5 Best DTG Printer for Small Business in 2023

With the perfect DTG printer, you can create your own items, create your customized gift for your organization, and so much more!

DTG printers are a valuable asset to have on your team, and you’ll appreciate how quickly you can create personalized fabrics and clothing. We will be introducing a DTG printer, which will help you to grow your business.

You may be wasting money if you’ve been spending to have these goods created to promote your business or if you have been buying similar products from other manufacturers. This article will suggest the best DTG printer for small businesses.

Buying a DTG printer can save you a lot of money and allow your company to create things in-house that you previously had to pay someone else to make. If you’ve always wanted to be able to manufacture your own custom-designed clothing and other fabric goods, those printers are the ideal answer for you!

If you want to make wonderful custom clothing without sacrificing quality, finding the correct direct-to-garment (DTG printer) machine for your business is critical. Today’s printing practice is changing in the print industry. Most of the printers do have a high print resolution.

However, because not everyone is knowledgeable about DTG printers, far too many company owners use printers that are poor or do not meet their needs. There are many types of printers in the market. So, how do you know you’re picking the right DTG printer for your small business?

Let’s take a closer look at 11 of the most common DTG printers in the industry and discuss their benefits and drawbacks. In the end, your decision will most likely be based on personal preference. However, it’s critical to understand what you may expect from each option.

HRM A4 – Best Selling DTG Printer

It is a very great printer that can print both color and black-and-white. This machine will provide you with accurate and beautiful printing, and you will like the fact that it comes with all of the necessary software and printing supplies.

For this printer, you would only need to purchase ink. Everything else you’ll need is included in the kit! A good quality DTG printer.

This is a terrific printer for a great price, and you’ll love being able to do so much high-quality bespoke work with only one machine! The mild solvent dye ink cost low. You can use it as direct to garment printer. The print speed, printing processes are amazing. The machine can produce a high-quality print.

This printer is a wonderful choice if you want a machine that is dependable, has a lot of amazing features and capabilities, and is simple to set up and to use. This is a great set that includes much more than the printer, and you’ll enjoy how easy it is to just purchase ink and start printing!

Best DTG Printer For Small Business

For a small business, the best DTG printer is If you’ve been trying to start manufacturing goods with personalized designs but aren’t sure which printer to use, take a look at these printers.

Each of these printers may create stunning products and assist you in diversifying your product line or creating your own business. Others DTG printers are expensive, here we will suggest to you some best and budget-friendly printers for your business.

1. A4 DTG Printer

Those who own an A4 DTG printer will notice the noticeable new color palette and the oddly added “black box” on the rear of the printer at first sight. Aside from the visual differences, Epson made some significant changes to the A4 performance. The following are the most notable changes.

Variable drop technology improves image quality when using graphics with gradient colors. To provide this can in colors and tone, the printer may better manage the size of the mark of ink dropped. This can also save you money on ink… who doesn’t want to save money on ink? Upgrading the maintenance: A white ink filter is included with the A4. White ink upkeep is critical to success for anyone researching DTG printer or actively printing DTG.

With its inline maintenance solution, the A4 provides even greater simplicity. No more drops, in other words. While this technique isn’t particularly time-consuming or costly, the A4 avoids it by including liquid cartridges in the inkjet system.

Print modes are doubled: The A4 features three fundamental print modes: rapid, and good quality. All of these features enable the printers to move at various speeds. The A4 provides the operator with six various print settings from which to choose, including a speed-boosting highlight white option. The various print modes provide you with complete control over the priority of each print job. Increased print speeds: The A4 prints images up to 35 percent faster.  

2. HRM A3 DTG Printer

An A4 printer may not be sufficient for some folks. In those circumstances, going slightly higher and obtaining an A3 one must help you explore more ground. Another HRM product, our next pick, is one of these. HRM DTG printer machine is an amazing DTG printer for small businesses.

