Last Updated on February 5, 2023
Digital direct-to-garment (DTG) printing has replaced screen printing and embroidery as technology has enabled more elaborate patterns to be printed on consumer goods like t-shirts. Although screen printing and embroidery will likely always be in demand, DTG printers are becoming more popular due to their quick turnaround and high-quality artwork.
You can’t afford to go into the branded clothing business or a startup without a DTG printer if you want to print vibrant, eye-catching designs on various garments. In today’s market, developing customized items for individual clients might result in a significant increase in revenue.
Direct to Garment printing is now available in many different models, making it a popular method of printing t-shirts. With so many versatile printer options, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, it may be difficult to select the right one.
Many business owners make poor printer choices because they lack sufficient knowledge about DTG printers. In this article, we’ll look into 5 of the best DTG printers for startups and discuss the features and cons of each.
Top 5 Best DTG Printers for Startups
Image
Product
Features
Price
1. HP T650 DTG Wide Format Printer
The first DTG printer I vouch for is T650 due to precision in printing engineering, architectural, and technical designs.
Starting with its features, the HP offers you automatic printing of projects of various sizes, including A3/B, A1/D, or A0/E, without the need to manually alter the media source, allowing for greater flexibility.
By submitting work in the simplest method and sending many files with just a single click, you may save a significant amount of time using HP Click. I really like this feature, as I wasn’t expecting an HP click but there is always a reason behind putting a product in the first position.
The HP T650 is an outstanding piece of printing. After removing it from its packaging, you need to do very little more preparation or configuration before it can be used. It prints architectural and mechanical drawings really well and is quite simple to operate, which are both the needs that I have. Indeed, there is no doubt that it offers excellent print quality and very easy upkeep requirements.
2. Brother Monochrome All-in-one Printer
It’s helpful to take a step back and look at things objectively every once in a while, just like this brother monochrome printer. With a monochrome printer, the Brother will make printing for your relatively small team much simpler. We examined it in terms of its print speed and quality, as well as its ease of setup, technical specifications, ink consumption, and overall appearance and feel.
One of the most efficient and quick-working small office printers available on the market today is the Brother Monochrome Laser Printer. The multifunction printer has a maximum duty cycle of 15000 pages per month, a printing speed of 32 pages per minute, and the ability to print, copy, scan, and fax documents.
The Monochrome Laser Printer has dimensions of 10.7 inches by 15.7 inches by 10.7 inches, which is an exceptionally small footprint for a printer. The one-line display and buttons on it are functional, even if they are heavy and time-consuming to use. However, after the first setup, you won’t actually need to utilize them because the Brother app will make establishing a wireless connection simple.
I did not encounter a significant drawback in this printer. Monochrome printer performed all of the tasks that we needed at a reasonable price and with a minimum of hassle. It would work very well for numerous users in a small business setting, making it a good choice for both a home office and a small business.
3. VEVOR 6-in-1 Combo Swing Printer
The best option for a startup, this VEVOR will take you places. When it comes to the overall design of the VEVOR printer, the massive heating plates are the stars of the show. A pretty big surface, measuring around 15 inches by 15 inches, is provided to you so that you can readily deal with a variety of materials.
This printer is one of the t-shirt presses that VEVOR has seen the most success in selling. Because it is a multifunctional press, it comes with both attachment platens (heat plates) and an attachment press. In other words, you can use it for a variety of purposes.
It has a built-in digital controller that gives you the ability to precisely set the temperature as well as the timer, allowing you to modify the process to the specific requirements of the material you are dealing with. Also, this entire equipment, with the exception of the digital control box, has a very good level of construction quality.
However, you need more space to properly position and operate this machine. The large work area lets you work on t-shirts, pants, bags, pillows, metal cards, and other items.
4. HP Envy Inspire Printer for Startup
The HP ENVY features exceptional solid and reliable build quality out of all the printers that I mentioned above. Another aspect that I enjoyed using HP Envy is its usability it has detachable power cords, making it easy to repair if it is damaged.
The display screen on the HP ENVY Inspire 7955e is of high quality. I believe that its screen layout is comparable to that of the HP OfficeJet Pro 8025, with touch keys for the Home, Back, and Help menus, as well as a screen that is sufficiently large and intuitive to operate.
Also, the user interface is straightforward and easy to comprehend. The cost-per-print of the HP ENVY printer is only adequate, which is typical of the majority of cartridge-based inkjets available in the same price range.
I am generally satisfied with the HP ENVY’s color accuracy. While this is a characteristic of most HP inkjet printers, the majority of colors appear to have a high degree of vibrancy.
5. L1800 DTF Transfer Printer with Roll Feeder
The printer comes equipped with a white ink agitator, which is pretty good at what it does. It has the power to automatically recirculate the white ink at various points throughout the process. This helps to ensure that the printing is more consistent and attractive.
