Frequently Asked Questions

DTG printing is intended to be completed on 100% cotton garments. If you are providing garments that are not 100% cotton, DTLA Print is in no way responsible (no refunds or reprints) for pre or post production errors such as garment reactions to pre -treatment or heavy fading after multiple washes. If you choose to use self-supplied garments, we highly recommend completing a sample product before approving an order. DTG items are pre-treated with a chemical that may cause reactions on certain fabrics. There is a 2-5% expected fade rate after first couple of washes. Our standard DTG printing process is best suited for garments that are 100% cotton – if you’re looking for the most opaque result, 100% cotton is your best bet. This fabric generally has a better result due to its tight weave. However, there are exceptions to this. If a cotton is too thick, it can absorb the ink and result in a more faded look (for example, the Gildan 2000 is a thicker cotton). We also offer printing on tri-blends and poly blends. Due to the looser weave and combination of fabrics, these garments will have a faded/vintage outcome with DTG printing. This is a pretty cool effect, but may not be ideal for you if you want a more opaque outcome.

All files must have a transparent background – no printer will print transparent colors. This is because all inks/dyes are concentrated pigments and not diluted pigments.

Colors can look different in real life There aren’t many things our incredible DTG process cannot achieve! However, when choosing the colors for your artwork, it’s important to note that they may look different on a real product than what you see on your computer monitor. Even if you have calibrated your monitor to a specific color profile, there are various factors that influence the final appearance of colors on a printed product. Because of this, we can’t guarantee color accuracy 100%. Our printers will convert your submitted print file from RGB to CMYK color space. This color conversion process changes the color gamut, or range of colors that can be expressed. You must be very cautious when using bright neon and pastel RGB values in your print files. Some examples include hot pinks, lime greens, construction orange, highlighter yellow, easter egg shades, etc. You should also consider other factors like fabric material, garment color, and whether your print will require a white under base layer when choosing colors. If color accuracy is important to you, we suggest ordering our pre-made color swatches on a sample product. You can use those swatches to decide which RGB values best compare to the desired results when printed on a physical product.

The DTG ink in this process is different from the ink screenprinters use. Keep in mind that the original manufacturer’s care instructions don’t take into consideration the DTG printing process. Be wary of washing and drying on a high setting, especially when the garment is 100% cotton. High temperature washes can fade and crack the print, and high temperature dryer settings can shrink the garment, as well as damage the print. In order for you to prolong the life of your custom print, we suggest following the care instructions below: Machine wash cold, inside-out, gentle cycle with mild detergent and similar colors. Use non-chlorine bleach, only when necessary. No fabric softeners. Tumble dry low, or hang-dry for longest life. Cool iron inside-out if necessary. Do not iron decoration. Do not dry clean. We do have shirts that come pre-shrunk to help avoid shrinking issues. The following models come pre-shrunk: Alternative 1070, Alternative 1072, American Apparel 5454, American Apparel 5495, American Apparel 5398, Anvil 980, Anvil 391, Anvil 982, Anvil 986, Anvil 990B, Gildan 2000, Gildan 2400, Gildan 2000L, and Hanes 5180. You can also view garment information like this on the product page for the item.