So, you're trying to figure out the differences between DTF, DTG, and screen printing — and which one is best for your needs?
First up, DTF — Direct to Film:
Think of DTF like making a sticker or decal of your design. The coolest thing about DTF is its versatility — it works on pretty much any fabric, whether it’s cotton, polyester, or even dark-colored shirts, which can be tricky with other methods.
It’s especially handy if you’re doing small batch runs or custom designs because setup is quick and easy. Plus, since it can handle very detailed, vibrant images with lots of colors, it’s often used for high-quality photo-like prints. The downside? It can be a bit more expensive per shirt than screen printing if you’re doing a big batch. But if you need flexibility and quality for small lots or highly detailed designs, DTF is a solid choice.
Next, DTG — Direct to Garment:
This method is like printing directly onto your shirt using a mini inkjet printer. In lots of ways it is very similar in the final result to DTF, but colours are often more muted because you are printing directly onto the shirt.
It’s perfect for small quantities or one-off designs because there’s no need to make screens or set up for each color — you just load your design and print. The catch? DTG works best on light-colored, 100% cotton shirts - no good for hi vis clothing and can be a challenge on dark cotton tops. If you want to print on dark fabrics, you need to pretreat the shirts beforehand, which can add to the cost and complexity. Also, printing large orders can be slower and more expensive compared to screen printing, but like DTF it is great for personalized, detailed designs.
Finally, we have Screen Printing — the classic method, the OG of garment decoration:
This one’s been around forever and is what most people think of when they imagine custom shirts. It involves creating a stencil (called a screen) for each color in your design. The ink is pushed through the screen onto the fabric. Because of this setup, screen printing is the most cost-effective way to produce lots of shirts with the same design.
The big advantage? Those vibrant, long-lasting colors. It’s super durable and ideal for bulk orders — think sports teams, festivals, or corporate giveaways. The downside? Setting up screens takes time, so it’s not the best for small runs or designs that change often. Also, complex multi-color images can be more costly and time-consuming to produce with screens, because each color needs its own screen.
Still our favourite method for custom printed garments. because of the longevity and the ability to match colours.
So, which one is best? Here’s the quick rundown:
- Small runs with detailed, full-color images, fast turnaround? Go DTG or DTF. It produces amazing detail and is super flexible with designs.
- Large orders? Screen printing. It’s cost-effective and produces vibrant, durable prints and can be incredibly cheap when printing volume. 50+ or 500+ or 5000+. the more you print the cheaper it gets.
Ultimately, it depends on what you’re trying to achieve, your budget, and the quantity you need. No method is “best” in all situations — it’s all about matching the right technique to your project. This is where the team at Diffuse comes in, as we will advise you what is the best methodology is so you achieve the result you are after and the job is done as cost effective as possible.