DTG Printing process

What Is DTG Printing & Why the IEHK A3?

Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing is a digital inkjet process that applies water-based textile inks directly onto fabric — much like a desktop printer onto paper, but engineered for cloth. Unlike screen printing, DTG requires no film, screens, or minimum order quantity. You can print a single full-color design in under a minute.

The IEHK A3 DTG Printer (available at iehk.com) is designed for small businesses, on-demand entrepreneurs, and event-based printing. It uses the same Epson L805 or XP600 printhead found in professional-grade DTG printers, at a fraction of the commercial price. It also doubles as a Direct-to-Film (DTF) printer, giving it exceptional flexibility.

The IEHK A3 DTG/DTF PRO Printer — a unibody-engineered, flatbed direct-to-garment system. Source: iehk.com

Key reasons users choose the IEHK A3:

• Affordable entry point — priced significantly below comparable commercial DTG printers
• Portable & mobile-friendly — compact enough to take to events and pop-up shops
• Dual DTG/DTF capability — switch between garment printing and film transfers
• Low running cost — printing costs as low as $0.10–$0.20 per print
• White ink circulation — prevents clogging and enables printing on dark garments

Printer Specifications at a Glance

Understanding your machine helps you get consistent results. Here are the key specs for the IEHK A3 DTG PRO:

What You Need Before You Start

Gather everything below before beginning. Having materials ready eliminates interruptions that can cause ink to dry in the head or garment to shift during setup.

• ✅ IEHK A3 DTG Printer — powered on, ink lines primed, and a nozzle-check test print passed
• ✅ DTG Textile Inks — CMYK + white (genuine Epson-compatible inks recommended)
• ✅ RIP Software — installed on a Windows PC (included with printer)
• ✅ Garment — minimum 80% cotton fabric; pre-washed and completely dry
• ✅ Pretreatment liquid — required for dark/colored garments
• ✅ Heat press — capable of 160°C / 320°F
• ✅ Your design file — PNG with transparent background, 300 DPI
• ✅ USB cable — connecting printer to computer (included)

The 7-Step DTG Printing Process

Step01

Prepare Your Design File

Your artwork is the foundation of a great print. Follow these rules to avoid common issues:

• Export as PNG with a transparent background (not white background unless you want white showing)
• Set resolution to 300 DPI at actual print size
• Use RGB color mode — your RIP software converts to the printer’s output profile
• For dark garments, design elements need a white underbase — the RIP software auto-generates this
• Software compatible: Photoshop, Illustrator, GIMP, CorelDRAW, Canva (exported PNG)

💡 Pro Tip: Run a nozzle check print on paper before printing on a garment. This confirms all ink channels are firing cleanly and takes just 30 seconds.

Step02

Prepare the Garment

Garment preparation is the step most beginners skip — and the cause of most bad prints.

• Wash and dry the garment before printing to remove fabric coatings and sizing
• Iron flat — wrinkles cause uneven ink absorption and blurry edges
• For white/light garments: no pretreatment needed; load directly
• For dark/black garments: apply pretreatment solution evenly using a sprayer or foam roller, then heat-press at 160°C for 30–45 seconds to set it before printing

⚠️ Key: Pretreated garments must be completely dry and flat before loading. Wet or humid fabric will cause ink to spread and colors to bleed.

Applying pretreatment liquid to a dark garment — essential for white ink adhesion and vibrant colors on dark fabric.

Step03

Load Your Design into the RIP Software

RIP (Raster Image Processing) software is the brain of your printing workflow. The IEHK A3 ships with a compatible Windows RIP suite.

• Open the RIP software and import your PNG design
• Select your print mode: Light Garment or Dark Garment — this determines whether white underbase is applied
• Set the print size to match your design at 300 DPI
• Position the design within the A3 print area canvas
• Adjust ink density if needed (default settings work for most jobs)
• Select print resolution — higher DPI = finer detail but slower print speed

💡 Tip: Use the “White Ink Only” preview mode in your RIP software to confirm the auto-generated white underbase covers your entire design area on dark garment jobs.

