Designing and printing your own T-shirts, hoodies, and other garments can be a profitable online business. When it comes to printing custom designs onto fabrics, there are a few different methods, such as screen or silk printing, DTG printing, sublimation printing, and embroidery. In this article we are going to look at the differences and similarities of the most popular methods: DTG printing versus screen printing.
Both methods of printing have their pros and cons. DTG, or direct to garment printing, is a more modern method of printing onto products where a printer is used to apply the ink directly onto the fabric. Screen printing, on the other hand, is the more traditional method where the ink is pushed onto the fabric through a stencil. Let's take a deeper look into each method.
Image via Flickr by edenpictures
Direct to garment printing is similar to an inkjet printer because it transfers a design or image onto a blank garment. The large printers are able to cope with many different designs in a variety of colors. Although it is accurate and of a high-quality, the inks are more delicate and do not penetrate the fabric as deeply as some of the other methods of printing. This printing method works well with intricate designs, photorealistic images, and designs that use a lot of different colors. It's a similar method to printing on paper.
The DTG printing process is generally slower and large orders cause the production costs to increase. It also doesn't work on every type of garment. DTG printing requires the fabric to be at least 50% cotton to absorb the pigments properly.
Screen printing is the traditional technique of pushing ink through a stencil of woven mesh onto the T-shirt or other clothing item. The printing can happen via a machine or is individually done by hand and results in beautiful deep colors. This is more artisanal in nature. Each ink color is pushed through the stencil and pulled across with a blade to add to the final design. The ink lays on top of the fabric, rather than soaking into it.
Typography designs tend to work well with screen printing. This method also works with designs that don't have too many colors. Screen printing is better for bigger orders of over 10 shirts, depending on the design. The initial set up costs of screen printing tend to be high, due to the need for an individual screen for each element of the design. Then, each color is applied layer-by-layer onto the garment, so it's best not to have too many different colors when using this method.
Image via Flickr by zcopley
The two printing methods are completely different and each have their advantages and disadvantages. Both printing processes will give you a high-quality T-shirt image. The biggest differences between them are design and cost.
DTG printing uses one layer of ink to create your final design, whereas screen printing makes several layers. This affects the use of color in your design. Screen printing produces vibrant, more saturated colors, but the use of many stencils limits the amount of colors you can use. DTG prints have slightly faded designs with no limits on the number of colors, although, you do need to watch out for light-colored ink on dark fabrics.
Screen printing is good for typographic designs or simple designs with images, line drawings, shapes, symbols, or text in fewer colors, while DTG printing is better for intricate designs with more colors on a lighter colored fabric. It's great for those designers who like to experiment with color and design. Bear this in mind when you design your image.
Let's look at how each method compares when it comes to cost. Screen printing is most cost-effective when there is a large order with fewer colors used. This is due to the set up costs of the stencil process, which once created, can be used multiple times. DTG printing is best with smaller orders of under 10 custom printed shirts. Bigger orders use more ink and time because the printer only prints one piece at a time.
Today many printers offer both methods of printing, giving greater diversity and options. When it comes to quality, there isn't much difference between DTG and screen printing. In a nutshell, DTG is a better choice for smaller batches with more intricate designs and color requirements, while screen printing is superior for single color, large quantity runs.
There are too many variables in the custom apparel industry to say that one style is the best way to accomplish the ultimate goal of meeting the needs and wants of your customers. Your best bet is to look at how many products need to be printed and base your design on that. Viralstyle can help you get your online apparel store off the ground.
