DTG Printers
For more information or to request a Brochure, call us on 02392 590 281
DTG & DTF Printers To Fit Your Business
Whatever your DTG (Direct to Garment) requirements are, we have a printer to suit your business model. Whether you are a new starter and want to improve or increase your current production and workflow, we have a solution.
If you are looking for DTF (Direct to Film) printing, then the TexJet printers are hybrid and will provide both DTG and DTF prints with the same inks.
The Kornit Digital Systems offer unique built-in pre-treatment, seamless workflow, high production and low ink costs.
For more information or to request a Brochure
WE HELP DTG BUSINESSES START, GROW
& IMPROVE GARMENT PRINT PRODUCTION
You can arrange a call back from one of our product specialists to discuss:
- Suitability of different garments and apparel
- Actual print quality and speed
- Ink / consumables, types and applications
- Machine maintenance and the best software
- Recommendations for your level of production
For more information or to arrange
a demo call 02392 590 281
Don't just take our word for it
After months of trawling on the internet and getting bamboozled in Pro’s ‘N’ Cons on DTG, I decided to visit what looked like to be the best in the printing/Embroidery Garment Game. I was not wrong, a fabulous set-up with demo machines right left and centre! All fully operationally and ready for hands-on experience, which to be honest left me wanting to plan to expand !! They do arrange of purchase option to boot! These guys are not just selling machines there giving you a year’s experience, and are happy to share! No wonder the big boys come here. Well done Amaya, the family firm does have a BIG corporate Feel !!
Clive HuttonOwner - CH Power Tools Ltd
The new Kornit Rapid Ink offers huge benefits to our print workflow. After several demonstrations with some of our core clients they have all commented on the vibrancy and softness of the print. Furthermore, the new reduced cost per print from the Kornit Avalanche HD6 is allowing us to quote competitively on print runs that were previously out of reach from a costing perspective. We are printing larger runs with orders of 500-1000 units now being part of our daily workflow.
Nic SimonsDirector - Shirt Monkey
I decided to buy the Texjet printer from Amaya, having seen it perform at the sign and digital show last year. The print quality was far higher than the competitive models I looked at. Their after sales support is spot on, with everything solved quickly and efficiently. The investment has, without a shadow of a doubt, benefited my business immensely.
EdDirector - Make your own garments
The Kornit Avalanche Hexa HD6 has improved production through lower print costs and improved colour accuracy, but perhaps the biggest advantage is its printing speed. The Avalanche Hexa HD6 has improved our production speed by 84%, comparing to last year, and is something that’s driven change in every other aspect of our business.
Alex CunliffeCo-founder - Inkthreadable
Why Choose Amaya
Here at Amaya, we have worked closely with direct to garment printers and printing solutions since their early conception. The fact that we are the only UK company to offer 3 brands and levels of equipment with 8 different models of machines means we can match your direct to garment printer requirement exactly to what you need and can afford.
We also offer guaranteed part exchanges of equipment as your business grows and needs to move up to the next level of production.
Here we show our history in DTG which we are proud of. Over the years we have built a team of specialists who can answer all your questions whether it’s about fabrics, ink types, design tips, workflow solutions and even marketing techniques for your brand.
We strongly believe that your success is our success, and we love working with customers to realise their potential. So, whether you are brand new to this industry, have outsourced your DTG production until now, want to take control back or are ready to scale up to an industrial capacity, get in touch with one of our team today so we can discuss this further.
Amaya's DTG History
Fabrics – What do I need to know
DTG printing is recommended for complex designs, with sharp details and multiple colour variations. DTG printers use water-based inks, hence best results occur with natural fabrics, as they have the tendency to absorb liquids. The outcome is vibrant colours that are strongly fixated into the fibres resulting in great wash results. Synthetic fabrics, on the other hand, repel water as they are composed of plastic and are not the easiest to print on digitally.
Currently, the most suitable fabric for DTG printing is still Cotton, either 100% or blended. This comes in many forms, and it is wrong to say you can only print on Cotton with DTG technology. You can easily print on a 50/50 Cotton/Polyester mix and on light polyester using an alternative pre-treatment with the Texjet and Roland machines we sell. Also, it is wrong to say you cannot achieve DTG printing on Polyester as Kornit Digital patened the first and only true solution for DTG printing on polyester back in 2019 by launching the Polypro.
Your choice of fabric for your DTG printing and your end product for your customers plays a vital role in the success or failure of your garment business and is one area many overlook. At Amaya, we have years of experience in fabric and textiles and are therefore capable of advising you about fabric types and how to achieve the best results. Below we try to explain some of the jargon surrounding types of cotton and fabrics that are available which we think you will find helpful.
