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DTG vs Screen Printing
This post is about learning the comparison of T-Shirt printing methods DTG vs Screen Printing.
It is a very common question nowadays when it comes to printing a t-shirt. When almost a decade or two ago, there was only a screen printing option to print on anything.
It’s the traditional and much-evolved model where there are tons of expert companies worldwide who produce awesome results with much-complicated designs or even photo prints.
Then came digital printing options on various things from paper to fabric to various other things. Let’s discuss the direct garment and screen printing options for T-Shirts.
Screen Printing
Screen Printing is the most famous and traditional printing method used for T-Shirt printing. Any solid color design can be separated into its colours and a screen is made for each color.
Each screen is placed on the garment by having dyes on top and squeezes onto the fabric. This step is repeated for all the colours in the design.
For single-colour designs with more volume of prints to be done, this is the most efficient method of printing.
In the system of printing in bulk, having stock, and selling them totally, screen printing works best provided the number of colours in the design is limited.
Pros:
1. Cost-effective for bulk printing
2. Versatile methods like High Density, Flock, etc.
3. Many dyes options like Plastisol, Pigment, Non-PVC, Fluorescent, etc.
Cons:
1. Setup Cost is huge
2. Setup time is high
3. Needs simple designs
4. Needs high-volume orders
Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing
Digital Printing – In this case, it’s direct to garment printing enabling us to print any design onto the garment.
A high-resolution print file, usually 150 DPI and above can be printed onto a T-shirt by feeding the shirt into the printer like paper printing.
This is an easy method for print on demand or short runs. Especially for printing photo prints or complex designs, direct to garment printing is an easy t-shirt printing method.
DTG Printing is a relatively new method of T-Shirt Printing. Technology is evolving and so as the machines and market.
The big fashion houses are slowly adopting the direct to printing method and no doubt this will hold an indomitable position in the future.
Brands designing digital printing and adopting digital printing methods for their merch printing will be ahead in the path when the market matures.
Pros:
1. Prints any design
2. No setup cost
3. No setup time
4. Print on Demand
Cons:
1. Relatively expensive
2. Few limitations
Conclusion for DTG vs Screen Printing
The printing strategy for any brand is to use the Pros of both printing methods.
DTG’s strengths to be leveraged to launch new designs in the beginning to a new audience.
Screen printing options are required to scale the operations with high volume production, dispatch with good margins.
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