Digital Printing (DTG) | Transfer Printing (DTF) | Screen Printing | |
Nicknames | Direct to Garment | Direct to Film, Screen Print on Demand | Silk Screen Printing |
Method | - Garment is loaded onto a machine - Garment is sprayed with wet glue adhesive - Artwork is printed directly onto the garment with ink - Garment is dried for curing in a enormous conveyor dryer | - Artwork is printed onto clear film with a large format printer - Film is cut to size and positioned onto the garment - Artwork is transferred onto the garment with a heat press - Film is removed | - Artwork is created as a negative on a film in a dark room - A mesh screen holds the film - The screen is calibrated and positioned to the machine - One color at a time, ink is pushed through the mesh screen and lands on the garment - Ink is cured after each color and a new screen is setup for each new color - Garment is dried for curing in enormous conveyor dryer |
Mental Picture | - The garment is laid onto the machine, and it is printed like an ordarinary desktop printer in full color (if your printer were as big as a car!) | - Think of peel and stick transfers that you may have done as a kid during arts and crafts, but an industrial level with permanent adhesion and softer feel | - Massive machine with multiple arms coming out from center hub, tees are placed on the arms and thick ink is physically pushed through the screen |
Direct to Garment (DTG) | Transfer Printing (DTF) | Screen Printing | |
Quantity | - Great for on demand printing - Great for samples - Great for small to medium bulk orders | - Great for on demand printing - Great for samples - Great for small to medium bulk orders | - Great for large bulk orders |
Durability | - Good durability - Print may fade over time depending on washing and drying | - Great durability - Print never fades - Print may peel over time depending on washing or drying | - Best durability - Print never fades - Print may eventually crack or peel over time depending on washing or drying |
Appearance | - Soft hand - Fibers of garment may show through the print - Depending on the garment and artwork, print can appear more vintage | - Smooth hand - Print is slightly raised on garment - Print is opaque | - Smooth hand - Print is on top of the garment and may be absorbed into the garment - Print is opaque |
Colors | Unlimited Colors | Unlimited Colors | Limited Colors - pay per color - each color requires it's own screen and setup - each color has to be unique (no blending or fading or gradients) |
Special Effects | - Can print gradients - Can print opacity (with proper file setup) - Can print small details | - Can print gradients - Can print unlimited colors - Avoid small details that may not transfer | - Limited colors (pay per color) - Half tones used for opacity changes - Can print metallic ink like gold or silver |
Hand Feel | - Super soft to the touch - Feels like the garment - Print is embedded into the garment - Dyes the actual garment | - Similar to traditional screen print - Print lays on top of the garment - Super smooth - Feels like ink on top of the garment | - Print lays on top of the garment - Feels like plastic on top of the garment |
Material | - Best for 100% cotton - Good for cotton poly blended | - Great on cotton or poly - Great on Polyester material | - Great on cotton or poly |
Application | Great for: - Tees - Hoodies - Sweatshirts - Sweatpants Cannot be used on: - Windbreakers - Hats - Yoga pants | Great for: - Yoga pants - Polos - Windbreakers - Tote bags - Jackets - Hats - Shorts - Tees - Hoodies - Sweatshirts - Sweatpants | Great for: - Yoga pants - Polos - Windbreakers - Tote bags - Jackets - Shorts - Tshirts - Hoodies - Sweatshirts - Sweatpants Cannot be used on: - Hats |
Artwork size | - Max 15" x 19" (limited by the garment size or placement) | - Max 15" x 15" (limited by the garment size or placement) | - Max 15" x 18" (limited by the garment size or placement) |
Neck Prints | Available at any quantity | Available at any quantity | Available at more than 50 per size |
Direct to Garment (DTG) | Transfer Printing (DTF) | Screen Printing | |
Application | Great for: - Tees - Hoodies - Sweatshirts - Sweatpants Cannot be used on: - Windbreakers - Hats - Yoga pants | Great for: - Yoga pants - Polos - Windbreakers - Tote bags - Jackets - Shorts - Tees - Hoodies - Sweatshirts - Sweatpants - Hats | Great for: - Yoga pants - Polos - Windbreakers - Tote bags - Jackets - Shorts - Tshirts - Hoodies - Sweatshirts - Sweatpants Cannot be used on: - Hats |
Artwork size | - Max 15" x 19" (limited by the garment size or placement) | - Max 15" x 15" (limited by the garment size or placement) | - Max 15" x 18" (limited by the garment size or placement) |
Neck Prints | Available at any quantity | Available at any quantity | Available at more than 50 per size |
Direct to Garment (DTG) - Available at any quantity - Available on tees and tanks only (no fleece items) - Printed directly on the garment | Transfer Printing (DTF) - Available at Any Quantity - Available on tees, hoodies, jackets, tote bags - Printed on film and heat pressed onto garment |
Private Label - Available at any quantity - Available for ANY item, including hats, fleece, totes, etc - Printed ribbon labels that are then sewn onto the garment | Screen Printing - Available at more than 50 per size - Available on tees and tanks only (no fleece items) - Printed directly on garment |
Direct to Garment (DTG) | Transfer Printing (DTF) | Screen Printing | |
Pricing Overview | - Great for on demand printing - Great for drop shipping - Most affordable option for small run production - Good option for small to medium bulk production (1-250 items) | - Premium option for on demand printing - Premium option for drop shipping - Mid tier option for small run production - Good option for small to medium bulk production (1-250 items) | - Not available for on demand printing - Not available for drop shipping - Mid tier option for medium |
Available for Drop Shipping | Yes | Yes | No |
Pricing for Drop Shipping | $$ | $$$ | Not available |
Pricing for Samples | $$ | $$$ | $$$$$ |
Pricing for Bulk Production (100 units for example) | $$ | $$$ | $ |
Turn Around Time | - On Demand - Usually less than 1 week | - On Demand - Usually less than 1 week | - Full Production - Usually about 2 weeks |