Sawgrass Direct Advantage 1.5
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


How does it work?
You simply send an image from your graphic design software to the Direct Advantage queue, load a garment on the jig, and send the file to the printer. Then place the printed shirt on a heat press to seal the image.

Do I need to use transfer paper?
No. Direct Advantage is a direct to garment system that eliminates the need to use transfer paper.

Does it come with graphic design software?
The Direct Advantage 1.5 starter kit includes printer drivers, but no graphic design software.

Can I use my CorelDRAW or Photoshop software?
You can use any graphic design software with a File/Print command, including CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, VE LXI or FlexiSign sign software. SignWarehouse offers a package including VE LXI Master Plus for those who don’t already have a preferred graphic design application.

What are the print resolution options?
The Direct Advantage printer driver has two settings; normal and fine. Normal prints at 360 x 720 dpi and Fine prints at 720 x 720 dpi.

What is the average production speed?
Average production speed is about 25 - 30 shirts per hour.

What is the average print cost per shirt?
The average ink cost is only 50¢ per shirt.

What kind of shirts can I print on?
The system works best on cotton, but can print to any substrate that naturally absorbs water (including birch wooden substrates). The Natualink produces superior results on cotton-poly blends.

What kind of ink does it use?
The Direct Advantage uses Sawgrass patented Naturalink. Naturalink is a water-based ink system using a traditional process color palette in a dual CMYK configuration. Two sets of each color are loaded.

Can I print on anything other than a t-shirt?
Yes. The jigs come in youth and adult sizes, so they can be used to load and secure various items including golf towels and tote bags.

Does it require a heat press?
Yes. Naturalink requires heat to bond with the cotton fibers. After the shirt is printed, it should be placed in a heat press immediately to dry and seal the ink.

What is the heat press setting?
Press the shirts at 400 degrees F for 25 seconds with 40psi or medium pressure.

Is the image washable?
Yes. The cured image is machine washable. The manner in which it’s washed will affect the durability of the image.

What are the recommended wash instructions?
For best results, wash inside out in cold water without bleach. Tumble dry on medium heat. Iron inside out. Do not iron decorated area.

Is it portable?
Yes. The printer and base weigh only 110 pounds. The base is constructed with two large, sturdy handles on each side. The entire assembly can be easily moved by two adults.

Does transporting the printer void the warranty?
No. Unlike some other direct to garment printers, the Sawgrass Direct Advantage system is designed to be portable so users can print shirts on location. Care should be taken to avoid damaging the printer when moving it, but transporting the unit does not automatically void the warranty.

How long is the standard warranty?
The standard warranty covers parts and labor for one year, including a one year warranty on the print heads. Other direct to garment systems that are not as reliable only offer 3 – 6 months of warranty coverage for the print heads.

What about tech support?
Sawgrass offers unparalleled, comprehensive support for the Direct Advantage 1.5 system. Services include toll free telephone tech support for the life of the product. In addition, telephone setup assistance is available if necessary. Necessary repairs can be performed on-site by trained service technicians or by “depot service” in which the unit is shipped to Sawgrass for repair. Shipping the unit to and from the Sawgrass facility for depot service repairs is done at no charge to the customer.

Does it include on-site setup and training?
Most users find that the Sawgrass setup process is so easy that on-site assistance is not necessary. But if desired, on-site setup and training are available from the distributor at an extra charge.

What are the system requirements?
Windows 2000 or XP. The Direct Advantage Driver is not Mac compatible. Minimum Hardware: Pentium 4 – 2.5GHz Processor, 512 MB System Memory, 80 GB Hard Drive, and USB 2.0 Recommended Hardware: Pentium 4 – 3.0GHz Processor, 1 GB System Memory 80 GB Hard Drive, USB 2.0

The brochure says it's "white ink ready". Does it print on dark garments?
Yes. Four of the process colors on the Direct Advantage can be replaced with white ink.

However, printing with "White Ink" on any Direct-to-Garment Printer will be difficult, and most competing product vendors do not inform the consumer of the following complications.

1) White ink does not bond to cotton, so the dark garment must be pre-treated. The pre-treatment is typically applied with a power sprayer and if it is not applied properly, the printed image will wash off quickly.
2) The pre-treatment process is difficult to do correctly. Many shops normally lose up to 30% of a production run due to problems related to incorrect application of the pre-treatment. This greatly increases waste and undermines profitability.
3) Since installing white ink requires the use of four of the eight ink cartridges, the printer cannot run in the intended dual CMYK configuration. Having only one set of color cartridges will slow the print speed and reduce productivity for both dark and even light garment applications.
4) The necessity of pre-treating the shirts, and the loss of the dual CMYK configuration typically slows production to about 5 shirts per hour, reducing productivity by 84%! In order to make up for this loss of productivity, you may have to charge over $50 per shirt.
5) White inks contain titanium dioxide, which can damage print heads if the ink is not flowing regularly. So if you have white ink installed on a Direct-to-Garment Printer, but are not consistently using it, the likelihood of damage to your printer outweighs the benefit of being able to print on dark fabrics.

For all of these reasons, printing with white ink is possible, but is not recommended at the current time for any Direct-to-Garment Printing Application. Soon the "White Ink" process will be perfected allowing a Direct-to-Garment Printer to be a profitable solution for printing on dark garments. Most vendors with competing products will not inform the consumer of these issues. When a dark garment sample is requested, the consumer is sent a very finely tuned print which could have taken many hours to perfect. Before making a Direct to Garment Printer purchase make sure you have asked about the details of the "White Ink" process. If any the of the above points are left out, seriously consider another vendor.