Choosing the right design software for Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing is important for achieving high-quality, vibrant results. DTG printing allows for detailed, high-resolution designs to be directly printed on fabric, making it a popular choice for customized clothing. The right software ensures precise design work and seamless integration with DTG printers, optimizing color profiles and the overall printing process. This guide explores top design software options that enhance your DTG printing projects, whether you're an experienced designer or a beginner looking to create standout, print-ready designs.
What is DTG Printing?
Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing is a t-shirt printing technique for printing graphics directly onto textiles, typically T-shirts, using specialist inkjet technology. Unlike traditional screen printing, which requires stencils (screens) for each color in the design, DTG printing allows for full-color, highly detailed prints without the use of screens. The procedure involves the use of a DTG printer, which is comparable to a regular inkjet printer but prints on fabric rather than paper. The printer uses specialized water-based inks that are absorbed by the fibers of the garment, producing a soft, durable, and bright print. DTG printing can take your t-shirt dropshipping business to the next level with its quality printing.
How DTG Printing Works
Here is how DTG printing works
Design preparation: It involves creating or adjusting a high-resolution design using graphic design tools.
Garment Pre-Treatment: The fabric, usually a T-shirt, is treated with a solution that improves ink adhesion and increases color vibrancy.
Loading the Garment: The garment is then loaded onto the DTG printer's platen (a flat surface that holds the fabric in place) to keep it stationary during printing.
Printing: The DTG printer uses inkjet technology to apply the design directly to the cloth. The printer goes back and forth across the garment, spraying small droplets of ink onto the fabric based on the computer pattern.
Curing the Print: Once printed, the garment is heat-treated using either a heat press or a tunnel dryer.
DTG Printer Software
Here is a list of top DTG printer software
Digital Factory by CADlink
Digital Factory is CADlink's complete RIP software solution for streamlining your digital printing workflow. Whether you're using Direct-to-Garment (DTG), Direct-to-Film (DTF), or UV printers, Digital Factory has a comprehensive collection of tools to help you increase productivity and print quality.
Features
- Optimized RIP processing speeds
- Improved multiple job processing (RIP threading)
- Reduced multiple copy RIP times. RIP one copy and print several.
- Start-to-finish features include PDF workflow compatibility, advanced color correction tools, and easy color tweaks.
- Support for all commonly used color measurement equipment.
- Unique, single-window visual interface, one central, easily manageable hub for all jobs.
Pros
- Comprehensive program with critical features for efficient DTG printing.
- Provides both desktop and production-level versions to meet various demands.
- Offers extensive color management and production automation capabilities.
- Offers free trial
Cons
- High cost
Pricing
- Digital Factory DTF Desktop Edition: $395
- Digital Factory DTF Edition with 24” printer support: $895
SAi Flexi
SAi Flexi is the only program that combines design, printing, and cutting capabilities for sign and print suppliers. Flexi is the industry standard in sign-specific design tools, RIP software, print-and-cut software, direct-to-film, direct-to-garment, and direct vinyl cutting.
Features
- Direct to Garment, Direct to Film Printing
- Versatile white ink workflow
- Improved output control for ideal texture & feel
- Complete design & print feature set
Pricing
- Flexi PRINT RS: $24.99 per month annually
- Flexi SIGN RS: $14 per month annually
- FlexiPRINT DTF DTG: $38.99 Per month annually
Caldera Direct-to-X
Caldera Direct-to-X is a RIP solution for DTF and DTG printing that allows users to offer complete customization to their clients, from unique pieces to small batch print runs. Caldera Direct-to-X will be the first Caldera RIP product line that runs natively on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. The software comes with new DTG and DTF printers and is available to customers via subscription.
Features
- Compatible with Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
- Accepts BMP, PSB, PSD, PNG, TIF/TIFF, XPF, PDF, AI, and JPEG files.
- All DTF printers that use Hosonsoft, BYHX, or Royal motherboards are supported.
- Mirror images automatically.
- Align all your pictures on the roll in a single click.
- Automatically apply white undercoats to your pictures.
- Easily remove certain colors from your designs.
- Preview color layers before printing.
- Boost colors before printing to get bright results.
