DTG Printing in Vancouver
Photo-quality, full-colour prints straight into the cotton. One shirt or five hundred, proofed before we print, ready in 3 to 5 business days.
- CMYK + White ink
- No minimum · from 1 piece
- 3 to 5 business days
- Max print 14 × 16 in
- Water-based, soft hand
Printed in-house · 951 East Kent Ave NWhat is DTG printing, and how does it work?
Direct-to-garment printing is inkjet for fabric. A print head lays water-based ink directly into the fibres of a cotton garment, so every colour in your artwork prints in one pass, with no screens, films or colour separations. That is why DTG is the method for photographs, gradients, fine detail and small runs.
- Cure160 °C · 90 sHeat-set so the print survives years of washing.
- CMYK colour passCyan · Magenta · Yellow · BlackYour full artwork, printed in one pass with no colour limit.
- White underbaseSkipped on whiteLight garments do not need it, which keeps the print even softer.
- PretreatmentSprayed + pressedBonds the ink to the fibres and stops it soaking in.
- GarmentWhite cotton100% cotton or a high-cotton blend. See the blanks below.
When DTG is the right call, and when it isn't
We run DTG, DTF and screen printing under one roof, so the recommendation is about your job, not our equipment.
Choose DTG when
- You need 1 to 24 pieces. No screen fees, so one shirt costs what one shirt should.
- The art is a photo, gradient or illustration. Unlimited colours, one price.
- Feel matters. Ink sits in the cotton, not on it. Soft and breathable.
- Many designs, few of each. Merch drops, artist tees, staff names, samples.
Pick something else when
- It's polyester, nylon or a performance blend. DTF transfers bond to any fabric and give brighter whites.
- You want 24+ of one design. Screen printing wins on price per piece.
- It's a logo on polos or caps. Embroidery looks more premium and outlasts everything.
DTG vs DTF vs screen printing
The three ways we put full-colour artwork on a shirt in Vancouver, side by side.
| Factor | DTG | DTF | Screen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Photos, gradients, small runs | Any fabric, bright whites | Bulk runs of one design |
| Fabrics | Cotton, high-cotton blends | Cotton, poly, blends, nylon | Cotton, blends, most fabrics |
| Minimum | No minimum | No minimum | 24 pieces |
| Colours | Unlimited, one price | Unlimited, one price | Priced per colour |
| Feel | Softest, ink in the fibre | Smooth film on the surface | Ink layer, thicker on darks |
| Turnaround | 3 to 5 business days | 3 to 5 business days | 7 to 10 business days |
| Price at 100+ | Higher per piece | Moderate | Lowest per piece |
The best blanks for DTG printing
DTG loves cotton. Ring-spun and combed cotton give the sharpest detail and the brightest whites. These are the blanks we reach for first; anything in the catalog with a 100% cotton face works.
Bella+CanvasBella+Canvas Unisex Jersey100% combed ring-spun cottonFrom $15.10
GildanGildan Heavy Cotton100% cotton, 5.3 ozFrom $6.88
M&OM&O Gold Soft Touch100% ring-spun cottonFrom $6.22
Canada SportswearCrew Crewneck Sweatshirt100% cotton face fleeceFrom $28.00
ATC (WeRK™)Heavyweight Fleece Crewneck420 gsm, 100% cotton faceFrom $43.98DTG is popular onCustom T-shirtsHoodiesSweatshirtsTote bagsFast custom shirts
From artwork to pickup in four steps
- 01Send artworkUse the form, WhatsApp or email. Not sure about the garment? We will suggest one.
- 02Approve the proofPlacement, size and colours mocked up on your shirt before anything prints.
- 03We print and curePretreated, printed and heat-set on East Kent Avenue. Nothing outsourced.
- 04Pick up or shipFree pickup in Vancouver, or delivery across Metro Vancouver and Canada.
- File type
- PNG (transparent), PDF, AI
- Resolution
- 300 DPI at print size
- Max print area
- 14 × 16 in
- Colour mode
- RGB (sRGB)
Custom shirts, reviewed
4.9109 reviewsI was desperately looking for some last minute custom t-shirts and didn’t know whether to go online or find a shop locally. I was recommended ThreadCo and did they ever deliver! Their custom design team created exactly what I was after with zero feedback or changes required and they turned around the shirts within a week. I’m very impressed with Matt and his team. This will definitely not be the last time we use them!!!!
Amazing experience with ThreadCo! Hoodies are great quality, great price and super efficient process.
I had the pleasure of working with Matt. He is very communicative and also sent me photos of samples before ordering.I highly recommended ThreadCo and will be definitely be putting in more orders in the near future!
DTG printing FAQ
DTG (direct-to-garment) printing uses a specialized inkjet printer to spray water-based ink directly into the fabric. It handles unlimited colours in one pass, so it is ideal for photos, gradients and detailed artwork on cotton t-shirts, hoodies and totes.
DTG printing near you
951 East Kent Ave N, Unit 151, Vancouver
Mon to Fri, 8:00 to 4:30 · Free pickup
Serving Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Surrey and North Vancouver, with shipping across Canada.