Whether you're launching a streetwear collection of 500 pieces or ordering 20 custom jerseys for your team — the choice of print technique determines quality, cost and lead time. Two processes dominate the market: screen printing and DTG (Direct-to-Garment). Both can deliver similar-looking results at first glance, but differ fundamentally in their suitability.

Screen printing: the craft behind volume

Screen printing is the oldest and most established method for textile printing. A separate screen is made for each colour, through which specialist ink is pressed onto the fabric. That sounds labour-intensive — and it is. But that is exactly its strength.

For large quantities, the cost per unit drops dramatically because the screen setup (one-off setup cost) is paid once. A logo correctly exposed once can be printed thousands of times — with identical results. The colours are rich, opaque and more wash-resistant than almost any other technique.

„Screen printing is like offset printing: the more copies, the cheaper each one becomes.“

— palstudios production team
  • Ideal from 50–100 units per motif
  • Opaque, brilliant colours — even on dark fabrics
  • Very wash-resistant (plastisol or water-based inks)
  • Limited to 1–8 colours per print position
  • No photo prints or gradients without special techniques

DTG: digital printing without limits

DTG printers work like inkjet printers for textiles. The garment is placed on a platen and printed directly — pixel by pixel. That means: unlimited colours, photo-realistic motifs, no setup costs.

For very small quantities, single pieces or designs with complex gradients, DTG is unbeatable. If you want 10 different motifs on 5 shirts each, DTG is the only economical option. The catch: on dark fabrics a white underbase layer is needed, which noticeably affects the hand feel. And at large quantities DTG becomes more expensive than screen printing.

TIP

Tip: DTF (Direct-to-Film) is a modern variant that combines the advantages of DTG with better wash-resistance — especially recommended for smaller quantities on dark or synthetic fabrics.

Direct comparison

  • Under 50 units → DTG or DTF
  • Over 100 units → screen printing almost always cheaper
  • Photo prints, gradients → DTG / DTF
  • Max. 3–4 spot colours → screen printing for best quality
  • Technical fabrics (polyester) → sublimation or DTF
  • Very tight budget, high volume → screen printing

Our verdict

There is no universally better technique — only the technique that suits your project. We advise you free of charge on which process is optimal for your collection. Just send us your artwork and your planned quantity.