It also employs water-based ink, resulting in high-quality prints. Of course, you’ll need a heat press (clamshell or swing away) and pre-treating equipment, just other DTG printers. Many users say this one is the best DTG printing machine within budget.

However, a heating element with variable pressure can be beneficial in more aspects than just a heat source, so it’s not a wasted investment. You can also try using a Silicone sheet to improve your results. There’s also something special about this printer.

It can automatically modify the printing height, easing your workload. Of course, if you choose, you may update it manually as well. The hrm DTG printer machine is amazing for small businesses. It’s an amazing invention in the DTG printing industry.

In terms of software, this one likewise makes use of the freeware RIP software to let you produce and print artwork. Furthermore, because you utilize water-based ink with them, you may work in a safer and more environmentally friendly manner.

The print size is 329 x 500 mm, which is quite generous. Furthermore, when you consider its low cost, this might be a good deal for a small company. It does have digital printing with higher printing speed. Can cover a maximum print area. This one is good for the print business.

3. L1800 DTF DTG Printer

The fourth item we have for you operates in a slightly different way than a standard DTG printer. You’ll need to create your desired on film first, then press it onto the t-shirt with a heating plate. The maximum print resolution is amazing.

That’s probably not what you were hoping for, eh? It lacks frills like a ceramic-coated surface or pressure knobs that can be adjusted, but it gets the job done. Plus, for fabric, you don’t even need the paper; a standard PET film will suffice. And, like other DTG printers, you’re confined to cotton clothes with no thick, extra layer.

The average temp is also reasonable, albeit the temperature management may be improved. Because the print size is roughly 297 x 420 mm, this T-shirt printing machine could print A3-sized patterns.

Using the free AcroRIP application, which is exclusively available for Windows OS, this printer also has a fairly granular digital control. 100 pieces of PET film are also included in the package, which is a nice touch.

If you’ve never used a printer like this before, finding to get the best temperature or how the middle or top plate holds items in place could be difficult. However, because of the manufacturer’s superb customer service, it’s a breeze. The print heads is good for garment printer.

4. DTG T-Shirt Printer

This DTG printer is everything you need if you’re seeking a dependable DTG digital printer. The most striking feature of this fabric printer is that it is both inexpensive and dependable. Even though it’s inexpensive, it has a lot of advanced features that make it simple to use for beginners.

The maximum print resolution of this printer is enough for you. print heads, print quality is amazing. This DTG garment printer is amazing. What’s the most intriguing part? The printer works well with a variety of materials.

This means it can handle a wide range of fabrics, including cotton, nylon, and polyester. Plus, there’s more. The printer can use both sublimation and pigment ink, allowing it to print on a variety of materials.

Is that all there is to it? The best DTG printer for such a budget has a resolution of up to 2880dpi, allowing you to create greater graphics. It also comes with pre-installed software to make sure everything runs well.

Is there any disadvantage? Because it can weigh up to 100 kilograms, you’ll have to be careful when moving it. However, if you don’t like that, this is a worthwhile purchase!

5. 110V DTG Pretreatment Machine

H-E has provided us with yet another fantastic pretreatment equipment. This device was created to assist you in getting the most of your favorite DTG printers. It was created with the goal of ensuring that your prints are excellent every time. This DTG printing machine can fulfill your job. Because the print quality is amazing.

Furthermore, the machine is small and compact in design. This enables you to take it with you wherever you go. Plus, there’s more. The device can be powered by a 110V power supply. This means you won’t worry about running out of ink. This DTG printer is amazing.

Is that all there is to it? The best DTG printer in the market, on the other hand, has a one-of-a-kind opening design. This allows the prepared paper to be removed in one piece. On the other hand, the printer is pricey. If you’re ready to invest a bit more, however, this is well worth it. Does have automatic maintenance features.

The equipment is dependable and long-lasting. It guarantees that your prints will look great every time. You can maintain the device without difficulty on your own. Simply push a button and the machine will do the rest.

