Welcome to the ultimate printing method showdown! When selling custom t-shirts or other apparel, your choice of printing technique can make or break your success.

This guide covers everything you need to know about DTF vs DTG printing – from print colors and costs to eco-friendliness. Get ready to discover the perfect fit for your unique needs and watch your designs come to life.

What is DTF printing?

Direct-to-film (DTF) printing involves printing designs on a special film, sprinkling adhesive powder, and using a heat press to transfer the design onto garments. It works great on a wide range of fabrics – even synthetics like polyester and nylon.

DTF specifics:

• Produces durable prints with vibrant colors.
• DTF printing requires special transfer film, adhesive powder, a DTF printer, and a heat press.
• Works on various fabrics, including synthetics.

What is DTG printing?

The direct-to-garment (DTG) printing process uses specialized DTG printers to spray water-based inks directly onto cotton or cotton-blend garments. The ink binds to the fibers, creating smooth and high-quality designs.

DTG specifics:

• Best for cotton and cotton blends.
• DTG printing requires a DTG printer and pretreatment for dark garments.
• Produces high-detail prints with excellent, vibrant colors.

DTF vs DTG printing: What are the differences?

Let’s start with a quick direct-to-film vs direct-to-garment comparison.

Now, let’s take a closer look to distinguish which is better – DTG or DTF – to help you decide which of the two printing methods is best for your business.

1. Print durability and quality

• DTF printing produces highly durable designs that maintain their integrity even after multiple washes. The adhesive powder ensures the ink binds firmly to the fabric, preventing cracking and peeling over time.
• DTG printing excels in creating sharp, high-resolution images. The inks blend seamlessly with the fabric fibers, delivering smooth prints. However, DTG prints on synthetic fabrics may not be as long-lasting, and designs can fade after frequent washing.

2. Color vibrancy

• DTF offers unmatched print color on all fabric types, including dark garments. The process ensures bright, eye-catching hues, making it ideal for bold designs.
• DTG produces stunningly rich colors on cotton and light garments. Pretreatment is required to enhance vibrancy when printing on dark-colored fabrics.

5. Order quantity

• DTF printing is suitable for both small custom orders and bulk production. The process is efficient and produces consistent quality across multiple items. It’s a cost-effective option for businesses scaling their product offerings.
• DTG is ideal for small to medium-sized orders. It excels at creating intricate details for custom orders but may not be the most time-efficient method for large-scale production due to slower printing speeds.

6. Production costs

• The initial investment for DTF equipment is relatively low compared to DTG. The materials, including transfer films and adhesive powders, are affordable, making direct-to-film printing a cost-effective solution for businesses starting out.
• DTG printing involves a higher upfront cost for specialized printers and water-based inks. DTG printers range from $10,000 to $30,000. Despite such a large investment, DTG is an excellent choice for creating high-detail, intricate designs. 
  
  Over time, the cost per print may balance out for smaller orders or custom one-off designs, especially for businesses prioritizing quality and customization.

7. Production time

• The production process for DTF includes multiple steps, such as applying adhesive powder and using a heat press. While efficient, it takes slightly longer compared to DTG. This makes direct-to-film printing more suitable for planned production schedules rather than last-minute orders.
• DTG’s print time is faster for single garments like one t-shirt, especially when printing directly onto cotton. The lack of a transfer process streamlines production, making it ideal for on-demand printing or rush orders.

Both DTF and DTG printing methods shine in their respective domains, catering to different business needs. 

Deciding between DTG and DTF printing depends on your priorities – fabric type, print detail, order volume, and sustainability. Whether you need the adaptability of direct-to-film printing or the precision of direct-to-garment printing, both offer unique strengths for growing your eCommerce business.

How to choose between DTF vs DTG printing

When deciding between DTF vs DTG printing, consider your business goals, product offerings, and customer needs.

Tips for choosing between these popular printing methods

1. Consider your target audience and the materials they prefer

Think about who you’re selling to and the types of products they want. Direct-to-film printing is great for customers looking for vibrant designs on diverse materials like hats, tote bags, or jackets.

In contrast, DTG printing works best for customers who prefer soft, natural fabrics like cotton t-shirts. If your audience values intricate, photo-quality designs on light garments, direct-to-garment printing may be the ideal solution.

2. Evaluate your budget for equipment and supplies

If you’re starting on a smaller budget, DTF printers and supplies are more affordable. The process involves less upfront investment, making it beginner-friendly.

However, if you’re ready to invest in high-quality DTG printers, you’ll benefit from superior print resolution and eco-friendly inks. While the initial costs are higher, garment (DTG) printing can deliver unmatched detail for premium pricing.

