Garment Pretreatment for DTG Printing Workflow

Ink Adhesion: Pretreatment chemicals penetrate fibers and allow DTG inks to bond molecularly instead of sitting on the surface.

Color Saturation: Pretreated garments accept full ink saturation without pooling or beading.

Wash Durability: Properly treated garments retain color through 50+ wash cycles; untreated garments fade after 2–3 washes.

Cost: Pretreatment is inexpensive ($0.05–0.15 per garment) compared to reprinting failed jobs.

Standard DTG Pretreatment Mix

• Urea: 3–5 oz per gallon of water
• Citric Acid or Sodium Hydroxide: 0.5–1 oz per gallon (adjust pH to 4–5 for cotton; 5–6 for blends)
• Silicone Softener: 0.25–0.5 oz per gallon (optional, improves hand feel)
• Water: Distilled preferred (tap water can leave mineral deposits)

For Dark Garments (adds extra adhesion)

• Increase urea to 5–6 oz per gallon
• Add 1–2 oz sodium lauryl sulfate (wetting agent) per gallon
• Slightly increase citric acid for lower pH (3.5–4.5)

For Blend Fabrics (cotton/poly mix)

• Reduce urea to 2–3 oz per gallon (excess causes migration)
• Use neutral pH (5–6) to prevent color shift on synthetic fibers
• Add 0.5 oz silicone softener to prevent stiffness

Spray Application (Recommended)

1. Lay garment flat on curing conveyor or large press.
2. Apply pretreatment spray evenly, 6–8 inches from nozzle.
3. Saturate garment without pooling (should be damp, not dripping).
4. Flip garment and spray back side equally.
5. Move to dryer or cure station; heat to 300°F for 60–90 seconds.

Roller/Padding Application

1. Use applicator roller to evenly distribute pretreatment across garment surface.
2. Less accurate than spray but uses less chemical.
3. Cure same as spray method.

Immersion (batch pretreatment)

1. Dip entire garment in pretreatment solution.
2. Wring out excess; drape on conveyor.
3. Cure through dryer at 300°F, 90–120 seconds per garment.
4. Most economical for high-volume shops; requires pretreatment tank and conveyor setup.

Temperature: 280–320°F is ideal. Too low = incomplete curing, poor ink adhesion. Too high = yellowing or scorch marks.

Dwell Time: 60–90 seconds with conveyor dryer; 120–150 seconds for plate heat press.

Visual Check: Properly cured pretreatment is nearly invisible. Over-cured appears yellow or brown on white garments.

Humidity: Hot, dry climates cure faster; humid climates require longer dwell time or higher temperature.

Pre-Mixed Solutions: 2–3 months in sealed containers at room temperature. Sediment settling is normal; shake before use.

Dry Chemicals: Store in cool, dry place; indefinite shelf life if kept sealed.

Pretreated Garments: Can be stored up to 2 weeks after curing without significant degradation. Stack with tissue between layers to prevent rubbing.

Ink Beading or Pooling: Insufficient pretreatment, wrong pH, or incomplete curing. Increase spray saturation and cure time.

Yellow or Brown Stains: Over-curing or too-high temperature. Reduce heat to 300°F and dwell time to 60 seconds.

Ink Fading After 1–2 Washes: Under-cured pretreatment. Increase dwell time and temperature to full spec.

Stiff Hand Feel: Excess silicone softener or pretreatment chemical residue. Reduce softener to 0.25 oz per gallon and rinse garments if needed.