The Printing Procedure

Aqueous textile inks are used by DTG printers, and they require a special curing process. D2 inks are suitable for printing on organic textiles like cotton, jute, hemp, and linen because they are water-based. In addition, pre-treatment of the garment is usually done before printing.

The well before is high-temperature into the custom t-shirt, which causes the shirt’s fibers to lay flat. The pre-treatment also improves the bonding of water-based inks to the cloth. This is especially critical when printing on dark clothes with white ink.

The shirt (or garment) is then placed onto a platen mechanism built to hold the clothing in place once it has been appropriately pre-treated, such as a t-shirt. The clothing is then automatically printed in the printer queue, according to the design. For large scale printing for multiple garments, you need to buy a good quality machine. Also most of the budget-friendly DTG printers, maximum printing size is enough to do your work.

Build Your Own T-Shirt Hobby Printer in 6 Easy Steps:

To begin, disassemble a printer of your choosing, preferably an Epson, and remove only the ink cartridge and its frame. A paper tray motor, shaft, and power supply are also required.

The plywoods must then be cut into parts that will serve as that of the framework and platen of your DTG printers. You’ll need three parts at first. One will be placed at the bottom, and the other two will be placed on the sides. We recommend cutting out an 1125-inch-long piece of plywood and two 525-inch-long pieces of plywood.

The included among for the drawer must then be cut. One component should be 1025 inches long and two sections should be 125 inches long. The sides included within are piled on top of bottom plywoods.

Next, you’ll need to measure out one piece of 139 inches wood and another piece of 133 inches plywood to make a “T” shaped material holder.

Drill two 13/32 inch holes in the casing for the shaft that will roll the drawer. Make sure the shafts rolls are in a straight line.

The printer should now be mounted in the drawer, and the belt should be fastened to the shaft. Put your t-shirt holder on last, and you’re ready to go.

If you wanted to learn more about printer, you can read this post “The best printer: Everything You Need to Know“

History

In 1996, the first commercially viable direct-to-garment printer, the “Revolution,” was introduced in the United States by DIS of Englewood, Florida, and was based on an idea by Matthew Rhome. Rhome has been studying the DTG concept for a number of years before filing a patent application in July 1996. The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued this patent in August 2000, trying to make the first DTG printer.

The Revolutionary printer was available for purchase until Rhome left the firm in 1998 to begin work on the first Brother DTG printing, which was released in 2005. The traditional screen printing scenario is changed.

There had been a lot of development after the Revolution printer was released, but not much revenue activity in the industry until 2004, when Mimaki tried to introduce their printing machine at the ISS exhibition in Chicago, Illinois, and later that same year, while Kornit and US Screen showed their packages at the SGIA display in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Brother International debuted the GT-541 Textile Printer to the marketplace in 2005 at the ISS Downtown event, making it the first “ground-up” DTG printer available. The print head, ink, and electronics of this printer were all designed expressly for DTG printing.

Epson debuted the F2000 printer at the Chicago Expo 2013 show. Which was the best DTG printer on the market that year.

Steps for DTG

Prior to 2005, was the only alternative available to printing enterprises. Because most t-shirts were printed in this method back then, you’ve undoubtedly had experience. The first revolutionaries were Mimaki and U.S. Screen, who invented the very first T-Jet printers that were commercially manufactured in Japan.

After that, Brothers introduced the GT-541, a lightweight solution that solely printed shirts. Later, as the Brother DTG Printer series, this brand controlled numerous print businesses in New York. At ITMA Asia, several innovations and attempts to improve DTG resulted in the debut of the Kiosk branded in Singapore.

Because the printers were not as expensive as their rivals, this brand introduced DTG machine to the rest of the world. With automated head cleaners and ink chip resetting, these machines were also user-friendly.