Pricing
- Essential: 495€ Annually
- Pro: 995€ Annually
Acrorip
AcroRIP is a prominent RIP (Raster Image Processor) software used in the digital printing business, namely for DTF (Direct-to-Film) and DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing. It is well-known for its simplicity and compatibility with a wide range of printers, making it a popular choice among print businesses and designers looking for dependable and efficient software to handle their printing processes.
Features
- Multi-Image Handling (ACRORIP® V11 only)
- One pass for white and color printing (there is no need for two passes for dark t-shirts or garments).
- Faster load times
- Compatibility with Windows 7, 8, and 10 (including Windows 11 with ACRORIP® V11).
- Simple and bug-free installation with no virus alerts.
- Custom Channel Settings
- Updated drivers for all printers.
- "Paper Cut" feature
- Selecting the paper thickness for the SC-P800.
Pricing
- Pricing is not mentioned on the website. You can buy from authorized sellers in your country
Kothari RIP
Kothari RIP is a specialized Raster Image Processor (RIP) software that is commonly used in the digital printing business, particularly for Direct-to-Garment (DTG) and Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing. Kothari Info-Tech Ltd. created this program to optimize the printing process by including advanced color management, print optimization, and ink usage features.
Features
- More Profiles: Kothari Print Pro's extended set of highly tuned print profiles delivers brighter, more accurate colors.
- Less Ink: Using an innovative algorithm based on the color of the garment, the software reduces wastage by more correctly determining the amount of ink required to finish your print.
- RIP picture color manipulation: Allows you to toggle individual colors on and off when testing print settings.
- White highlight: This function allows you to print in both white and color in a single pass.
Pricing
- Pricing is not mentioned on the website
Best Design Software for DTG Printing
The best design software for Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing excels at developing complex, high-resolution designs, supports a wide range of color profiles, and works seamlessly with DTG printers. Here are some top picks:
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is an industry-leading raster graphics editor that is commonly used to create detailed and sophisticated designs, making it an excellent choice for DTG printing. Its powerful toolset enables precise editing of pictures and the creation of eye-catching artwork for garment printing.
CorelDRAW
CorelDRAW is a versatile vector graphics editor popular in the garment industry. It has a wide range of tools for generating complex designs, making it a popular choice for DTG printing. Its ease of use and powerful features make it appropriate for both professionals and beginners.
Inksoft
InkSoft is a specialized design tool designed specifically for custom clothing manufacturers. It has an easy-to-use interface and a large library of templates, making it simple to develop designs for DTG printing. Its purpose is to make the process of creating designs and managing orders more efficient.
Cadlink Digital Factory Apparel Edition
Cadlink Digital Factory Apparel Edition is DTG-specific software that optimizes the entire process from design to print. It provides advanced color management and workflow features to ensure high-quality prints.
Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is a low-cost alternative to Adobe Illustrator, providing professional-grade vector and raster design capabilities. It is noted for its smooth performance and broad feature set, making it a viable option for DTG printing.
Procreate
Procreate is a strong graphic design software for the iPad that is popular among artists and designers due to its user-friendly interface and extensive tool set. While it is largely a drawing program, its capabilities make it ideal for developing custom designs for DTG printing.
Corel Painter
Corel Painter is a digital art software that features realistic painting tools and brushes. It is very popular among artists who wish to create hand-drawn images with a natural, organic feel, making it ideal for distinctive DTG printing designs.
Sketch
Sketch is a popular design tool that is typically used for UI/UX design; nevertheless, its vector-based design capabilities make it an excellent choice for developing scalable artwork for DTG printing. It works particularly nicely with clean, modern designs.
Wrap Up
Choosing the finest design software for DTG printing is critical for producing high-quality, bright, and long-lasting prints. Whether you're a seasoned designer or just getting started, the appropriate tools may make a big difference in the quality of your work and the efficiency of the printing process. From Adobe Photoshop's comprehensive raster editing to CorelDRAW's diverse vector capabilities, each software provides distinct functionality geared to specific areas of DTG printing. You may improve your custom garment designs and stand out in a competitive market by choosing the software that best meets your requirements.
Consider combining your creative efforts with Spocket's print-on-demand services. Spocket is a simple solution for transforming your concepts into high-quality, custom-printed clothes without the need for inventory management or upfront fees. Spocket allows you to quickly incorporate your DTG designs into a profitable e-commerce business, guaranteeing that your creative work reaches clients all over the world with ease.
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