Answer
Nov 25, 2025 - 03:47 PM
Screen Printing, DTG, and DTF are three different ways of applying designs to clothing, and each method has its own strengths.
Screen Printing is the traditional method where ink is pushed through a stencil screen onto the fabric. It has high setup costs because each color needs its own screen, but once set up it is very fast and cost-effective for large orders. It creates very durable prints with bold, solid colors, making it ideal for big runs of simple designs. However, it is not good for small orders or very detailed, photographic artwork.
DTG (Direct-to-Garment) uses a special inkjet printer to print directly into the fabric, similar to printing on paper. It requires no screens and is great for full-color designs, photos, and gradients. DTG prints feel very soft because the ink soaks into the fibers. It works best on cotton or high-cotton garments and usually requires pretreatment to bond properly. DTG is slower and not as durable as screen printing, especially on heavy wash cycles, but it is perfect for small orders and one-off prints with high detail.
DTF (Direct-to-Film) prints the design onto a film, applies a powder adhesive, and then transfers it to the garment with a heat press. It does not require pretreatment or screens and works on nearly any fabric, including cotton, polyester, blends, nylon, spandex, leather, and performance wear. DTF has strong durability and good stretch when applied correctly, and it is very efficient for short runs and print-on-demand. The print sits on top of the fabric as a thin film, so the feel is slightly more noticeable than DTG, but generally smoother than vinyl.
In summary, Screen Printing is possibly still the most common for large orders and bold, long-lasting prints; DTG is best for soft, detailed, photographic artwork on cotton with no minimums; and DTF is the most versatile option, offering strong durability and fast turnaround on almost any fabric - it is also commonly used for large/industrial orders as well as small/hobby shops. Many print shops use a combination of all three methods to handle different types of jobs.
