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Direct to Garment => DTG - General => Topic started by: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2015, 08:57:43 AM

Title: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2015, 08:57:43 AM
Just purchased the Brother GT-381.  Ive resisted DTG for the longest time but I think I can make it work well with our retail side, let's hope it goes smooth! Nazdar is handling the order for us and training. Thanks Peter/Tim/Charles!
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: mk162 on November 24, 2015, 09:04:50 AM
You'll like it, it's not as simple as hit print though.

I can go over some things with you we've found work well.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2015, 09:14:02 AM
You'll like it, it's not as simple as hit print though.

I can go over some things with you we've found work well.

No doubt, we expect it wont be super easy. I hope its not a total PITA though.  We will probably be looking for any pointers anyone wants to give up!
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: kingscreen on November 24, 2015, 09:23:24 AM
What were some of the factors that made you go with Brother versus other brands/models?
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2015, 09:28:57 AM
What were some of the factors that made you go with Brother versus other brands/models?

Over the years was not happy with white over all on most machines including past brother machines, brother still isn't perfect but its a hell of a lot closer than most I have seen. Banding, most have bad banding that I have seen.  I watched a few being printed at SGIA by the brother and was impressed as well as samples I have gotten off it. I think that its one of the more popular machines for a reason, quality and value for dollar is pretty hard to beat.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: Gilligan on November 24, 2015, 10:09:09 AM
You have to get a scale.. J/k :)
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2015, 10:29:42 AM
You have to get a scale.. J/k :)

We've had a mixing system for around a year or so now with a scale. Soon as there was a need magically it showed up, hard concept I know. ;) 
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: 3Deep on November 24, 2015, 12:30:35 PM
Why did I  know you would pull the trigger on a DTG this quick LOL, I'm still looking at what we want didn't know it was going to be so much homework, why didn't you like the new M&R MLink it looks pretty good, but like all the rest it still has to prove itself.  Right now the Epson is one of our top machine's and the Anajet we did like the Kornit but dam those fellers are pricey.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2015, 12:42:29 PM
Why did I  know you would pull the trigger on a DTG this quick LOL, I'm still looking at what we want didn't know it was going to be so much homework, why didn't you like the new M&R MLink it looks pretty good, but like all the rest it still has to prove itself.  Right now the Epson is one of our top machine's and the Anajet we did like the Kornit but dam those fellers are pricey.

Haha.  The MLink was 2x the price if I am not mistaken. That would put it outside the logic for what ill use this for.  Brother is hard to beat for the money. 
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: pwalsh on November 24, 2015, 02:30:51 PM
Just purchased the Brother GT-381.  Ive resisted DTG for the longest time but I think I can make it work well with our retail side, let's hope it goes smooth! Nazdar is handling the order for us and training. Thanks Peter/Tim/Charles!

Brandt:  Thank you for your business, and for putting your trust in Nazdar SourceOne as a supplier partner to Graphic Disorder as you add Digital Direct To Garment Printing to your companies Product and Service offering.  I'm confident that Tim will smooth out any bumps along the way to get the machine to your facility, and then Charles will take over to provide you with great support with installation, training, and support after the sale. 

And as always there's that Australian guy you can call if you need any other assistance or support.  One challenge that a lot of "scree-printing" companies that introduce DTG printing to their process is to get a handle on what their true production costs are.  Please see attached some examples of Screen Print vs. DTG production costs that were generated by our Cost Comparison Calculator.

I’ve tried to provide an option to compare DTG on White shirts using only CMYK and for dark shirts with the addition of pre-treatment, white ink, and extended printing times.  For comparison purposes I’ve included examples that compare screen-print vs. DTG production for a four color print on white and dark shirts at (18) or (36) print quantities.  I hope that this information is of some value. If you or anyone else is interested feel free to drop me an email with your contact info and I'll send the Excel file across and you can crank your own numbers.

Peter
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: DannyGruninger on November 24, 2015, 03:31:18 PM
Why did I  know you would pull the trigger on a DTG this quick LOL, I'm still looking at what we want didn't know it was going to be so much homework, why didn't you like the new M&R MLink it looks pretty good, but like all the rest it still has to prove itself.  Right now the Epson is one of our top machine's and the Anajet we did like the Kornit but dam those fellers are pricey.

