51. Plastisol Transfers
A form of transfer that uses semi-cured plastisol inks on a release paper that allows the use of a heat press to cure the transfer design to the garment. Plastisol transfers are a good substitute for screen printing and are typically used when the size, color and style of the garments are unknown until the time of purchase.
52. Platen
The part of the direct-to-garment printer where the garment is loaded on to the printer. Some platens travel under the printer where as other platens are stationary with the printer moving over it.
53. Polyester
A type of synthetic fabric that is commonly decorated using sublimation ink. In direct-to-garment printing, the inks will have the best washfastness to natural fabrics. However, polyester fabrics may exhibit other advantages over natural fabrics, such as improved wrinkle resistance. As a result, polyester fibers are sometimes spun together with natural fibers to produce a cloth with blended properties – which is also referred to as a blend garment.
54. Pretreatment
An adhesive-like solution that helps keep the direct-to-garment inks on the top of the fibers of the fabric to provide enhanced wash and substrate performance as well as improved use on a wider range of substrates, including non-cotton fabrics.
55. Print Head
Most commercial and industrial ink jet printers, including direct-to-garment printers, use a piezoelectric material in an ink-filled chamber behind each nozzle instead of a heating element. When a voltage is applied, the piezoelectric material changes shape or size, which generates a pressure pulse in the fluid forcing a droplet of ink from the nozzle.
56. Print Head Carriage
Is the assembly that houses the Print Head and ink reservoir (ink cartridges or dampers) in a direct-to-garment printer.
57. Print Head Carriage Rod
The rod(s) that the Print Head Carriage rides on as it travels back in forth during the printing process.
58. Print Locations
Refers to the location on the garment where the design is printed. Print locations can vary from traditional locations (i.e. top center, full back, left chest,…) to non-traditional locations (i.e. shoulder, over the seam, on the collar,…).
59. Print Resolution
Is the measurement in quality of the graphic in lines per inch (LPI) or dots per inch (DPI). In general, the more LPI (in screen printing) or DPI (digital printing), the smoother is the tonal gradation in the print, the finer the definition and the wider the color gamut.
60. Print Size
Refers to the size of the graphic as it is printed on to the garment.
61. Printing Software
Is the software program that is the communication link between the graphic software program (Corel, Adobe,…) to the printer. The most common printing software are drivers and raster image processors (RIPs).
62. Production Time
Also known as print speed. Refers to the amount of time it takes to complete a print. In direct-to-garment printing, the production time refers to the time it takes to print a garment.
63. Raster Graphic
A bitmap-based image that is comprised of pixels in a grid. Each pixel or "bit" in the image contains information about the color to be displayed. Bitmap images have a fixed resolution and cannot be resized without losing image quality. Common bitmap-based formats are JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG, PSD, and BMP.
64. Rendering Intent
The rules used by a color management system for how to address colors that fall outside the color gamut of one device (i.e. computer, scanner,...) when transferring it to another (i.e. direct-to-garment printer). The rules of a specific rendering intent will decide what qualities of the image it should prioritize to maintain the property of one color at the expense of others. Common rendering intents include: absolute and relative colorimetric, perceptual, and saturation.
65. RGB Mode
RGB color model is an additive color model in which red, green, and blue light are added together in various ways to reproduce a broad array of colors within a spectrum. When developing graphics for direct-to-garment printing, most users recommend developing in an RGB mode as it allows for around 14 to 15 million colors compared to a CMYK mode which allows for 200,000 to 300,000 colors. Once the graphic is created in an RGB mode, the graphic software (i.e. Driver or RIP) will translate the color information to the printer.
66. Ribbon Cable
Is a series of wires running parallel to each other on a flat plane that is used to send electronic information or pulses to electronic parts. In direct-to-garment printing, ribbon cables are used when connecting key parts of the printer with each other (i.e. mother board, print head,...).
67. Ring Spun
A form of fabric making involved using a spinning method to create a slightly finer thread. The spun fibers have a softer touch and are more compacted to provide a greater measure of strength. In direct-to-garment printing, a ring spun natural fabric provides for a better washfastness as the tight fibers help to keep the ink at the top of the garment.
68. RIP
Stands for a Raster Image Processor. Is a software program that transfers digital information such as a PostScript file into a high-resolution raster image. A RIP takes the digital information about fonts and graphics that describes the appearance of your file and translates it into an image composed of individual dots that the imaging device (such as your desktop printer or a direct-to-garment printer) can output.
