DTF vs. DTG vs. Screen Printing: Which Printing Method is Right for You?

DTF vs. DTG vs. Screen Printing: Which Printing Method is Right for You?

Sep 25, 2025

DTF vs DTG vs Screen Printing

Understand the strengths of each method and choose what’s best for your project.

🎨 DTF Printing — Millions of Colors. No Screens. No Limits.

  • Works on almost any fabric — cotton, polyester, blends, darks, lights
  • Prints millions of vibrant colors with smooth gradients and photo-quality detail
  • Durable and long-lasting — no cracking or peeling after repeated washes
  • Low setup costs — no screens, films, or pretreatment needed
  • Perfect for small runs, bulk orders, and complex multi-color designs
  • Fast turnaround and easy to reorder

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Requires a heat press for final application
  • Slightly higher cost per shirt on massive bulk runs compared to screen printing

👕 DTG Printing — Direct-to-Garment Simplicity

  • Good for small batches or single shirts
  • High detail and color accuracy on light cotton garments
  • Easy to get started without extra screens or setup

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Colors can be muted on dark fabrics unless pretreated
  • Less durable over time, especially with frequent washing
  • Slower and less efficient for large orders
  • Mostly limited to cotton fabrics

🖌️ Screen Printing — Classic Craft. Bold Color. Built to Last.

  • Excellent durability — stands up to hundreds of washes
  • Ideal for 1–4 color designs like logos, text, and bold graphics
  • Works great for large quantity orders with simpler logos — low cost per shirt at high volume
  • Perfect for team uniforms, event shirts, and branded merch
  • Produces thick, vibrant prints with a traditional look and feel

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Requires separate screens for each color — setup costs add up
  • Not ideal for small runs or detailed, photo-style designs
  • Limited color range compared to DTF (spot colors, not millions)
  • Slower turnaround time on multi-color or complex jobs

Quick Comparison

Feature DTF Printing DTG Printing Screen Printing
Color Range Millions of colors, full gradients Full color, best on light cotton 1–4 solid spot colors
Detail Photorealistic, fine lines Very fine, photo-quality on cotton Best for bold, simple designs
Fabric Compatibility Any fabric: cotton, poly, blends Mostly cotton fabrics Mostly cotton and blends
Durability Excellent, flexible finish Good, can fade with washes Excellent, thick ink layer
Setup Cost Low Low Higher (per color)
Best For Full color and complex designs One-offs and small cotton orders Large bulk orders with simple designs
Turnaround Fast Moderate Slower for multi-color jobs

So, Which Should You Choose?

  • DTF = the all-rounder — versatile, durable, full-color, and great for any size run.
  • DTG = one-off cotton hero — great for a single shirt or small custom order.
  • Screen Printing = bulk champion — unbeatable for large quantities of simple designs.

At Birdie Printing Co., we love DTF because it combines the best of all worlds: color, durability, and flexibility. For large screen printing jobs, we partner with trusted local shops to make sure you get the best results — just ask, and we’ll connect you!

General Info