DTG vs. DTF vs. Screen Printing: Costs, Feel & Durability
Taylor LandesmanThe main difference between DTG, DTF, and screen printing is how the design is decorated onto the garment. Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing applies ink directly to fabric. Direct-to-film (DTF) printing creates a transfer that is heat-applied to the garment. Screen printing pushes ink through prepared mesh screens.
Each method has advantages and limitations. The right choice depends on your order quantity, artwork, garment material, production requirements, and desired print feel—not simply which technology is newest.
This guide explains how each process works, compares the factors that affect cost and durability, and helps you evaluate equipment and supplies for your print shop.
Screen printing
Often a strong fit for repeat designs and larger runs where screen preparation and press setup can be spread across more garments.
Direct-to-garment
Often a strong fit for detailed, full-color artwork on cotton apparel, with pretreatment and curing matched to the printing system and garment.
Direct-to-film
Often a strong fit for full-color transfers, mixed garment orders, and workflows that separate transfer production from garment application.
Quick comparison: DTG vs. DTF vs. Screen Printing
Use this table as a starting point. Actual results depend on the equipment, ink or transfer system, artwork, garment, and production process.
On smaller screens, swipe horizontally to see all three methods.
| Factor | Screen printing | DTG | DTF |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the design is applied | Ink passes through prepared mesh screens onto the garment. | An inkjet system prints directly onto the garment. | A printed transfer is heat-applied to the garment. |
| Common job fit | Repeat artwork and runs that justify screen and press setup. | Individual designs and small batches with detailed artwork. | Full-color transfers, mixed orders, and on-demand application. |
| Fabric considerations | Basically any fabric, including cotton, polyester, and blends with appropriate inks and curing. | Best for cotton. Polyester applications vary and depend on printer, ink, and pretreatment specifics. | Basically any fabric, including cotton, polyester, and many blends. |
| Job preparation | Artwork separations, screens, exposure, and registration. | File preparation, garment preparation, pretreatment when required. | Transfer printing, powdering, and curing—or sourcing ready-made transfers—plus application preparation. |
| Finishing | Final ink curing, commonly in a conveyor dryer. | Curing with a suitable heat press or conveyor dryer. | Heat application. |
| Print feel | Varies with ink type, deposit, underbase, and artwork coverage. | Very soft. | A transfer layer sits on the garment. Coverage, materials, and application affect the feel. |
| Color and detail | Spot colors, specialty inks, and process printing. More colors generally add setup. | Full-color images and gradients without separate screens. | Full-color transfer artwork without separate screens. |
| Main cost drivers | Setup, color count, screens, ink, production labor, curing, and cleanup. | Ink and pretreatment. | Ink, film and powder. |
| Durability evaluation | High durability. Test the actual ink, garment, cure, and laundering combination. | High durability. Test the actual ink, garment, pretreatment, cure, and laundering combination. | High durability. Test the actual transfer, garment, application, and laundering combination. |
Screen printing: a prepared screen for each printed color
Screen printing uses a mesh screen and stencil to control where ink passes onto a garment. A squeegee pushes the ink through the open areas of the screen. Multicolor designs typically use separate screens that must be aligned (registered) on the press.
This preparation takes time, but the same setup can be used repeatedly throughout a production run. That is why screen printing is often attractive for repeat artwork and larger orders.
How the screen-printing process works
- Prepare and separate the artwork. Create the design and separate the colors as required by the printing approach. Spot-color work is the most popular method for screen printing and uses a screen for each printed ink color. Photographic designs require an appropriate halftone or process-printing workflow.
- Coat the screens with emulsion. Apply a light-sensitive emulsion to the mesh and allow it to dry under suitable conditions.
- Expose and wash out the stencil. A film-positive uses opaque artwork that blocks exposure light from the image area while the surrounding emulsion hardens. Washing out the unexposed image areas creates openings through which ink can pass. More advanced Direct-to-screen (DTS), or Computer-to-Screen (CTS), imaging offers higher production options.
- Set up and register the press. Mount the screens and align the colors.
- Print the garments. Use the squeegee to move ink through the stencil onto the fabric. Flash curing between layers may be needed, depending on the artwork and ink system.
- Complete and verify the cure. Cure the ink according to its technical instructions, commonly using a conveyor dryer. Most plastisol ink is low-cure and dries around 270/280 degrees F.
Advantages
- Setup costs can be spread across larger quantities.
- Supports spot colors and specialty ink effects.
- Manual and automatic equipment serve different production needs.
- Can produce durable results on the widest array of goods.
Limitations
- Screen preparation and registration add job-specific labor.
- Additional colors can increase complexity.
- Cleanup and screen reclaiming require time and equipment.
- Detailed photographic work requires suitable separations and process control.
