexible order quantities, quantity savings and help choosing the right garments for your team. We produce printed clothing for events and promotions, as well as branded clothing designed to keep your organisation visible.
🏢 FRESH PRINTS FOR BUSINESSES BIG AND SMALL
Trusted by independent businesses and nationwide companies across the UK.
❓ DTG PRINTING FAQS
Everything you need to know before ordering custom DTG-printed clothing.
💷 How much does DTG printing cost?
DTG printing prices depend on the garment, order quantity and whether you want printing in one or more areas. Prices for smaller orders are shown as you customise your garment, while orders of 50 or more may qualify for our bulk T-shirt printing service and a personalised quotation.
👕 Which garments can be printed using DTG?
DTG works best on cotton and cotton-rich garments, including T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and vests. Some blended fabrics can also be printed, although the fabric composition may affect the colour and finish of the design.
👀 Will I see my design before it is printed?
Yes. For online orders, the product customiser shows how your design will be positioned on the garment. For larger account-managed orders, we can email a visual for approval before production begins. Please check the artwork, spelling, size and positioning carefully before approving it.
🎨 Will the printed colours look exactly like they do on my screen?
For the most part, the colours should be a close match, but slight differences are possible because screens display colour with light, whereas garments are printed with ink. Screens use RGB colour, and we can also process artwork in RGB for a closer colour match than printers restricted to CMYK. The garment colour and fabric can also influence the finished appearance.
🚫 Can DTG print over seams, pockets or zips?
No, we cannot print across seams, pockets, zips or other raised areas. DTG requires a smooth, flat fabric surface, as uneven surfaces can disrupt the print and produce an inconsistent finish.
📅 Can you help if I need my order by a particular date?
Our normal turnaround is 5–10 working days. If you need your order by a particular date, please email us when placing your order or add the required delivery date to the order notes on the cart page. We will do our best to meet your deadline, depending on the order requirements and current production schedule.
🚚 What delivery options are available for DTG orders?
We deliver DTG orders throughout the UK. Smaller parcels are normally sent via Royal Mail, while larger orders may be dispatched via Amazon Shipping, DPD or APC, depending on the shipment's size and destination. You can find further information on our shipping methods page.
📦 Can I collect my DTG order?
No, customer collection is not available. However, we can deliver your order to any UK address you provide, including your home, workplace, a neighbouring address, another business or directly to your customer.
↩️ Can I return a custom DTG-printed garment?
Custom-printed garments cannot be returned if you ordered the wrong size, no longer want the product or do not like the garment colour. Every order is quality-checked, but in the rare event of a mechanical printing fault, please contact us with photographs so we can assess the issue. If a genuine production fault is confirmed, we will arrange a replacement, and you will not normally need to return the faulty garment. Please see our refunds and reshipment policy for further information.
🧺 How should I wash a DTG-printed garment?
Wash the garment inside out at 30°C on a cool cycle, and do not use bleach or bleaching agents. Iron it inside out and never iron directly over the printed area. Following these instructions will help keep the print durable and looking its best.