DTG vs screen printing at a glance
| What to compare | DTG | Screen print |
|---|---|---|
| Application workflow | A digital inkjet system applies textile ink directly to the garment and fixes it under the named system's conditions. | Ink passes directly through stencil-controlled mesh; the workflow includes screen preparation, press work, curing, and screen cleaning or reclaiming. |
| Artwork and color | The digital workflow can reproduce multicolor artwork without preparing one physical screen for each separated color. | Artwork may require color separations, prepared screens, and registered passes; available inks and effects belong to the producer. |
| Fulfillment and quantity | Reviewed supplier evidence shows Spreadshirt's named Digital Direct service accepting individualized orders without screen setup. | Spreadshirt's UK screen-printing guide places its named service in an aggregated run of identical items so setup can be reused. |
| Material compatibility | Compatibility belongs to the exact printer, ink, pretreatment, garment, garment color, and fixing workflow. | Compatibility belongs to the exact ink chemistry, stencil and mesh setup, garment or substrate, treatment, and cure workflow. |
| Surface feel and coverage | Pretreatment, white underbase, ink coverage, and fixing can change the decorated surface in the selected DTG system. | Ink deposit, underbase, coverage, specialty finish, and cure can change the decorated surface in the selected screen-printing system. |
| Durability evidence | A useful result identifies the printer, ink, pretreatment if used, garment, fixing process, test method, condition, and result. | A useful result identifies the ink, garment, deposit and cure process, test method, condition, and result. |
How to choose between DTG and screen printing
- Choose DTG when the selected garment is qualified for the provider's direct system and the job needs individualized or changing artwork without physical screen preparation.
- Choose screen printing when the producer accepts the garment and artwork, the order is an aggregated run of identical units, and reusable setup makes sense for that quote.
- Compare actual quotes and named test results; no method-wide order threshold, price crossover, feel, or wash-life winner is supported.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose screen printing over DTG?
Consider screen printing when a producer can aggregate identical units and reuse the required screen setup. The garment, artwork separations, ink system, cure, order terms, and quote still have to fit the job.
Is there an order quantity where screen printing always becomes cheaper than DTG?
No universal crossover is supported. Screens, separations, setup, identical quantity, ink, garment, labor, provider routing, and pricing all affect the actual quote.
Is DTG always available for one item?
No method-wide rule is established. Spreadshirt documents no order minimum for its named Digital Direct service, but that supplier capability does not apply to every DTG provider.
Where you can find each method
Supplier and product counts show how widely each method appears in current catalogs. They do not compare print quality.
DTG
Several suppliers currently list products made with this method. Some other listings do not name their method clearly.
| Suppliers offering it | Products available | Unique products |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 917 | 541 |
Screen print
Some supplier listings do not name their print method clearly, so we cannot tell whether this method is available.
| Suppliers offering it | Products available | Unique products |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
- SureColor F2270 User's Guide (opens in a new tab) Epson
- Printing Industry eTool: Screen Printing (opens in a new tab) U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Digital Direct (opens in a new tab) Spreadshirt
- Screen printing (opens in a new tab) Spreadshirt
- TM61: Colorfastness to Laundering, Accelerated (opens in a new tab) AATCC