Guides
November 4, 2025
Explore cutting-edge printing technologies transforming how custom t-shirts and branded workwear are made for Long Island businesses.
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Summary:
Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing is a modern digital printing method that operates much like an inkjet printer for fabrics. Instead of printing on paper, DTG printers use specialized water-based inks to apply designs directly onto the garment. Think of it as your office printer, but for t-shirts.
This isn’t just a minor upgrade. DTG printers can print at least 16 million colors directly onto T-shirts in only one pass. In addition to high-speed printing, the printing ink used is safe and dries up rather quickly—the ink soaks into the garment and becomes part of the T-shirt. No more worrying about designs that crack or peel off after a few washes.
Here’s where DTG shines for Long Island businesses. Unlike traditional printing methods like screen printing, the setup time for DTG printing is relatively fast, making it ideal for low-volume orders. You don’t need to order 50 shirts just to make the economics work.
DTG shines on natural fabrics like cotton. It produces soft, breathable prints that feel embedded into the fabric and work best for bold, simple designs. This means your company polos actually feel comfortable, not like wearing a plastic sticker.
The real advantage? DTG printing is ideal for those wanting more color, higher detail, more customization and quicker turnaround times than screen printing. If you need branded workwear with intricate logos or detailed graphics, DTG handles complexity that would be impossible with traditional methods.
For Manhattan businesses especially, where turnaround speed matters, some DTG specialists can print custom t-shirts in as fast as one hour. That’s game-changing when you have a last-minute event or need to replace uniforms quickly.
Let’s be honest about what you’re getting. While DTG printing has made impressive advancements in recent years, it still has a slightly duller appearance when compared to screen printing. When you want your design to pop off the shirt, screen printing is the method that stands out.
But here’s the trade-off that makes sense for most businesses: Unlike Iron On transfers of the past that crack, peel and fade over time, DTG printing lasts for a long time and holds up great, similar to screen printing. You get durability without the setup costs.
From gradients to tiny color details, to subtle elements like smoke that fade into the shirt or precise blends like those needed for skin tones, digital printing is a smooth operator with color blending. DTG inks are water-based and more transparent than Plastisol, allowing them to overlap and combine much easier.
This matters when you’re creating embroidered polos with complex logos or custom t-shirts with photographic elements. The detail level simply wasn’t possible with older methods, especially for smaller quantities.
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A clear preference for DTF printing technology has emerged. This shift is driven by DTF’s ability to deliver high-quality prints across numerous fabric types, including more challenging materials such as polyester and nylon.
DTF works differently than DTG. Instead of printing directly on the shirt, the design is printed on a special film, then transferred using heat and pressure. This technology offers a more automated and cost-effective solution than its predecessor, the Direct to Garment (DTG) t-shirt printer, by eliminating the need for pre-treatment and reducing ink usage.
For businesses needing company uniforms or branded workwear, DTF solves several problems. Its cost-effectiveness and efficient production process are particularly appealing for large-scale operations. You can order different sizes and styles without worrying about fabric limitations.
The inks used in direct-to-film printing are water-based and non-toxic, so they’re environmentally friendly. The transfer film used for the design is usually recyclable, so the printing process mostly creates no waste. This matters for Long Island businesses focused on sustainability.
The allure of DTF’s more automated process is evident, as DTF printers require significantly less hands-on labor compared to DTG and traditional screen printing. This automation streamlines the production process and contributes to lower labor costs, a critical factor for large-scale operations.
What this means practically: if you need 50 logo polos in different colors and sizes, DTF can handle the variety without the setup headaches of traditional screen printing. The quality stays consistent across different fabric types, whether you’re ordering cotton t-shirts or polyester work shirts.
The technology keeps improving. The Mimaki TxF150-75 DTF printer marks a significant advancement in direct-to-film technology, offering a wide 31.5-inch print area for transfer sheets. Featuring ECO PASSPORT certified “PHT50” inks in CMYK and white, this printer meets high environmental and safety standards.
Its ability to print on both natural and synthetic fabrics without pre-treatment or weeding makes it versatile and user-friendly. With an innovative ink circulation system for consistent quality and reduced maintenance, the TxF150-75 is a leading choice for efficient and vibrant textile printing.
For Long Island printing services, this means better consistency and less downtime. Epson’s powerhouse hybrid DTG/DTFilm printers are engineered for high quality, hybrid print capabilities, and on-demand printing. Every printer in the DTG/DTFilm portfolio is built to deliver consistent quality to keep you going as your business keeps growing.
The hybrid approach is particularly smart for custom apparel printing Long Island businesses. SureColor F-Series printers feature hybrid print capabilities to print on virtually any garment type or DTFilm. These powerhouse solutions are ready to print what you need when you need it, helping you waste less and focus more on the shirt that counts.
The printing landscape has fundamentally changed. You no longer have to choose between quality and flexibility, or between fast turnaround and professional results. The right printing technique depends on design complexity, order size, and cost. The best method of t-shirt printing depends on your goals.
For most Long Island and Manhattan businesses, the combination of DTG for detailed, small-batch work and DTF for versatile, larger orders covers every scenario. Whether you need embroidered polos for your sales team or custom t-shirts for a company event, these technologies deliver without the traditional constraints.
The key is working with a printer who understands these technologies and can recommend the right approach for your specific needs. At L1 Print, we use these advanced methods to deliver the quality and turnaround times your business demands, without the minimums that used to make custom apparel impractical for smaller orders.
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