Moreover, because it has its own built-in heating system, the printer is able to liquefy the rubber powder that is on the PET film so that it can be combined with the toner. It features an enhanced printing area for improved ink adhesion.
The DTF transfer printer is compatible with a wide variety of fabrics (including cotton, poly, mixes, and more), and it can print on both light and dark tones of fabric. Moving to its construction before ending the review, the recently constructed oven has a drawer that is fitted with handles, which enables it to bake PET film in size A3 in a practical and hassle-free manner.
Furthermore, this newly enhanced reel printer can have significantly fewer issues with paper jams if the reel bracket is properly set, which also results in an increase in printing speed and improved productivity.
What to consider when buying the Best DTG Printer for Startup
We hope that the above-mentioned products have provided you with some useful information that will assist you in making a more informed decision. Other than that, you must look for features that the best DTG printer for startups must have. It includes:
You must think about your output and financial restrictions while making your DTG printer selection. Higher-end printers are wonderful for huge organizations, but you shouldn’t spend all your money on something that won’t get used. For more detailed information, continue reading:
Quality of Printing
DTG printing encompasses all-over printing; therefore, if a printer prints in poor quality, the design on the T-shirt will seem silly. This is an expensive and wasteful approach to dealing with fabric. It will eventually have a negative effect on your company. That being said, printing quality on clothing should never be sacrificed. A DTG printer with a resolution of 1440 dpi is ideal for this task.
Choice of Fabric
The grade of the printing is comparable to the prominence of the fabric. Hoodies and other thick clothing that does not support thick garment printing cannot be printed on. In such case, you can simply acquire hard copies or print your own. If you need to print on lightweight materials, a direct-to-garment (DTG) printer is a good option. We’ve included both kinds of printers so you may get exactly what you need, whether it’s for printing on T-shirts or on hoodies and jeans.
Ink for printing
There is a lot of professional and intense competition in the garment printing sector. You have to use a cartridge that is compatible with your DTG printer in order to get good results; buying a cartridge from a third party is not only discouraged by the creators, but it might also harm your design.
Budget for buying
While a decent budget should be enough to buy you a decent printer, don’t assume it will meet all of your needs just because you can afford it. Keep an eye on your needs, research which printers meet them, and only then make a purchase. When first starting out, it’s important to invest in a high-quality DTG printer that can handle both thick and thin fabrics.
DTG Printers maintenance tips
Before getting into detail, I must say this is the foremost important portion of this article. Having the best DTG printer for a startup is great, but what if it deceives you after some time? There will be no one to blame, but only you, so better have a look at these tips:
- To keep the printer working well, give it a good t-shirt printing atmosphere. You’ll monitor humidity, heat, and dust. Keep your printer away from extreme temperature changes.
- Before printing t-shirts, inspect the nozzle daily. It improves your printing and business. If the nozzle isn’t working properly, it must be fixed. Untreated clogs will render your printer useless.
- A printer’s agitator keeps the ink from settling. If not, shake the cartridges before each use. Even if you don’t use your printer daily, do it daily. Print a few t-shirt samples daily or once every three days to keep the ink flowing.
- The capping station creates a vacuum around the nozzle plate to pump ink. Pressure clears nozzles, preventing inks from drying. Demineralized water or other cleaning fluids should be used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I print on thick fabrics with a regular DTG printer?
We won’t advise you to use a normal DTG printer to print on thick fabrics like hoodies or jeans or else they wouldn’t honor the warranty. So, if you want to avoid these problems, you should always read the user manual that comes with the product.
Heat Press or DTG, which one is preferable?
The DTG printer can print on fabric without using any other tools. The DTG printer is faster than a heat press. The heat press is a piece of equipment that some beginning printers use to print designs on fabric by applying heat and a lot of force. The heat press takes longer to work.
Can I use a DTG printer to make money?
DTG is a great way to make money. Yes, you can use it quite easily. We have learned from a few of our clients that they either adapt an existing printer in order to utilize it for direct-to-fabric printing (DTF), or they use their own direct-to-garment (DTG) printers.
Final words
Having access to the best DTG printer for startups on the market would be a significant step toward ensuring the financial success of your company. There is nothing better than being able to print into the fabric, and you will appreciate being able to offer custom-made goods.
If you have the ability to print onto fabric, you can sell items that are unique to your brand. These devices are simple to operate, require little in the way of setup, and will provide your company with a number of helpful features and capabilities that you will adore having access to.
I am confident that my 5 best DTG printers for startup list will help you make a valuable decision. Have a great time and success mate! If you have any other suggestions or questions, you can ask me in the comments.
For the past five years, I have been working as a printer service supervisor in a printing press that serves customers with tailor-made designs and prints. My job involved dealing with printers five days a week, so I decided to take up printing as a hobby.