Haha.  The MLink was 2x the price if I am not mistaken. That would put it outside the logic for what ill use this for.  Brother is hard to beat for the money.


Son, you done focked up not buying the xlink x........ From what I've seen that x link is wayyyyyyyyyyy faster then the brother plus you got the m&r service which is hard to beat.... I bet you'll be buying one in a year from now  8)

Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: mk162 on November 24, 2015, 04:35:09 PM
Brother's service network ain't bad either, best part is, you shouldn't need it.

You can buy 2 GT's for the price of 1 M-link.  That's a big difference.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: 3Deep on November 24, 2015, 05:21:02 PM
Between the M-Link and the Kornit Breeze they are kind of pricey you can buy a nice auto for the cost, don't know about the price on the M-link but that dam breeze is 60k something.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2015, 05:40:36 PM
Why did I  know you would pull the trigger on a DTG this quick LOL, I'm still looking at what we want didn't know it was going to be so much homework, why didn't you like the new M&R MLink it looks pretty good, but like all the rest it still has to prove itself.  Right now the Epson is one of our top machine's and the Anajet we did like the Kornit but dam those fellers are pricey.

Haha.  The MLink was 2x the price if I am not mistaken. That would put it outside the logic for what ill use this for.  Brother is hard to beat for the money.


Son, you done focked up not buying the xlink x........ From what I've seen that x link is wayyyyyyyyyyy faster then the brother plus you got the m&r service which is hard to beat.... I bet you'll be buying one in a year from now  8)

Lets hope I have that problem in a year or less.  I'm almost out of equipment to buy at this point. Let's see, maybe a second auto next year...maybe another 6 head embroidery machines but honestly what else could I really need?
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: ffokazak on November 24, 2015, 06:00:44 PM
Whats the second auto going to be Brandt? Another CHIIID?
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2015, 06:03:12 PM
Whats the second auto going to be Brandt? Another CHIIID?

Probably a Stryker. Real big one.  The trend in my shop is people will pay for as many colors as we put in the artwork, so we'd want to be able to do more.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: ffokazak on November 24, 2015, 06:32:39 PM
Nice!

I see a lot of benefit to the oval presses for sure.

Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: 244 on November 24, 2015, 09:07:56 PM
Between the M-Link and the Kornit Breeze they are kind of pricey you can buy a nice auto for the cost, don't know about the price on the M-link but that dam breeze is 60k something.
M link is 40 and the M link X is 75
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 25, 2015, 07:47:50 AM
Just purchased the Brother GT-381.  Ive resisted DTG for the longest time but I think I can make it work well with our retail side, let's hope it goes smooth! Nazdar is handling the order for us and training. Thanks Peter/Tim/Charles!

Brandt:  Thank you for your business, and for putting your trust in Nazdar SourceOne as a supplier partner to Graphic Disorder as you add Digital Direct To Garment Printing to your companies Product and Service offering.  I'm confident that Tim will smooth out any bumps along the way to get the machine to your facility, and then Charles will take over to provide you with great support with installation, training, and support after the sale. 

And as always there's that Australian guy you can call if you need any other assistance or support.  One challenge that a lot of "scree-printing" companies that introduce DTG printing to their process is to get a handle on what their true production costs are.  Please see attached some examples of Screen Print vs. DTG production costs that were generated by our Cost Comparison Calculator.

I’ve tried to provide an option to compare DTG on White shirts using only CMYK and for dark shirts with the addition of pre-treatment, white ink, and extended printing times.  For comparison purposes I’ve included examples that compare screen-print vs. DTG production for a four color print on white and dark shirts at (18) or (36) print quantities.  I hope that this information is of some value. If you or anyone else is interested feel free to drop me an email with your contact info and I'll send the Excel file across and you can crank your own numbers.