DTG printing: full-color artwork directly on the garment
Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing uses a specialized inkjet printer to apply water-based ink directly to fabric. It is commonly used for detailed artwork, gradients, and photographic designs on cotton apparel.
DTG avoids preparing separate screens for each design, but it does not eliminate production preparation. Garment selection, pretreatment, loading, printing, and curing remain important parts of the workflow.
How the DTG process works
- Prepare the digital artwork. Check image quality, print dimensions, and settings appropriate to the printer, garment, and required result.
- Pretreat the garment when required. Apply the pretreatment and dry it as directed. Dark garments need suitable pretreatment for white-ink printing.
- Print the design. Load the garment onto the printer and print. The printer applies the required ink layers. When printing with white ink, the white goes down first, followed by the color on top. This helps ensure a bright and vibrant print.
- Cure the print. Use a suitable heat press or conveyor dryer with the settings specified for the ink and garment. Correct curing is essential for wash fastness (longevity).
Advantages
- Full-color artwork without separate screens for each color.
- Useful for individual designs and small batches.
- Can produce a soft print feel.
- Supports detailed images and photographic gradients.
Limitations
- Pretreatment and curing add handling and production time.
- Garment selection influences print quality and consistency.
- DTG ink is costlier on a per piece basis compared to screen printing and DTF.
- The printer requires routine maintenance and suitable operating conditions.
DTF printing: full-color transfers applied with a heat press
Direct-to-film printing creates a design on transfer film rather than printing it directly onto the garment. Adhesive powder is applied to the wet printed ink and cured. The resulting transfer is then heat-applied to the garment.
DTF separates transfer production from garment application. Thus, a shop can produce transfers in-house to apply right away, store for use later or sell just the transfers themselves.
How the DTF process works
- Prepare and arrange the artwork. Set the design size, orientation, and layout for the transfer workflow.
- Print and Apply adhesive powder. Print the design and coat the printed area with the approved adhesive powder. Most DTF systems will print, powder and automatically dry the DTF transfer so your final DTF transfer is ready to go. To fully automate, you need a DTF printer and DTF Powder Applicator-Dryer.
- Cure the adhesive. Use the approved curing equipment and settings for the film, ink, and powder combination. Follow the equipment and material instructions for handling and ventilation.
- Heat-apply the transfer. Position the transfer on a compatible garment and use the specified temperature, time, and pressure.
- Peel and finish as directed. Follow the transfer's hot-, warm-, or cold-peel instructions. Complete any required finishing press and inspect the result.
Advantages
- Full-color transfers without separate screens.
- Compatible systems can decorate several garment types.
- Transfer production can be separated from order fulfillment.
- Purchased transfers offer an alternative to printing in-house.
Limitations
- The transfer layer affects the feel of the decorated area.
- Two steps are involved - printing and then applying.
- In-house production requires maintenance and process control.
Two-way comparisons for real production decisions
DTF vs. screen printing: which is more economical?
Screen printing adds screen preparation and press setup. DTF adds transfer production or purchasing and heat application. The economical choice depends on the complete job.
- Compare the actual screen count and setup with the full transfer cost—not just ink against film.
- Include every print location, handling step, curing or pressing step, and expected spoilage.
- Consider whether the artwork repeats across the order and whether the same design is likely to be reordered.
DTG vs. DTF: which fits your garments and artwork?
DTG prints directly on the fabric; DTF introduces a heat-applied transfer layer. Compare both on your intended blank using similar artwork dimensions and coverage.
- Check DTG pretreatment needs and DTF transfer compatibility.
- Compare finished print feel, color, detail, and garment condition.
- Include DTG preparation and curing or DTF sourcing, production, and application in the labor comparison.
- If storing transfers for later use, follow the supplier's storage conditions and shelf-life guidance.
DTG vs. screen printing: what matters beyond quantity?
Artwork complexity and repeatability matter alongside order size. DTG avoids design-specific screens, while screen printing can distribute setup across repeated production.
- Compare screen separations and registration with digital file preparation and garment preparation.
- Consider whether the garments use one repeated design or many individual designs.
- Evaluate any specialty ink effects, color requirements, and photographic detail.
- Compare complete production time rather than a printer's cycle time against a press's cycle time alone.
How to compare printing costs for your order
Separate equipment ownership from the cost of producing a specific job. Low design-specific setup does not mean a workflow has no preparation, labor, maintenance, or overhead costs.
Include blanks, preparation, consumables or purchased transfers, labor, curing or application, finishing, spoilage, and an appropriate allocation of equipment and overhead costs. Add your required profit when setting the selling price.
Order-level costs
- Artwork preparation and approval.
- Screen preparation and registration when applicable.
- Machine setup and test garments.
- Job-specific cleanup and handling.
Garment-level costs
- Blank garments and decoration materials.
