Please find some links and notes from the 2 Regular Guys Podcast. Terry and Aaron discussed all things DTG in this direct to garment deep dive. Terry is coming off of an all day training seminar at the NBM Long Beach show showing people the Epson F2000 Direct to Garment Printer, so we will be asking him to share some tips and tricks from that event. The guys will also discuss the beginning of the Direct to Garment segment of our industry as well as discuss what the future might hold.

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Direct to Garment Deep Dive

Where direct to garment came from in the industry.

The early days

Matt Rhome 1996

US Screen (T-Jet), Brother and Mimaki - SGIA Minneapolis 2004

Tried and failed

Screen printing pretreatment on a shirt

Printing discharge ink through a print head

Early innovators - Like car buyers at the turn of the previous century

Overview of the current state of direct to garment.

Commercial machines now

The Frankenstein machines are on the decline

Most buyers purchase both a DTG and an automatic pretreat machine

Environment is still critical

Not just clogging - head cleaning

Process is basically still the same as the early days, just vastly more consistent

Do your homework - a bit of smoke and mirrors still today

Future of direct-to-garment?

Polyesters and more specifically performance wear

Probably the biggest buzz among potential customers

All machines will print at a higher rate of speed

Pretreated garments will likely be the future as well

Trade Shows

* NBM Long Beach July 14-16

* Embroidery Mart Nashville Aug 5-6

* NBM Baltimore Aug 18-20

* ISS Nashville Sept 8-10

* SGIA Las Vegas Sept 14-16

Other News/Events

* Complete Screen Printing Business Course - Atlas Screen Supply in Chicago - July 23-24

* Complete Screen Printing Business Course - Workhorse Products in Phoenix - August 13-14

Terry's Books

Screen Printing: A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own T-Shirt Business Just $4.95 as an e-book.

Direct to Garment: A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own T-Shirt Business Just $4.95 as an e-book.