Screen printing and DTF are the two ways most custom t-shirts are printed today. They suit different orders, and choosing the right one saves money and gives a better result.
How each works
- Screen printing pushes ink through a fine mesh screen onto the garment, one screen for each colour. It lays down a solid, bright layer of ink.
- DTF (direct to film) prints your full-colour design onto a film, then a heat press bonds it to the garment. No screens are made.
Quantity decides most of it
Each screen costs time and money to make, whatever the run. On a large run that cost is spread across every piece, so screen printing becomes the cheapest per shirt. On a small run, a few pieces carry the whole setup, so DTF, with no screens, is cheaper.
Then colours
Screen printing charges per colour: a one-colour logo is simple, a ten-colour illustration is not. DTF prints any number of colours, gradients and photographs at the same cost.
Feel and finish
- Screen print: the ink sits in a smooth layer; on a heavy cotton tee it feels part of the garment.
- DTF: a thin, flexible film you can feel with a fingertip. It stretches with the fabric.
How long they last
Both survive regular washing when done properly: wash inside out, cool, and do not iron directly on the print. Screen printing on a good cotton tee is the longest-lasting print. For the longest-lasting mark of all, embroider it.
The short answer
- Many pieces, one or two colours: screen printing.
- A few pieces, or a full-colour design: DTF.
- Polyester sportswear: neither; it is sublimated.
We do both on our own floor and recommend the method with your quote. Send us your logo, or read embroidery or print for the wider choice.
Quick answers
Is DTF or screen printing cheaper for a small order?
DTF. Screen printing needs one screen per colour, and on a small run a few pieces carry that whole setup. DTF makes no screens, so it is cheaper on a few pieces; on a large run, screen printing becomes the cheapest per shirt.
Does DTF printing last as long as screen printing?
Both survive regular washing when done properly, but screen printing on a good cotton tee is the longest-lasting print. Wash inside out, cool, and do not iron directly on the print. For the longest-lasting mark of all, embroider it.
Can you feel a DTF print on a t-shirt?
Yes, slightly. DTF is a thin, flexible film you can feel with a fingertip, and it stretches with the fabric. A screen print sits in a smooth layer of ink that, on a heavy cotton tee, feels part of the garment.
