Impressions - March 2016 - 62
think.
make.
do.
DIRECT-TO-GARMENT
Like this article? Read more direct-to-garment printing
articles at impressionsmag.com/digitaldecorating.
The Evolution of
DTG Pretreatment
Here's a look at where we've been
and where we're going.
BY TERRY COMBS, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
WHEN YOU THINK about the
term "evolution," you likely
think about changes that
occur during a long period
of time. Not so with anything
related to direct-to-garment
(DTG) printing.
With respect to pretreatment
solutions
and
methods,
evolution and progress have
occurred fast and furious,
with the goal being to ready
garments for this burgeoning
decoration process as quickly
as possible. For a decoration
technique that is only about
10 years old, there have been
many changes - and more are on
the horizon.
Inkjet print heads dictate the
type of water-based ink used,
which in turn dictates the way
printing is done on dark garments.
In DTG printing, pretreating is
required when using white ink,
whether as a white image or an
underbase. Using pretreatment
on light garments when printing
only CMYK is a matter of personal
preference. Will the image be
more crisp and wash better
with pretreatment on a light
garment? Yes, but a print without
pretreatment also is acceptable.
There
has
been
much
experimentation during the past
decade in the search for efficient
ways to apply a consistent
and even coat of pretreatment
solution. Following is a look at
where we've been, and techniques
and methods we've left behind in
that regard.
Hand-Held Pump Sprayer
This early attempt at pretreating
garments for DTG printing worked
to the extent that you could
disperse the pretreat solution,
but the uneven application could
be seen in the final print. An
irregular application will
appear as bright and dull areas
throughout the print. It's
extremely rare to see an operator
using this method today.
Shown here is
an automatic
pretreatment
machine in use. All
photos courtesy of
Equipment Zone.
P.62
I M P R E S S I O N S M A G . C O M MARCH 2016
Screen Printing The Pretreatment
Since many of the early
innovators in this industry were
longtime screen printers, it
was only natural to attempt to
screen print the pretreatment
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Impressions - March 2016
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - March 2016
Impressions - March 2016
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
Overheard
First Look
Scene at ISS
On Design
Pretty Meets Practical
Use Bling to Boost Margins
IP Law: A Primer
Are Custom Orders Costing You?
Easy Does It
Shop Talk
Embroidery Production
Screen Printing Production
Sublimation
Direct-To-Garment
Heat Printing
Classifieds
Ad Index/Online Directory
Impressions - March 2016 - CT1
Impressions - March 2016 - CT2
Impressions - March 2016 - Impressions - March 2016
Impressions - March 2016 - Cover2
Impressions - March 2016 - 1
Impressions - March 2016 - Contents
Impressions - March 2016 - 3
Impressions - March 2016 - 4
Impressions - March 2016 - 5
Impressions - March 2016 - First Impressions
Impressions - March 2016 - 7
Impressions - March 2016 - From the Show Director
Impressions - March 2016 - 9
Impressions - March 2016 - Overheard
Impressions - March 2016 - 11
Impressions - March 2016 - 12
Impressions - March 2016 - 13
Impressions - March 2016 - 14
Impressions - March 2016 - 15
Impressions - March 2016 - First Look
Impressions - March 2016 - 17
Impressions - March 2016 - 18
Impressions - March 2016 - 19
Impressions - March 2016 - 19a
Impressions - March 2016 - 19b
Impressions - March 2016 - Scene at ISS
Impressions - March 2016 - 21
Impressions - March 2016 - On Design
Impressions - March 2016 - 23
Impressions - March 2016 - Pretty Meets Practical
Impressions - March 2016 - 25
Impressions - March 2016 - 26
Impressions - March 2016 - 27
Impressions - March 2016 - 28
Impressions - March 2016 - 29
Impressions - March 2016 - Use Bling to Boost Margins
Impressions - March 2016 - 31
Impressions - March 2016 - 32
Impressions - March 2016 - 33
Impressions - March 2016 - IP Law: A Primer
Impressions - March 2016 - 35
Impressions - March 2016 - 36
Impressions - March 2016 - 37
Impressions - March 2016 - Are Custom Orders Costing You?
Impressions - March 2016 - 39
Impressions - March 2016 - 40
Impressions - March 2016 - 41
Impressions - March 2016 - Easy Does It
Impressions - March 2016 - 43
Impressions - March 2016 - 44
Impressions - March 2016 - 45
Impressions - March 2016 - 46
Impressions - March 2016 - 47
Impressions - March 2016 - Shop Talk
Impressions - March 2016 - 49
Impressions - March 2016 - Embroidery Production
Impressions - March 2016 - 51
Impressions - March 2016 - 52
Impressions - March 2016 - 53
Impressions - March 2016 - Screen Printing Production
Impressions - March 2016 - 55
Impressions - March 2016 - 56
Impressions - March 2016 - 57
Impressions - March 2016 - Sublimation
Impressions - March 2016 - 59
Impressions - March 2016 - 60
Impressions - March 2016 - 61
Impressions - March 2016 - Direct-To-Garment
Impressions - March 2016 - 63
Impressions - March 2016 - 64
Impressions - March 2016 - 65
Impressions - March 2016 - Heat Printing
Impressions - March 2016 - 67
Impressions - March 2016 - 68
Impressions - March 2016 - 69
Impressions - March 2016 - 70
Impressions - March 2016 - 71
Impressions - March 2016 - Classifieds
Impressions - March 2016 - Ad Index/Online Directory
Impressions - March 2016 - 74
Impressions - March 2016 - Cover3
Impressions - March 2016 - Cover4
Impressions - March 2016 - N1
Impressions - March 2016 - N2
Impressions - March 2016 - N3
Impressions - March 2016 - N4
Impressions - March 2016 - N5
Impressions - March 2016 - N6
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