3. Estimate your expected order volume and turnaround time

For businesses handling high-volume orders, DTF printing offers consistency and durability across multiple products. The heat press process ensures vibrant, long-lasting designs, making it ideal for bulk production.

If you focus on small-batch, personalized orders or need faster printing for single t-shirts, DTG printing shines with its streamlined process and faster production times for on-demand services.

4. Factor in the type of products you want to offer – garments or accessories

DTF printing stands out for its versatility, letting you print on accessories like tote bags, hats, and even shoes. If you want to diversify your catalog with non-garment products, film (DTF) printing is the better option.

On the other hand, direct-to-garment printing is commonly preferred for high-quality apparel, particularly cotton-based garments like t-shirts and hoodies. If your focus is on perfecting wearable designs with vivid colors and photo-like precision, DTG is the way to go.

When deciding between DTF vs DTF printing, spend time evaluating these factors to choose the method that aligns with your business goals and customer expectations.

Start printing using Printify

Printify makes it easy to start your print-on-demand business with:

• A vast Product Catalog featuring customizable items and several printing options
• Access to multiple Print Providers with global fulfillment options.
• Tools and guides to help you with printing designs, marketing, and scaling your business.

DTF vs DTG printing: FAQ

Summary

DTF and DTG printing offer unique advantages for print-on-demand businesses. While DTF excels in versatility and durability, DTG is unbeatable for cotton garments with intricate designs. Choose based on your business needs, budget, and target audience.

Thinking of starting a printing business but don’t want to handle production and shipping yourself? Partner with Printify and get your full-color prints done and delivered worldwide – no upfront costs required!

What is the difference between direct-to-garment and screen printing? Choosing the right method is essential for your apparel business, whether you’re into dropshipping or Print on Demand (POD).

This article explores the pros, cons, quality, cost, and durability of DTG vs screen printing. Let’s find out which is the better printing option for your business needs.

What is screen printing?

Screen printing is one of the most popular printing methods. It uses a mesh stencil to transfer ink onto fabric, producing vibrant t-shirt designs.

Previously known as silk screening, the printer creates a stencil on a fine mesh screen and then pushes the ink through it to achieve the desired outcome, imprinting the final design on the garment.

This printing method uses thick inks that lay on top of the material rather than soaking into the fabric. Multiple colors require several layers of ink, with a different stencil for each ink. More colors and layers mean a longer setup and printing time for smaller batches.

What is DTG printing?

Direct-to-garment printing is a newer printing process that uses a specialized DTG printer to spray ink onto a garment to soak into the fabric. It works best with natural fibers like cotton.

DTG printing uses an inkjet printer to print a digital image directly onto the fabric. The process begins by pre-treating the garment, which is especially important for darker fabrics, to prepare the surface for better ink adhesion.

After printing, the ink needs to cure under heat, making the final design washable and durable. This method requires minimal setup time, ideal for custom-printing multicolor and detailed designs on demand.

DTG vs screen printing: Which is better?

DTG and screen printing are two of the most popular methods for custom apparel printing. Both techniques offer high-quality results, but each has its own advantages and drawbacks. 

The best choice depends on your budget, the complexity of your designs, and the quantity of products you need for your custom apparel business.

Let’s explore the differences between a DTG print and a screen print to see how they compare.

Quality

Print quality is fundamental to meeting your customer’s expectations, especially when printing personalized apparel like t-shirts, hoodies, or custom sweatshirts.

The screen printing process delivers vibrant, saturated, durable prints on various fabrics like cotton, polyester, and blends. Unfortunately, each color requires a separate screen, requiring more time and effort to set up.

DTG printing produces high-quality results but on specific garments. It’s best for lighter-colored, natural fabrics like cotton, while darker fabrics require pre-treatment. This lets you print highly detailed, photorealistic images.

When it comes to printing for profit, quality DTG printing is the go-to printing technique for designers, creatives, and other print-on-demand entrepreneurs needing small-batch solutions.

Durability

Many consumers look for well-made products that are built to last and can stand the test of time.

With proper care, DTG prints can withstand over 50 washes. Screen printing is generally more durable and can last the garment’s lifetime, making it ideal for high-intensity garments like sports or business uniforms.

But if you’re looking to sell everyday items like custom t-shirts or other custom apparel, DTG prints provide sufficient durability.

Design complexity

When it comes to intricate details, DTG printing work is the clear winner. A DTG machine is best for full-color, intricate design illustrations, photographs, or gradients.

Depending on the design and application, the screen-printing process can leave visible dots on the garment. Although it’s great for solid colors, this risk occurs when simulating gradients or complex designs.

Meanwhile, DTG printers provide phenomenal resolution as inks absorb directly into the fabric, giving a soft and detailed finish.

