Lightning Plugins has officially launched Lightning DTPrep, a game-changing Photoshop plug-in engineered to tackle one of the most frustrating challenges faced by Direct-to-Film (DTF) and Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing professionals: preparing artwork for flawless print output.
For years, designers and t-shirt printers have struggled with tedious manual processes—adjusting bitmap settings blindly, bouncing between documents, and fighting the persistent issue of semi-transparent pixels causing a cloudy white haze on prints. Lightning DTPrep solves these problems head-on, introducing a real-time, interactive workflow that allows halftones and color knockouts to be generated directly within Photoshop and see updates live.
A New Standard in Print Prep Efficiency
Lightning DTPrep delivers an unprecedented level of control, letting users preview halftone adjustments live without re-processing their files. With just a few clicks, artwork can be optimized for clean fades, crisp shadows, and haze-fre.e results—saving time of trial and error.
“This plug-in has sped up my t-shirt production and made my whole workflow so much easier,” said Todd F. of BiffleShows, who was among the first to adopt Lightning DTPrep.
Key Benefits & Features:
- Realtime Halftones: Eliminate guesswork by adjusting levels and instantly previewing results.
- Color Knockouts: Remove unwanted background colors cleanly with a single click.
- No White Haze: Converts problematic semi-transparent pixels into halftone dots, preventing haze and clouding caused by adhesive powder.
- Save Ink, Get Softer Prints: Optimized halftone generation reduces ink usage while delivering smoother, more comfortable fabric prints.
- Interactive Preview Modes: Quickly toggle between views to check halftone accuracy before sending to print.
- Photoshop Native: Works seamlessly with Photoshop v23.3 and above, ensuring compatibility with modern creative workflows.
Why It Matters for the Industry
In an industry where speed and consistency directly impact profitability, Lightning DTPrep sets a new benchmark for artwork preparation. By removing repetitive manual steps, the plug-in not only boosts productivity but also empowers smaller print shops to deliver professional-grade results without needing advanced technical expertise.
“I have to admit that I haven’t prepped a file manually since I got my hands on this,” said Mike H. of That T-Shirt Dude, calling DTPrep a “game-changer” for apparel printing.
Flexible, Affordable Pricing Options
Lightning Plugins designed DTPrep with accessibility in mind. Users can choose between:
- Monthly Plan — $7.99 per month, licensed for one computer.
- Yearly Plan — $60 per year (equivalent to just $5/month), licensed for two computers.
Both plans include ongoing customer support and come with a cancel-anytime policy—providing flexibility without long-term subscription commitments.
Launch Promotion
To celebrate its release, Lightning Plugins is offering special discounts through launch coupon codes, making it easier than ever for designers and print shops to upgrade their workflow.
About Lightning Plugins
Lightning Plugins is a developer of innovative Photoshop tools created to solve real-world challenges for designers, printers, and creative professionals. With a commitment to simplifying complex tasks and accelerating production timelines, Lightning Plugins provides powerful, intuitive software solutions that let creatives focus on what matters most: their craft.
The company’s latest release, Lightning DTPrep, reflects this mission by combining speed, ease-of-use, and professional-grade results in one affordable plug-in—helping t-shirt printers, apparel decorators, and studios elevate their production quality while reducing wasted time and resources.