DTG printing (Direct to Garment)
DTG works like a home inkjet printer, except it prints straight onto the T-shirt instead of paper. The ink soaks into the cotton fibres, so the print is soft and barely noticeable to the touch. On dark garments the printer first lays down a white base, then the colours on top.
Its biggest advantage is that there is no per-colour setup: a two-colour design and a photo with millions of shades cost the same. That makes DTG ideal for small runs, single pieces and designs with gradients and detail.
Pros
- Unlimited colours and gradients
- Soft print, the shirt breathes
- No setup cost - worthwhile from 1 piece
Watch out for
- Best results on cotton
- Price per piece does not drop much on big runs
- No neon or metallic inks
DTF printing (Direct to Film)
With DTF the design is first printed onto a special film, coated with adhesive powder and then heat-pressed onto the garment. The result is vivid colours and sharp edges on almost any fabric - cotton, polyester and blends.
DTF is great for placements DTG struggles with (sleeves, necklines, trouser legs), small logos with fine detail, and dark garments when you want strong, contrasting colours. The print feels a little firmer than DTG, most noticeably on large areas.
Pros
- Works on cotton, polyester and blends
- Strong colours and sharp edges, even on dark garments
- No per-colour setup cost
Watch out for
- Firmer feel on large areas
- Breathes less than DTG or screen printing
Screen printing
Screen printing is the classic technique: a separate stencil (screen) is made for each colour in the design, and ink is pushed through it onto the garment. Setup takes time and money, but once the screens exist, every further print is quick and cheap.
That is why screen printing pays off for large runs of one design with few colours - say 300 festival T-shirts with a one- or two-colour logo. Colours are strong and hard-wearing, and special inks (neon, metallic) are possible. For photos, gradients and small quantities it is usually not the best choice.
Pros
- Lowest price per piece on large runs
- Very durable, strong colours
- Special inks: neon, metallic
Watch out for
- Setup cost for every colour
- Not worthwhile for small quantities
- Limited for photos and gradients
What about embroidery?
Embroidery is not printing, but it is often the right choice for a logo: it looks premium, outlasts the garment and works beautifully on polo shirts, hoodies, caps and uniforms. The logo is first digitised into a machine file, so embroidery also has a setup cost. It is not suited to tiny text, gradients or large areas.
Side-by-side comparison
| DTG | DTF | Screen | Embroidery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Colourful designs, photos | Dark garments, sleeves, small logos | Large runs, few colours | Logos, polos, caps |
| Colours | Unlimited | Unlimited | Each colour = a new screen | A few thread colours |
| Worthwhile from | 1 piece | 1 piece | Large runs | Small logo runs |
| Feel | Soft, in the fibre | Thin layer on top | Depends on ink, usually soft | Raised thread |
| Fabrics | Cotton | Cotton, polyester, blends | Most fabrics | Heavier fabrics |
How to choose
- Colourful design or photo, and you need fewer pieces? → DTG.
- Printing on a sleeve, on polyester, or want strong colours on a dark garment? → DTF.
- Hundreds of pieces, one design, one to three colours? → screen printing.
- Chest logo, polo shirt, cap or uniform? → embroidery.
What we do at KASTM
We run DTG and DTF in our own workshop, and embroidery through trusted partners. For most orders - from a single piece to larger runs for teams and companies - that covers everything. Send us your design and quantity and we will suggest the technique with the best quality-to-price ratio, and tell you if a different technique suits your project better.
Not sure which technique you need?
Send your design and quantity - we will suggest a technique and return a price per piece. No commitment.
Request a quoteFAQ
Which print lasts longest?
With proper washing (inside out, at the label temperature, no ironing over the print) all three techniques last through many washes. Screen printing and embroidery are traditionally the toughest; good DTG and DTF are not far behind.
What is best for black T-shirts?
All three techniques work on black T-shirts. DTF gives the strongest colours and sharpest edges, DTG feels softer, and screen printing is the most cost-effective for large runs with few colours.
Which printing is cheapest?
It depends on quantity. For a few pieces DTG and DTF are cheapest because they have no setup cost. For large runs of one design with few colours, screen printing is cheapest per piece.