Sustainability

Around 92 million tons of textiles go to waste every year, which means sustainability is crucial – particularly when selling to environmentally conscious consumers.

When comparing the two printing methods, DTG is more sustainable. DTG machines are energy-efficient and typically use environmentally friendly, water-based inks.

Using a print-on-demand service makes DTG even more sustainable because printing occurs after a customer makes a purchase, saving money and reducing waste.

With screen printing, overproduction is a common risk. It’s a cost-effective solution when printing in bulk quantities, but unless sold, products may end up in landfills. Plus, most screen printing techniques still use plastic-based inks called plastisol, requiring solvents for proper disposal.

Minimum order quantity

Many choose DTG as their favorite on-demand printing method because there’s no minimum order quantity. This makes DTG printing an excellent solution for producing one-off t-shirt designs. The process is also hassle-free when using a POD service like Printify.

Things are a little more difficult with screen printing. A lot of third-party print services have  minimum order requirements. If you’re just starting out or simply want to experiment with new designs, screen printing can get costly and time-consuming.

Production time

Screen printing involves a longer setup time, but once the stencils are created, production moves quickly. That’s why it works best for bulk orders – some screen printing presses can produce up to 1,000 pieces an hour.

DTG printing is slower, but it’s perfect for on-demand production. Print just one item, and if the product does not sell, replace it or discontinue without worrying about inventory. It’s great for those who want to enter a new market with a limited budget.

Average cost

Whether you’re just starting a clothing line or thinking about scaling your existing business, choose a printing method that will meet your business goals in the most cost-effective way.

If you prefer the look of screen printing, be ready to order in bulk. The setup makes screen printing too expensive and inefficient for low-quantity orders and complex designs. The number of colors and screens you need also impacts the final price.

DTG printing reduces the setup costs for a single garment. With this method and the right print-on-demand partner, you can print a single product and still make a profit.

FAQ – Direct-to-garment or screen printing?

In summary: Direct-to-garment printing vs screen printing

As eCommerce continues to surge and Print on Demand becomes increasingly profitable, it’s worth find If you’re just starting out, DTG printing is your best bet. It’s perfect for introducing new designs to the market with little cost. Here’s why:

• Photorealistic image quality on natural fibers.
• No upfront investment with Print on Demand.
• No minimum order quantity.
• Environmentally friendly.

Screen printing, on the other hand, is perfect for those who are ready to order in bulk and have a bigger startup budget. Here are its main advantages:

• Durable, high-quality prints on various fabrics.
• Cost-effective for large-scale printing.
• Produces vivid colors.
• High production speed after initial setup.

Whether you’re new to direct-to-garment (DTG) technology or have been wearing DTG-printed clothing for a while, understanding this innovative printing method can be highly beneficial – especially when starting a print-on-demand business.

In this article, we take a closer look at direct-to-garment printing – its strengths and weaknesses, how it works, and which fabric is the best to print on.

We also provide some practical tips for creating a successful direct-to-garment design and explore some of the best print-on-demand products that are the perfect canvas for DTG printing.

What is DTG printing?

Direct-to-garment (DTG) is a printing process that uses modified inkjet technology to spray water-based inks onto apparel. It allows for intricate full-color designs with minimal setup. Unlike screen printing, the DTG process requires minimal setup time and is less labor-intensive, making it ideal for small-quantity orders.

As a cost-effective way to create detailed designs, DTG is a go-to printing method for many businesses and entrepreneurs worldwide.

The cherry on top? There are no order minimums, allowing people to order as few or as many products as they like. 

How does DTG printing work?

Although DTG printers and their models may vary, a few basic steps should always be followed when it comes to the DTG printing process.

Pre-Treatment Process

Pretreatment for DTG shirt printing is essential. With it, multi color designs in DTG inks are going to adhere better to the garment. On top of that, it’ll prevent the ink from washing off and enhance the vibrancy of colors.

Here are two ways it’s applied:

• Hand spraying. Involves manually pre-treating with a sprayer, which should be done as evenly as possible, using a smooth back-and-forth motion. 
• Pre-treatment machine. A device that you put your shirt into and have it pre-treated automatically.

Printing Process

After the pre-treatment has dried, it’s time to place the garment in the DTG printer and begin the digital printing.

All garments – except white ones – have a white underbase applied first to enhance the vibrancy of the final print.

As soon as the underbase is printed, the DTG printer adds the rest of the colors. Like an inkjet printer, it uses a mix of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

Curing Process

When the DTG shirt is printed, it needs to dry for the final time to cure the ink. This helps the garments resist washing and prevent dulling after just a few washes.