The Revolution in White Ink

It was nearly hard to behave light-colored printings on cotton flannel at first. In fact, printmaking was limited to light colors since mixing a strong hue with another produces a combination of colors, especially on dark clothes.

DTG Printing in The 21st Century

Before additional breakthroughs knocked on the printers, the DTG printing business whirled for about four years. Of course, there were a number of attempts to personalize the machines and printing designs over the years, but most of them were created in-house using great designers.

The fundamental advantage of this printer over its predecessor is that, because of its 4-2-1 steel plate system, it can print numerous outfits at once. In addition, the printer incorporated a pressurized mechanism that dealt with ink flow during large-scale output.

Printing DTG M2

Until late 2011, when the DTG M2 was originally introduced at the Ft Worth ISS Show, most DTG companies had relied on Epson printers. Epson is still the market leader today, with devices just like Epson F2100 straight to garment printer building on the achievement of prior generations of printers.

The engineering approach used to create this type of printing avoids the need to reset ink cells and waste counters. The greatest part about this printer is that it has improved on a variety of fabrics in addition to its widespread acceptance. Direct prints, for example, are now available on denim jeans.

Viper2 Printing by DTG

The development of the Viper2 printer, an expansion, and enhancement of the old Viper brand, is the most recent millennial milestone in the DGT business. In terms of printing, the Viper2 has undergone significant advancements that have shown to be reliable and efficient.

The cartridge-based printing technology, doorway measurements, as well as the 4-2-1 platen system are all examples. Because the strategy is based on even a limited ink life run, the first innovation ensures minimal ink waste when printing.

DTG Printing Machine Advantages and Disadvantages

For DTG machines, it’s not all roses. Every method has advantages and disadvantages, as well as the idea is to choose the best one for your needs. Let’s have a closer look at what a DTG machine might benefit you.

Benefits

There are many benefits you will get by using a DTG printer. When you choose the best DTG printer for small business, then you should consider a few things before buying it. There are a few benefits given below

Improved Color

As you may be aware, screen printing necessitates the creation of different layers for each hue. That means that if you wish to print a complicated piece, you’ll need to burn more colors to the screen.

As you can expect, doing so would significantly raise the cost, especially if you aren’t printing a large number of t-shirts at once.

DTG printers DTG printers for small businesses will help in this situation. There are no issues because you need only add in the inks.

As a result, you’ll be able to find better colors with your DTG printers when compared to other printers. And it’s all done with little effort.

Suitable for Small Orders

When it comes to printing t-shirts, your profit margins are heavily influenced by the number of t-shirts you have on hand. You can’t really go wrong using screen printing if you’re doing something in bulk.

Screen printing, on the other hand, can be expensive if you only have a few orders of custom t-shirts. As a result, DTG machines are ideal in these situations.  Printing multiple garments will help you to grow your business.

Drawbacks

The process takes longer

When screen printing, you’ll notice that there aren’t many processes involved in placing the colors on the screen. On a DTG clothing printer, though, the process isn’t as simple.

If you do have dark t-shirts, for example, you will have to pretreat clothing to guarantee that the white ink adheres effectively.

Not just that, but get the t-shirt in the appropriate shape, you’ll use heat press equipment. You may have to use heat presses again after printing, which can take a long time.

Buying Guide For DTG Printer

When purchasing a DTG printer, you must devote sufficient time to determining what you require and what you do not require. Here are some pointers to help you understand things better.

Capability vs. Needs

If you run a small company, the amount of t-shirt printing orders you receive will almost probably be lower than if you run a large one. That implies you should keep your options open when selecting a t-shirt printing machine. You’ll be wasting money if you don’t.

Even entry-level t-shirt printing machines can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. The reviewed clothing printing machine cannot print as swiftly or as many clothes as industrial machines, but it is also less expensive.

As a result, if you believe your company requires anything from the higher layers, go for it. Otherwise, figure out what you’ll need and make a decision based on it. Transformed printing processes are important. Also, speed print mode is important.

