T-Shirt - Document Component
T‑Shirt Tool
The T‑Shirt tool prepares artwork for DTG (Direct‑to‑Garment) and DTF (Direct‑to‑Film) production. It applies a DTG separation preset for ink knockouts and, when needed, adds screening to the selected channel or underbase. Typical uses include knocking out black ink on black garments and controlling dot gain/opacity for transfers.
When to use it
- Printing DTG on dark garments and you want to remove black (or other colours) so you don’t waste ink or muddy shadows.
- Producing DTF transfers and you need halftone screening on the underbase or a colour channel to control coverage and drying.
- Automating DTG/DTF preparation so jobs are consistent across operators and devices.
How it works
- The tool loads the selected DTG separation preset from PrintFactory Cloud and applies ink knockout rules (e.g., remove black on black garments.)
- If DTF Screening is enabled, it generates a halftone using the chosen shape, angle, frequency, choke, and input range for the configured channel/underbase.
- The changes are saved with the job (as layers/processing steps) so downstream stages output exactly as configured.
Static tab (on‑screen controls)
- DTG Separation – Choose a preset from Cloud Hub that defines where specific inks are knocked out. Select <Off> to disable knockout. Presets commonly remove black ink for black garments; they can also target white or other colours. See DTG Separation.
- DTF Screening – Enable to apply halftone screening to the selected channel (often the underbase). Reveals the controls below:
| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| Shape | Spot shape for halftone dots (Round, Ellipse, Line, etc.). Choose what your printer/process supports. |
| Angle (°) | Screen angle. Keep consistent with production standards to minimise moiré. |
| Frequency (LPI) | Lines per inch (dot density). Lower = more ink/opacity; higher = finer dots and faster drying. |
| Choke (mm) | Contracts the screened area slightly to prevent colour fringes after press/curing. |
| Input Range (%) | Low/High tone limits that are screened. Use to protect highlights or cap shadows. |
Variable tab (automation)
All controls can be driven by variables for hands‑off production.
| Variable field | Effect |
|---|---|
| DTG Knockout | Selects the separation preset (ink knockout rules). |
| DTF Screening | Turns screening on or off. |
| Shape | Sets the dot shape. |
| Angle | Sets the screen angle (degrees). |
| Frequency | Sets the screen frequency (LPI). |
| Choke | Contracts the screened channel by the specified distance (mm). |
| Range Low / Range High | Defines the tonal range (%) that will be screened. |
Tips & Best Practices
- Common DTG use: Knock out black when printing on black garments to reduce ink use and keep deep shadows clean.
- Use DTF Screening to balance opacity vs. hand feel. Start mid‑frequency and tune per fabric/film.
- Increase Choke slightly if you see halos of underbase around colours after heat press.
- Keep Angle and Shape consistent with your DTF/DTG standards to avoid moiré.
- Centralise presets in Cloud Hub so everyone uses the same knockout logic.
Related Knowledge Base articles
Summary
The T‑Shirt tool brings garment‑specific prepress into your workflow: use presets for targeted ink knockouts (very often black‑on‑black), and enable screening on the underbase or a colour channel when you need controlled coverage. The result is predictable, efficient DTG/DTF production with less waste and cleaner results.