Here are two ways DTG-printed apparel can be cured:

• Conveyor dryer. Typically, most industrial manufacturers cure ink using a conveyor dryer.
• Heat press. A good option for small businesses with only a few products to cure. If there are more, it becomes a rather labor-intensive and time-consuming endeavor.

DTG printing: Pros and cons

When it comes to printing for profit, it’s no surprise that DTG has become the preferred choice among entrepreneurs, artists, and other creatives.

However, to get the full picture and better understand digital printing, let’s look at some of its strengths and weaknesses.

Although DTG machines have revolutionized the apparel industry, they also have some disadvantages.

Best fabrics for DTG printing (with product examples)

Since DTG printers use water-based ink, natural fabrics produce the best results. They absorb ink well, creating vivid colors printed directly onto the garment.

These are the most suitable textiles for DTG:

• Cotton
• Ring-spun cotton
• Combed and ring-spun cotton
• Organic cotton
• Linen, other natural textiles

Unleash your creativity with the power of direct-to-garment t-shirt printing. Browse our wide range of products below and see how your designs can come to life on various apparel and accessories. From classic t-shirts to cozy custom hoodies, the possibilities are endless.

Unisex Ultra Cotton Tee

By Gildan · 2000

From $9.88 From $7.63 with Printify Premium

8 sizes 61 colors 15 print providers

Unisex Jersey Long Sleeve Tee

By Bella+Canvas · 3501

From $15.95 From $12.33 with Printify Premium

6 sizes 17 colors 7 print providers

Unisex 3\4 Sleeve Baseball Tee

By Bella+Canvas · 3200

From $18.11 From $13.32 with Printify Premium

5 sizes 7 colors 4 print providers

Unisex Supply Hoodie

By AS Colour · 5101

From $34.19 From $25.92 with Printify Premium

7 sizes 14 colors 3 print providers

Champion Hoodie

By Champion · S700

From $33.52 From $25.82 with Printify Premium

6 sizes 10 colors 4 print providers

Unisex Zip Hoodie

By Lane Seven · LS14003

From $29.00 From $21.33 with Printify Premium

7 sizes 9 colors 5 print providers

DTG vs screen printing

Choosing the right printing methods for your custom apparel can be tricky. Here’s a quick breakdown of DTG and Screen Printing to help you decide.

Consider these factors before making your choice:

• Upfront investment
• Design complexity
• Product quantity
• Brand image

Here’s a table comparing DTG and Screen Printing:

Key takeaways:

• DTG excels in high-quality, small-batch, detailed designs.
• Screen Printing is perfect for bulk orders, simpler designs, and maximum garment longevity.

Choose the printing method that best suits your business by considering your specific needs.

Tips for your first DTG design

DTG printing allows great precision in image reproduction, meaning you can go as complex as you like regarding colors and details in your designs.

To create a great design, you should:

• Search for inspiration online. Draw inspiration from Amazon, Etsy, Pinterest, and many other sites to see what designs other people are selling.
• Provide high-resolution image quality. When creating designs for shirts or any other apparel, make sure you have a high-resolution image. This way, the DTG printer can create a clear, sharp, and colorful print.

The key is to make sure your designs are saved in the highest resolution possible for the best print quality.

• Ensure you follow the print file requirements to achieve the best DTG prints possible.

In the side panel of our Product Creator (formerly known as the Mockup Generator), view specific file requirements for each design area of the garment. Click here to learn more.

• Create mockups to view how your printed garments will look in real life.

After you’ve finished your design, our Product Creator allows you to preview the final product and create realistic mockups that you can use on your digital storefront.

Whatever your goals, always strive to connect your brand and your customers. If you’re interested in tips, tricks, and resources on how to create your first design, our recent article will come in handy.

Printify has created a library of free and print-ready designs to make it easier for you. These designs range from Mother’s Day to Halloween and include the most popular sale seasons, such as Christmas and St. Valentine’s day.

The best part is that these designs can be used on products immediately because they’re under a Creative Commons license for commercial use.

Frequently asked questions

Closing thoughts

In the world of on-demand manufacturing, DTG printing remains unrivaled. If you’re just starting your entrepreneurial journey, DTG printing offers a hassle-free way to easily print one-of-a-kind products for your customers.

With many strengths, it’s the go-to printing method for print-on-demand entrepreneurs of all calibers. Here’s why:

• Cost-effective. No investment is required, and anyone can start printing today.
• High-detail print quality. With DTG, the entire design looks photorealistic.
• No minimum order quantity. Order as few or as many products as you wish.
• Environmentally-friendly. With eco-friendly inks, printing is more sustainable.

Whether you want to start a print on demand business, simply print something for yourself, or scale your existing venture, DTG printing offers something for everyone.