- Pretreatment or purchased transfers when applicable.
- Loading, printing, pressing, curing, and unloading.
- Inspection, finishing, and expected spoilage.
Job comparison worksheet
Gather the same information for each proposed method before deciding how to produce and price the order.
| Input | What to record |
|---|---|
| Order quantity | Sellable pieces, size mix, and repeat-order expectations. |
| Garment | Brand, style, fabric, color, coatings, and heat sensitivity. |
| Artwork | Design count, dimensions, colors, gradients, and coverage. |
| Locations | Front, back, sleeves, labels, and separate handling steps. |
| Quality requirements | Print feel, color expectations, stretch, and wash-testing requirements. |
| Labor | Preparation, production, finishing, inspection, and cleanup time. |
| Materials | Consumable usage, transfer purchases, and expected waste. |
| Capacity and deadline | Operators, equipment availability, supplier lead times, and delivery date. |
Print feel and durability: what should you test?
Print feel
Ink type, deposit, white underbase, garment construction, and artwork coverage all influence the result. DTG can feel very soft on light cotton; screen printing can also produce soft results with an appropriate ink system.
DTF adds a transfer layer. Large solid areas usually make that layer more noticeable than open artwork with less coverage. Compare like-for-like samples rather than unrelated designs.
Durability
A universal ranking such as “DTG lasts 30 washes” or “DTF lasts 45 washes” is not meaningful without comparable testing. Materials, garment preparation, curing, application, and laundering can change the outcome.
Ask what was tested, how it was processed and washed, and what counted as failure. Do not extend one product's test result to an entire printing method.
Test representative garments with the intended production process. Document the initial appearance and follow the supplier's testing and care guidance before making customer-facing performance claims.
Which printing workflow should a startup consider?
Begin with the orders you expect to sell. Then evaluate the equipment, workspace, utilities, staffing, maintenance, and training needed to fulfill them consistently.
Applying purchased transfers
Buying DTF transfers lets you evaluate garment decoration without operating your own transfer-printing line. Include transfer pricing, shipping, lead times, heat-press equipment, application labor, and quality checks.
Printing digitally in-house
Evaluate DTG or DTF around the garments and designs you plan to produce. Include acquisition, preparation, consumables, maintenance, curing, operator training, and approved operating conditions.
Building a screen-printing workflow
Plan the press together with screens, exposure, washing and reclaiming, flash curing when needed, and final curing. Choose a complete workflow rather than budgeting for the press alone.
DTG, DTF, and screen printing FAQs
What is the main difference between DTG, DTF, and screen printing?
DTG prints directly onto fabric. DTF creates a printed transfer that is heat-applied to the garment. Screen printing moves ink through prepared mesh screens. Their preparation, handling, finishing, and cost structures differ.
Is DTF cheaper than screen printing?
It depends on quantity, artwork, print size, locations, materials, labor, and finishing. DTF avoids separate screens but adds transfer production or purchasing and heat application. Screen-printing setup can be spread across repeated production. Compare the complete job rather than using a fixed quantity cutoff.
Is DTG or DTF better for print feel?
Compare samples on the intended garment with similar artwork. DTG typically feels softer compared to DTF and screen printing.
Is DTF as durable as screen printing?
When cured properly, DTF and screen printing have the same durability. Specific needs and materials may change this calculation.
Can DTF be applied to 100% polyester?
Yes, suitable DTF transfers can be applied to polyester. Confirm supplier approval and test the garment for dye migration, heat sensitivity, and adhesion. Follow the transfer's specified application and peel instructions.
Can DTG print on polyester?
Some DTG systems support polyester using compatible inks and polyester pretreatment. Check the printer manufacturer's approved combinations and procedures.
Does DTG require pretreatment?
Requirements depend on the printer, ink, fabric, and use of white ink. Dark garments generally need pretreatment for white-ink printing. Approved polyester applications may require dedicated pretreatment. Follow the specific system's instructions.
Can screen printing reproduce photographs and gradients?
Yes. Appropriate halftone, simulated-process, or process-color workflows can reproduce tonal images. They require suitable separations, screens, registration, inks, and production control. Screen printing is not restricted to simple solid-color artwork.
Do I need a DTF printer to sell DTF-decorated apparel?
No. You can purchase ready-made transfers and apply them with a suitable heat press or use hybrid DTG/DTF printers.
Can DTF be applied to nylon, leather, or coated garments?
Check with your supplier. Success on cotton or polyester does not establish suitability for every specialty material.
Explore equipment for your printing workflow
Choose equipment around the jobs you want to produce. Compare garment types, artwork, labor, workspace, utilities, maintenance, and the finishing equipment needed to deliver a sellable garment.
Explore Lawson Workhorse Group equipment and startup packages to begin planning a complete production system.