Peter

Thanks Peter, we are looking forward to the machine and hopefully being a success here for us.  Thanks for all the help.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: JCS on November 26, 2015, 12:07:03 AM
Dang, wish I had known, I would have traded our newish f2000 for your boomerang!
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: Doug S on November 26, 2015, 11:22:43 AM
Congrats Brandt, maybe I'll get a chance to see it when I'm there.  I'm looking forward to seeing a real operation.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 27, 2015, 07:48:18 AM
Dang, wish I had known, I would have traded our newish f2000 for your boomerang!

I would have passed, I would never in my life want a used DTG LOL
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 27, 2015, 07:48:47 AM
Congrats Brandt, maybe I'll get a chance to see it when I'm there.  I'm looking forward to seeing a real operation.

We should have it shortly, I ships Monday. Install I hope shortly after.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 04, 2015, 12:17:01 PM
Touchdown, install and training next week. Excited to give this a shot. 

We will also have a Mlink as well, so we will be able to compare the two. 
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: ffokazak on December 04, 2015, 12:54:48 PM
M-Link as well?!

Awesome.

Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 04, 2015, 12:56:13 PM
M-Link as well?!

Awesome.

Correct! Going to be a DTG party up in here.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: Gilligan on December 04, 2015, 01:51:17 PM
(http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/original.jpg)
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 04, 2015, 01:58:47 PM
  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: Homer on December 04, 2015, 03:01:15 PM
why the two different units? just curious...
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: 3Deep on December 04, 2015, 03:13:18 PM
M-link is gonna beat the pants off the brother, and Brandt will reach deeper in that pocket for the best machine, my pockets have zippers on them right at the top LOL ;D
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 04, 2015, 03:49:08 PM
why the two different units? just curious...

M&R wanted to sit it next to a Brother and we will be posting some differences and our opinion good or bad of either machine.  Should be fun since we know nothing about DTG.  You guys will even be able to send some garments if you like for some real world prints. 

If I like that Mlink better ill just have to work harder to buy it from him.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 07, 2015, 01:53:56 PM
Mlink ships today, should be all up and running soon.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: DannyGruninger on December 07, 2015, 02:15:50 PM
Mlink ships today, should be all up and running soon.

Test print artwork coming your way! We might be adding one if it works well for you guys


Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 07, 2015, 02:23:06 PM
Looking like install on it next week as well. 
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 08, 2015, 10:09:44 AM
Brother is set up training starts today.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: DannyGruninger on December 08, 2015, 11:23:40 AM
That thing will look like a toy compared to that xlink LOL


Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 09, 2015, 01:19:51 PM
Quality is on point.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: Inkworks on December 09, 2015, 01:23:37 PM
Wow really bad moire in the shadow.... disappointing  ;)
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 09, 2015, 01:37:17 PM
Wow really bad moire in the shadow.... disappointing  ;)


 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 09, 2015, 02:28:57 PM
This is on a Dickies work shirt, not exactly ideal garment and still looks great. 
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: mk162 on December 09, 2015, 02:33:35 PM
actually twills print much better, less fibers, smoother print surface.

We did some aprons that were KILLER. 
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 09, 2015, 02:35:42 PM
actually twills print much better, less fibers, smoother print surface.

We did some aprons that were KILLER.

With the deep groves it looks kinda jagged, but not bad. Still quality print for sure. 
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: 3Deep on December 09, 2015, 02:37:12 PM
Brandt is this on the Brother machine? looks very good to me, how about the the pre-treat app how are you doing that.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 09, 2015, 02:47:01 PM
Brandt is this on the Brother machine? looks very good to me, how about the the pre-treat app how are you doing that.
 

Brother. Pretreat is a separate machine and very easy/quick to do. Right away no reason to BS, ink costs are high.  Ill get some data after I run some more shirts. 
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: ebscreen on December 09, 2015, 03:03:30 PM
Does the pre-treat stop bleeding on poly stuff?
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: mk162 on December 09, 2015, 03:06:05 PM
nope, not really.  it's good on 50/50's, you have to change how it goes down though.  2 light coats vs 1 heavy.

on 100% poly there is no hope at this point.  everybody is working on it though.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: TCred on December 09, 2015, 03:25:16 PM
Without knowing anything about it we tested 100% poly on our Kornit, we just stuck a shirt in and used the same settings as a cotton shirt previously printed. Print quality is superb and adhesion was good (up to 32 washes so far).