Budget

As previously said, obtaining a high-quality t-shirt printer would be costly. However, the cost of the printer is only half of the equation; you’ll also need to consider the soldering iron and pre-treatment machine. Let’s have a look at them first.

Speed of Printing

Another important point to remember is that printing speeds will fluctuate between models. This is especially true if the shirt photo printer is a low-end one because it will be significantly slower than heat transfer printers.

Maintenance Tips for DTG Printers:

Here are a few tips for maintaining your printers. I think this will help you to take care of your DTG machine if you are a new user.

1. Maintaining a Print-Friendly Environment:

To maintain the printer running properly, provide it with an appropriate atmosphere in which to operate with the t-shirt. Meanwhile, you’ll monitor the humidity, heat, and dust levels on a regular basis. As a result, it’s best to store your printer somewhere where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate too much.

2. Routine Nozzle Maintenance:

Before printing your t-shirt, run a nozzle check every day. It aids in the optimal performance of your printing and business. If the nozzle isn’t working properly, it needs to be fixed right away. Furthermore, if left ignored, clogs will develop a permanent obstruction, rendering your printer useless.

3. Smooth Ink Flow:

If your printer contains an agitator, the ink will be constantly stirred to keep it from settling. If it isn’t present, you can shake the cartridges every now and then, especially before beginning the day. Even if you don’t use your printer every day, it’s a good idea to do it every day. You could print a few t-shirt samples each day or at a minimum once every three days to maintain the ink flowing smoothly.

4. Maintaining a Clean Capping Station:

In order for the ink to be pushed inside the station, the capping station creates a vacuum around the nozzle plate. The pressure clears the nozzles and keeps the inks from drying out. As a result, decalcified water or even other cleaning fluids should be used to clean it.

You can Also Read: 5 Best DTG Printer for Small Business in 2022

FAQ’s

Here are a few frequently asked questions by customers about the best DTG printer.

What Does a DTG Printer Cost?

The cost of the DTG printer is determined by a number of factors. The amount of nozzles contained in the gadget is one of them. Another consideration is the device’s size. The higher the expense, the larger the size. But, there are some reasonably priced DTG printers that deliver outstanding results. Furthermore, the price is influenced by the brand name. By choosing a well-known brand, you could save a lot of money.

What Is DTG Printing?

Printing on textiles with specialist aqueous inkjet technology is known as a direct-to-garment printing machine(DTG). The print head of a DTG printer normally has a platen that holds the apparel in a fixed location while the inkjet inks are injected or sprayed onto the material. Pre-treatment of the garment with a PTM or Which was before the machine is usually required for DTG, enabling for the following:

• The bond between the clothing fibers and the colored inks is stronger.
• Creates a smoother substrate by laying down loose fibers.
• To facilitate drying and curing, it reacts chemically with the inks.

What Is The Most Effective DTG Printer?

This is a difficult question to answer. After all, everyone’s demands and preferences are different. It’s possible that what worked for someone else won’t work for you. As a result, determining the “best” DTG printer is difficult. As previously stated, there are various variables to consider while purchasing one. As a result, making a single recommendation is impossible. 

Where Can I Purchase a DTG T-Shirt Printer?

DTG printer t-shirts can be found in a variety of online outlets. It’s simple to find trustworthy and respected retailers. All you have to do is look it up on the internet. DTG printers can be purchased from a variety of websites. Simply ensure you read all of the material on each website. Don’t forget to compare costs as well. Keep in mind that the lowest option isn’t always the best.

Final Thoughts

The garments industry is growing day by day. If you want to start a new business and want to grow your career in the t-shirt business. Then you can start your business right now.  You don’t need to waste a higher amount of money on the DTG machines.  This article will help you to choose the best DTG printer for small businesses.  You must need to consider a few important things before buying a DTG machine. I think this article will help you. Instead, have a look at this list of the best DTG printers. You may easily choose the best one for you from there.