| Material | Description |
|---|---|
| Natural fabrics | These fabrics are produced from natural resources like plants. Most common are cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo and wool. |
| Synthetic fabrics | Synthetic fabrics are man-made, Nylon was the first fully synthetic fibre. Synthetics are well known for their elasticity and are mostly preferred for sportswear. The most common are Acrylic, Nylon, Polyester, Lycra and Viscose. A current buzz word in synthetic fabrics is Triblend, the list is growing all the time. |
| Blends | The combination of cotton and synthetic fibres is called a blend. There are multiple combinations (e.g. Cotton/Polyester, Cotton/Lycra). The big advantage to a blended fabric is improved washability and is generally wrinkle-free due to the polyester content. |
| Cotton | Naturally grown, this fabric easily absorbs water-based inks, making it perfect for DTG printing and the go-to for most traditional t-shirts. However, cotton comes in many forms and it is the type of cotton that will depend on the quality of your DTG print. |
| Regular cotton | Cotton is made by taking the fibres and twisting them together to make yarn that afterwards is woven into the end material. Regular cotton is affordable and of lower quality than the alternatives on the market which means that it is very popular among manufactures of fast fashion. However regular cotton can give you an inferior DTG print compared to other types of cotton. |
| Organic cotton | This environmentally friendly cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. This technique doesn’t use toxins, allowing the soil to maintain its fertility. It is considered one of the most sustainable choices for DTG printing. |
| Ring-spun cotton | Ring spun yarn is a type of spinning process that will include combing or carding. The fibres are twisted and thinned out producing a finer, smoother, flat and soft fabric with good absorbency. This gives the perfect smooth surface for DTG printing to achieve vivid and sharp images. Ring-spun cotton tees are recommended for fashion and “boutique” printing. |
| Open-ended cotton | Open-ended yarn utilises short cotton fibres and is the most economical spinning process. The result is cheaper cotton, but it tends to be bulkier, heavier and rougher which makes it more absorbent. This means the DTG ink sinks through this type of fabric more, giving a lower quality print. |
| Combed cotton | In the spinning process the yarn can be “combed” which is a process that removes the short fibres leaving only the long and finest fibres. This makes the end fabric smoother and softer which is much better for DTG printing. |
| Carded cotton | When the cotton is spun it goes through a process called “carding” which removes debris and aligns the fibres to make them easier to spin. Without carding, the cotton would be very coarse and fragile. However, carding is not as superior as the combing process. Therefore carded cotton is coarser than combed cotton giving it a rough hard feel to the fabric. A carded cotton garment will shrink more than combed cotton. You don’t often see cotton referred to as “carded” as it is inferior to combed cotton. It will not produce a better print on DTG compared to a combed cotton t-shirt. |
| Linen | Made from the flax plant, linen is known for absorbing moisture very well. Rougher than cotton, it wrinkles easily. Maybe not the most popular choice for t-shirts, but it is used more in fashion clothing. We would suggest pre-treating even light coloured linen as this will stop any signs of the ink bleeding into the fabric due to high absorption properties. |
| Polyester | Polyester is a synthetic man-made fabric. Generally, polyester repels water-based ink used in DTG printing which is why it is more problematic. With the Texjet and Roland technology, we would say that you can only print on light polyester. To achieve the best results on light polyester, we would recommend pre-treating with a special poly pre-treatment. Kornit offers the Polypro solution which lays down a special formula solution to make their inks work perfectly on dark polyester fabrics as well. That aside the DTG industry is constantly working to find solutions to make DTG work on polyester, and the latest DTF technology is a way around the problem. |
| Tri-blend | Tri-blend is a combination of 3 fabrics and has become very popular in the last few years as a performance fabric. Rayon is added to the polycotton blend making the material much softer. To work with Texjet and Roland machines you would need the combo to be at least 50% cotton. However, you would have no problem using it on a Kornit Polypro. The combination of the 3 fibres can result in less brightness in your DTG printing, however, manufacturing techniques are being used to put the cotton to the face of the fabric, where the ink will fix and achieve a brighter design. |
| Poly-Blends | If unable to use 100% cotton fabrics, you could always try cotton blends 80% – 20%, 70% – 30%, 50% – 50%. Generally, the more cotton contained in the fabric, the better the end result. The most common blend is the poly-cotton blend (cotton + polyester). This fabric is breathable, lightweight, strong and wrinkle-free due to the polyester. Many t-shirts are made of a poly-cotton blend, but not all blends can be printed with success, as the amount of polyester will dictate the success of the print. Generally, the higher the percentage of cotton in the mix, the better the print. |
| Bamboo | It is a natural textile made from the pulp of bamboo grass. It is eco-friendly, antibacterial, UV protectant, insulating and hypoallergenic. Achieve a super-soft finish. Great for DTG printing. |
| Hemp | Hemp is a strong eco-friendly sustainable fabric that has antimicrobial and UV blocking properties. Mostly used to produce bags and packaging items that you may want to print, it’s not something you would usually wear due to its rough feel. However, in spite of its roughness, it is possible to print with DTG. With the Texjet range of machines, you can position the bed further away from the printhead to avoid damage from the fibres. It is also becoming available as a blended fabric with organic cotton and in this form becomes very soft. |
DTG Articles - Read our blog
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How global apparel trends are affecting the garment print industry
DTG Printing Boosted by Massive Growth in On-Line Shopping
DTG or Screen Printing? The times they are a-changing
Web to Print Technology Helps DTG printers Meet the Demands of Their Customers
Are you trying to work towards a Sustainable Business?