IEHK Official: Fill ink automatically to the printhead — proper ink loading method for the A3 DTG printer (iehk2008 channel, 2025)

Step04

Load the Garment onto the Printer Platen

The IEHK A3 uses a flatbed platen system — there’s no complex hooping required.

• Attach the T-Shirt Holder / platen to the printer’s print tray
• Lay the garment flat on the platen, centering your print area over the platform
• Smooth out any wrinkles — tuck extra fabric underneath the platen edges
• Slide the tray gently into the printer
• The Height Automatic Detection System will automatically measure the garment thickness and set the correct print head clearance

💡 Tip: The IEHK A3 supports objects up to 5.9″ (150mm) tall, so you can also print on bulkier items like hoodies or stuffed canvas bags.

Step05

Print the Design

This is where everything comes together. The IEHK A3’s Epson printhead system handles the rest.

• Click Print in your RIP software to send the job
• For dark garments, the printer first lays down a white ink underbase pass, then prints full CMYK color on top
• For light garments, a single CMYK pass is sufficient
• Most standard designs complete in under 1 minute
• Do not move the tray or touch the garment while printing
• The White Ink Circulation System runs automatically to keep white ink from settling or clogging

💡 Tip: The IEHK A3 can print on materials beyond fabric — leather, acrylic sheets, and more — using the same flatbed platform. Expand your product catalog without additional equipment.

The IEHK A3 printer applying vibrant CMYK inks directly to a garment loaded on the flatbed platen. Source: iehk.com

IEHK Official: A3 DTG printer printing shirts — watch the full print cycle from garment load to finished print (iehk2008 channel)

IEHK Official: Printing on hoodies with the A3 DTG — same platen system works on thicker garments up to 5.9″ in height (iehk2008 channel)

Step06

Cure the Print with a Heat Press

Curing is non-negotiable — it’s what makes DTG prints washable and durable. Skipping this step means ink will wash out in the first laundry cycle.

• Remove the garment carefully from the platen — do not smear the wet ink
• Transfer to your heat press immediately
• Place a silicone sheet or parchment paper over the print to protect it from direct contact with the platen
• Press at 160°C (320°F) for 60–90 seconds with medium pressure
• Lift, let cool for 10–15 seconds before handling

⚠️ Important: Always use parchment or Teflon sheet between the heat press and the print. Direct contact can flatten the ink and cause glossy, cracked results.

Step07

Inspect & Finish

Your print is now cured and ready. Take a moment to quality-check before packaging.

• Check all edges of the print — look for any areas where ink was missing (nozzle check may be needed for next run)
• Confirm colors appear vibrant and accurate to your design
• The fabric should still feel soft to the touch — a stiff or plastic-feeling print indicates too much heat or pressure
• Allow 24 hours before the first wash for maximum ink bonding
• Advise customers to wash inside-out in cold water for longest print life

💡 Tip: Document your settings (resolution, ink density, press time/temp) for each garment type you print. Building a “recipe card” system saves time on future repeat orders.

Printer Maintenance Tips

The most common DTG printing problem — across all brands — is clogged nozzles, especially in the white ink channel. The IEHK A3’s built-in White Ink Circulation System dramatically reduces this risk, but daily habits matter.

• Run a nozzle check daily — at the start of every printing session, print a nozzle check pattern on paper. If channels are missing, run 1–2 cleaning cycles before printing on garments.
• Never leave white ink idle — if you won’t print for more than 3 days, either use the white ink circulation function or flush the white channels with cleaning solution. White pigment settles rapidly.
• Use the automated cleaning system — the IEHK A3 features a fully automated maintenance routine. Run it weekly or whenever you see inconsistent output.
• Keep inks topped up — the CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) should never run dry. Air in the lines causes print head damage.
• Store in a stable environment — keep the printer away from direct sunlight and large temperature swings to prevent ink from thickening.

Frequently Asked Questions