DTF Printing vs Screen Printing: Which One Wins for Your Design?

DTF and screen printing both produce excellent custom apparel, but they work very differently. Knowing which to choose can save you money and give you a better result. Here is how we help customers decide.

DTF printing vs screen printing in a nutshell

The DTF printing vs screen printing decision usually comes down to two things: how many items you need and how many colours are in your design.

What is screen printing?

Screen printing pushes ink through a stencilled mesh screen, one screen per colour. It produces bright, durable prints and becomes very cost-effective at higher quantities. It is the classic choice for bulk t-shirts, uniforms and promotional runs where the same design repeats many times.

What is DTF printing?

DTF, or direct-to-film, prints your design onto a special film that is then heat-pressed onto the garment. Because there are no screens to prepare, DTF handles full-colour, photographic and highly detailed designs with ease, and it is ideal for smaller quantities or orders with many different designs.

How to choose

Choose screen printing for larger quantities, one or a few solid colours, and maximum durability at the lowest cost per shirt. Choose DTF for small runs, complex or multi-colour artwork, gradients and photo-realistic images, or when every item in the order is different. For many customers the deciding factors are quantity and colour count.

Not sure? We will recommend the right one

You do not need to work this out alone. Send us your design and quantity and we will tell you which method gives you the best result for your budget — sometimes we even combine both across a single project. With 45 years behind us, we have printed just about every kind of job.

Not sure which method suits your design? Send us your artwork and quantity and we'll recommend screen printing or DTF for the best result and price. Get your free quote at https://www.palscreenprinters.com/contact - printed in Durban, delivered nationwide.