Table of Contents
- What Is DTG (Direct-to-Garment) Printing?
- Pros of DTG Printing
- Cons of DTG Printing
- What Is Screen Printing?
- Pros of Screen Printing
- Cons of Screen Printing
- Which Printing Method Is Best for Your Project?
- Cost Considerations and Budget Planning
- Custom Garment Printing by Bell Printing
So, you need some custom apparel printed. Maybe it’s a batch of T-shirts for your family reunion or some company hoodies for your employees. Whatever the occasion, it’s essential to find the right balance between cost, quality, durability, and turnaround time.
There are many printing options out there to choose from, two of which are direct-to-garment (DTG) and screen printing. As the most popular apparel printing methods, they’re both suitable for a wide variety of projects.
If you’re in the market for custom apparel printing, keep reading to learn the basics of DTG and screen printing, what makes them different, and how to determine which is best for your needs.
What Is DTG (Direct-to-Garment) Printing?
Direct-to-garment printing works similarly to the inkjet printer in your office, just with a few extra steps. First, the garment must be pre-treated with a solution that helps create a bond with the ink. Then, it’s cured with heat. After that, it’s time to run the garment through the printer. Finally, the ink is cured with a heat press or a forced air dryer to ensure it doesn’t run or flake in the future.
Pros of DTG Printing
There are a lot of advantages to DTG printing. This method is excellent for highly detailed, full-color designs and maintains the garment’s soft, lightweight feel. Plus, because there are no setup fees or screens required, it’s ideal for low quantities of small orders and one-off prints that require a fast turnaround.
Cons of DTG Printing
However, DTG is typically only suitable for 100 percent cotton fabric and is less vibrant on darker garments without proper pretreatment. It also has a higher cost per item for large orders than screen printing and is less durable over time.
What Is Screen Printing?
The screen printing process is commonly used for bulk apparel orders. It involves creating screens for each color that act as stencils for the ink. Different colors of ink are forced through the screen and onto the garment, creating an image one layer at a time. After the printing is complete, the garment is heat-cured in a dryer.
Pros of Screen Printing
Screen printing creates extremely durable and long-lasting prints. It works well on a wide variety of materials and creates vibrant, bold colors — even on dark garments. This process creates consistent results across bulk orders and is cost-effective for large quantities.
Cons of Screen Printing
However, screen printing comes with setup costs for screen creation and color separation, making it less cost-effective for smaller orders. This setup also takes longer, increasing turnaround time. Additionally, depending on the design, screen printing may not allow for as much color blending and fine detail as DTG.
Which Printing Method Is Best for Your Project?
Now that you know the differences between DTG and screen printing, let’s discuss which method is best for which application, helping you make the right choice for your needs.
DTG printing is ideal if you need small quantities or single garments; have complex full-color artwork or photo-style designs; want a soft, lightweight print feel; or need a fast turnaround without setup fees. It’s great for short-run promotional apparel, custom T-shirts for individuals, and online merchandise stores.
You should choose screen printing if you’re ordering in bulk and want the most cost-effective option, have a simpler design with fewer colors, or want bold, long-lasting prints. It’s ideal for items like company uniforms, event shirts, team apparel, and fundraisers and giveaways — basically any use case that requires large quantities of apparel at a low price.
Cost Considerations and Budget Planning
When you’re ordering a batch of custom apparel, it’s important to take cost into consideration. Order size can have a big impact on pricing — for example, if you’re doing a large batch, the screen printing setup fee is split between units, making it much more cost effective than DTG printing. If you only need a few shirts, the setup fees will make the per-shirt cost a lot higher, which means that DTG is the more budget-friendly option.
If you’re not sure which method is right for you, it’s a good idea to get quotes for both methods so you can make the choice that works best for your budget.
Custom Garment Printing by Bell Printing
At Bell Printing, we’re experts in all things screen printing and are here to help you choose the best printing option for your unique needs. With our emphasis on quality, expertise, and customer support, you can trust that you’ll be satisfied with the finished product. Contact us today to receive expert advice or get a quote on your next project.
