SUBLIMATION Vs DTG? Which One Is Better?

admin · November 21, 2023

SUBLIMATION Vs DTG? Which One Is Better?

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It’s another apparel method showdown this week on Apparel Academy! In this episode, Henry compares the differences in quality, garment variety, output potential, and cost between sublimation and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. By the end of this video, you’ll be able to decide which custom apparel method is best for you and your business.

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Learn how to print on a dark T-shirt with DTG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z1ojayL1Bo&t

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When it comes to understanding the differences between DTG and sublimation printing, it’s important to understand how they work.

Sublimation involves a process where you print a design onto paper and press it onto a polyester garment using a heat press. When heated, the toner is transformed from a solid to a gas that embeds itself into the polyester fabric. When it cools, it goes back to a solid and becomes a permanent part of the fabric.

Direct to garment, however, is a newer printing method where you print directly onto garments. This method requires an actual DTG printer and pre-treating your garment before loading it onto the printer.

When it comes to print quality, keep in mind that sublimation printing should be used on light color polyesters and results in a super soft touch since the design becomes part of the garment. But sublimation does not allow for printing white colors, so lighter colors will not show up on darker shirts.

Now, while DTG can print white and super vibrant designs on any T-shirt, DTG printing on garments leaves a thin layer of ink on the shirt surface. So not only will you feel the difference between the two but a sublimated shirt will last longer and through more washes than a DTG shirt.

As far as variety, sublimation allows for a lot more variety of garments you can make. This is because the DTG printer only allows for flat garments like T-shirts and jacket backs and other items that can be fed through the printer. However, remember that with sublimation you’re limited to polyester-coated fabrics.

You also want to consider the differences with speed and output. With DTG, it’s faster to do a bulk order since the design is already programmed into the panel and can print as soon as another garment is loaded. Plus, you can purchase pre-treated designs to skip that step and save even more time.

Sublimation, however, is best for small batches and one-off orders since it involves printing the design onto paper, positioning the design and then pressing it on with a heat press, making it a slower process.

And finally, let’s compare the costs. DTG can, on average, cost $1.5-$3.50 per print and while sublimation ink costs less than DTG, you’ll need paper for sublimation which adds to your material costs. So, both methods are pretty tied in this category.

At the end of the day, choosing between sublimation and DTG depends on your business’s needs and the kinds of products you plan on creating.

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