Let’s be honest: Pretreating is the less glamourous side of direct-to-garment (DTG) printing; however, you shouldn’t let that opinion deter you from jumping into DTG altogether. Whether you are new to the world of DTG, a veteran, or still in that consideration phase, I’m sure you will find the following tips and tricks useful in your journey.

Pretreatment is a liquid that is applied directly onto a T-shirt to help the white ink set on the garment instead of sinking in. Without pretreatment, the white ink will sink into the fabric, resulting in a dull, unappealing, and unsellable print result. In order to achieve vibrant, opaque whites using a DTG printer, pretreat must be used.

The primary objective of pretreatment is to create an optimal surface for white ink adherence. This ensures that the ink bonds effectively onto textile fibers and gives it a smooth surface for the color pass. Pretreatment also helps prevent ink bleeding, color inconsistencies, and poor wash fastness. All of those issues can impact the final print’s appearance and durability.