Custom T-shirts with DTG (Direct-to-garment) Printing

Screen printing makes sense for simple designs in bulk, but DTG wins when you need flexibility. There are no setup fees for new colors, no minimum order quantities, and you can print a one-off just as cost-effectively as a small batch. For print-on-demand stores where every order is fulfilled individually, DTG is almost always the right call. It also handles complex artwork, full-color illustrations, and photo prints in a way that screen printing simply can’t replicate without significant cost.

Cotton is the gold standard for DTG. A higher cotton content means the ink soaks into the fibers more evenly, which translates to better color saturation and longer print durability. That’s why bestsellers like the Bella + Canvas 3001, Gildan 5000, Next Level 3600, and Hanes 5250 are so popular for custom DTG tees. These are all high-cotton or 100% cotton styles that perform reliably under the printer. Blended fabrics (CVC, triblend) can also print well, but results vary more by garment and ink coverage.

It does, but the process is different. Dark garments require a white ink underbase to be laid down first so the colors don’t disappear into the fabric. This adds a step and a small cost, and it can slightly affect the texture of the print on very heavy coverage areas. Colors like Black, Navy, Charcoal, Deep Royal, Military Green, and Burgundy are common choices in the DTG catalog, and prints on these do come out well when the design is set up correctly with the right file format and color profiles.

For best results, DTG prints work with high-resolution PNG files at 150-300 DPI at the actual print size. Transparent backgrounds are important for designs that aren’t meant to have a white box around them. Vector-converted files tend to give the sharpest edges, especially for logos and text. Gooten provides design guides for each product that include the exact print dimensions and recommended specs, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of file preparation.

If your designs are detailed or photographic, smooth fabric surfaces give you the cleanest output. The Bella + Canvas 3001 and 3001CVC are consistent performers for fine detail. The Next Level 6210 Premium Fitted CVC is another solid option, with a tight-knit surface that picks up intricate artwork well. For triblend texture with a more vintage, soft feel, the Bella + Canvas 3413C and the District DM130 both work well, though the heathered texture will give prints a slightly softer look by nature of the fabric.

Yes. The DTG collection includes a strong range of women’s cuts. Styles like the Bella + Canvas 6004 Women’s Jersey Tee, Next Level 3900 Women’s Boyfriend Tee, Gildan 64000L Women’s Softstyle, and District DM104L Women’s Perfect Weight Tee are all DTG-compatible. There are also V-neck women’s options like the Bella + Canvas 6005, Gildan 64V00L, and Next Level 1540. If you run a fashion-forward store with a female audience, you have plenty of options without defaulting to unisex sizing.