69. Screw Drive
A type of transport system used in direct-to-garment printing where a large screw rail is used to move either a platen or printer in a precise movement to allow for aligning a second pass directly above an underbase layer.
70. Short Run
Is a term to describe the number of prints or garments ordered by the customer. A short run can vary depending on the type of application (i.e. screen printing, direct-to-garment printing,…) and the equipment being used. Direct-to-garment printers are designed to serve the short run markets that can range from 1 to 24 garments depending on which printer is used.
71. Silicone Paper
Used to help cure direct-to-garment inks without the ink sticking to the heating element and to provide a matte finish to the print. The use of a Teflon sheet will provide the graphic with a gloss finish. Silicone paper is not recommended for curing pretreatment solution as it can affect the washability of the white ink.
72. Surface Tension
Is a tangential force that keeps the fluid together at the surface where fluid meets the air. In direct-to-garment inks, the surface tension of the ink must match up with the print head used in the dtg printer. If the surface tension is too high, the ink with clog in the nozzles of the printer. If the surface tension is too low, the ink will uncontrollably seep out the nozzles of the print head. The greater the surface tension of the ink, the higher the viscosity of ink is.
73. Surge Protector
Is an intermediary device designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes. A surge protector attempts to regulate the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or by shorting to ground voltages above a safe threshold. Most direct-to-garment manufacturers strongly recommend users to use a high quality surge protector to protect their dtg printer.
74. Teflon Sheet
A re-useable non-stick sheet that is used to keep the heating element on a heat press clean and prevents colors from bleeding through. Although a Teflon sheet can be used to cure direct-to-garment inks, it is not recommended for curing pretreatment solution to a garment.
75. Tuck Platen
Is a type of direct-to-garment platen where the garment is laid over the top of the platen and the excess garment that falls off the edges of the platen are tucked under the platen during the printing process. Some tuck platens have rubber gaskets that allow the garment to be secured tightly without the use of a hoop ring.
76. UPS Backup
Also known as a battery back-up, provides emergency power and line regulation to connected equipment by supplying power from a separate source when utility power is suddenly interrupted. The use of a UPS backup will allow a direct-to-garment printer to finish printing a job if power should be completely lost or temporary interrupted.
77. Vector Graphic
Type of graphic made up of many individual objects. Each of these objects can be defined by individual characteristics assigned to it such as color, fill, and outline. Vector graphics are resolution independent because they can be output to the highest quality at any scale.
78. Warranty
In a transaction, it is a legal agreement that a product is sold is as factual stated or implied by the Seller and often contains some remedy if the product needs to be repaired or replaced. In direct-to-garment printing, most manufacturers will offer a warranty to replace malfunctioning parts between six months to one year from the date of purchase on the dtg printer with the exception of the print head and ink delivery system.
79. Wash Test
A quality assurance test to determine if the ink used for decorating a garment is properly cured and will have a high level of washfastness. Wash tests should be performed on any decorating technique that uses ink, foil or a high density printing technique. In direct-to-garment printing, wash tests should be performed not only on different types of fabric, but also on different colors and sizes of garments. Each mill can used different types of looms and sizing chemicals that can change the washfastness of the garment when printed.
80. Washfastness
A term used to describe how well the ink cured on a garment will hold up after being sent through a wash / dry cycle. Most direct-to-garment prints that are properly cured will have around a 5% fading after the first wash / dry cycle with little to no fading on subsequent washings.
81. Waste Bottle
Also called a waste tank in some direct-to-garment printers, this is where all the ink used during the cleaning procedures that is drawn through the Capping Station.
82. Waterbased Ink
Waterbased ink utilizes either dyes or pigments in a suspension with water as the solvent. The evaporation of the water is necessary to set or cure the ink. Most direct-to-garment inks are waterbased pigment inks that are designed specifically for the print head used in the dtg printers.
83. White Ink Capable Printer
This is a category of direct-to-garment printers that have the capability of printing white ink, but also can be run in an all color ink setup. For example, an Epson 2200 printer is a 7-channel printer that can be setup in either a CMYK+3 White channels or a CMYKLcLmLk configuration.
84. White Underbase
Used for printing on dark garments, a bottom layer of white ink is put down to block out the color of the fabric when printing with transparent color inks. Without a white underbase, the color of the fabric will alter any colors in the design that are lighter than the color of the fabric.
85. Wiper Blade
Part of the capping station, a cleaning feature that wipes the bottom of the Print Head plate after doing a maintenance / cleaning cycle. The wiper blade is a wearable part that will need to be replaced over time. Most wiper blades are made up of two parts and both should be replaced at the same time.