Now I am nervous that we just had beginners luck, and the DTG gremlins were having a day off.  Have you been able to isolate what is possibly causing the bleed?
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: mk162 on December 09, 2015, 03:36:02 PM
actually I have heard the Kornits handle poly much better than others.  I am not sure why this is though.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: Frog on December 09, 2015, 04:34:30 PM
Oh boy, eb, you want poly DTG and you get to deal with Hirsch with yet another line of machines!, LOL!
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: ebscreen on December 09, 2015, 05:42:40 PM
Oh heck no. Just want to see where the technology is at on that sort of thing.

I'd guess tri-blends and the like (fuzzies) are a no go as well?


You gotta get one Andy, fits your model well, and then we know where to send folks!
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 09, 2015, 05:47:00 PM
Tech mentioned to us one of his clients printing tri-blends with success but he cautioned me about them. I am sure we will try them and ruin a few.  When the Mlink shows up you guys send whatever you want and we will try it as well.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: Frog on December 09, 2015, 07:23:53 PM
Oh heck no. Just want to see where the technology is at on that sort of thing.

I'd guess tri-blends and the like (fuzzies) are a no go as well?


You gotta get one Andy, fits your model well, and then we know where to send folks!

It fits a chunk of my market for sure, but not enough volume to return my investment in a reasonable time unless I do the trade thing, and that doesn't fit my winding down model. 8)
So, for the time being, it's transfers in house with speedy turnaround and occasional farming out of DTG when there is the time a quantity to justify it. I'm very happy with transfers on lights, and fortunately for me, that's most of them.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 10, 2015, 05:56:26 AM
ROI isn't too bad on this thing. I figure once we get this thing going and over 500 old shirt designs added with new being added all the time we will we will be jammin. Of course it will take us a little while to get that going so let's just say it takes a year for ROI at the most extreme ink cost scenario that ive seen off it so far.  Ill take it.  I though our Roland would take a year or so as well, we turned that corner in 6-7 months and we didn't even sell stickers when we added it. We already sell shirts so my thoughts is we will be good pretty quick for us. 
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: Frog on December 10, 2015, 09:21:19 AM
ROI isn't too bad on this thing. I figure once we get this thing going and over 500 old shirt designs added with new being added all the time we will we will be jammin. Of course it will take us a little while to get that going so let's just say it takes a year for ROI at the most extreme ink cost scenario that ive seen off it so far.  Ill take it.  I though our Roland would take a year or so as well, we turned that corner in 6-7 months and we didn't even sell stickers when we added it. We already sell shirts so my thoughts is we will be good pretty quick for us.

Yep, I think that with an online, retail operation of selling stock designs, it's almost a no-brainer, with the cost of the machine and supplies more than offsetting the alternative of keeping huge stock of pre-printed shirts.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 10, 2015, 09:42:04 AM
Or in our case running pre-orders and that organized chaos.  I think this will work for us but time will tell.  Worst case I have a machine to sell. No risk, no reward.  Frankly id about keep it just for making my own shirts, haha.
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: IntegrityShirts on December 11, 2015, 08:48:32 AM
Here's a couple dumb noob questions...

How do you cure these after printing? Can you use a dryer or do you have to heat press?

Can you take a vid of the pretreat machine running? Don't think I really understand that process/chemicals and is it worth it rather than just spraying by hand?
Title: Re: DTG Incoming....
Post by: GraphicDisorder on December 11, 2015, 09:59:37 AM
Here's a couple dumb noob questions...

How do you cure these after printing? Can you use a dryer or do you have to heat press?

Can you take a vid of the pretreat machine running? Don't think I really understand that process/chemicals and is it worth it rather than just spraying by hand?

You can use dryer or the heat press, dryer would require a bit of dwell time, so doubt we use that much. 

Soon as I am using it normally ill grab a video of teh Pretreat machine, think of it like a car wash really though. Load shirt it sprays over the whole image area (which you can turn on and off sprayers). You set the amount of pretreat you want to be on the garment which you need to measure to determine.  I would spend the money for it for sure, unless you just had space for a hand sprayer which would require drain/etc.