Factor 2
What
smoothing
method is
used on the
yard?
A
second factor that affects shirt suitability
for DTG printing is the smoothing method
used on the yard. The more desirable
process is called combing.
"Combing makes a smoother, stronger yarn and
gives you a much better surface to print on," claims
White. "If you were a painter and you were going
to paint a masterpiece, you'd want the best canvas
you could paint on. In terms of T-shirts, that's going
to be combed, ring-spun cotton."
Unlike combing, carding is a simpler process that
merely sweeps over the yarn without aligning the
threads or eliminating the shorter, roving fibers.
"Think of it in terms of combing your hair with a
comb or a card," proposes White. "The comb is
going to sink in and align your hair so you'll have
a smoother, cleaner look as opposed to a card
that is just skimming the top."
