You probably have decided to start your own custom shirt business and you want your prospect clients’ designs as well as your original ones produced awesomely and accurately. Well, who would want to have their creations compromised by color errors or design misalignment? In my custom shirt printing business experience, I am able to use both screen and direct to garment printing and I would like to share to you the real pros and cons of both techniques.
What are the pros and cons of screen printing VS DTG methods? For screen printing –
pros: perfect for basic design and inexpensive in big orders, cons: prints
simple design and requires hefty upfront investment;
For DTG – pros: prints complex design and ideal for small orders, cons: accommodates limited design
placement and expensive for big orders.
I know that you are still not able to decide on which printing method to use in your business, such brief details won’t convince you to come up with the best choice. And I surely would not want to settle for less when it comes to business and quality production. Why don’t we dig into the details and learn more what advantages and disadvantages screen printing and direct to garment methods have?
Difference Between Screen Printing And Direct To Garment Printing
With the information I’ve shared with you earlier, I am pretty sure that there’s this one question that pops out of your head – what’s the difference between the two garment printing methods? Well, primarily, the printing techniques vary in the methods of ink application into the fabric.
The screen printing method is more of the traditional style which involves ink pushing with the use of a mesh and a stencil. Direct to Garment printing is more of a new age method that uses an inkjet printer to apply ink to garment.
Aside from the main difference between the two printing techniques, where else do you think they differ? Let’s explore their true difference by determining each pro and con.
Screen Printing Method
Image by threads_screen_print
Before we go into details about this method’s pros and cons, why don’t we rediscover first the process of screen printing? It will not just give us a good background but it will also help us understand the technicalities behind its benefits and drawbacks better.
Being the most popular method of garment printing, it is doubtlessly the method that you are most familiar with. Basically, screen printing involves shoving fabric ink onto the garment using a mesh stencil.
The stencil is paired with the mesh and its spaces will be filled with color and will eventually create the design. The fabric ink is pushed over the mesh covered in the emulsion and then pulled by a squeegee, the ink is then pushed through it and goes into the apparel. In this method, only one color can be applied per application.
If you are into the adventure of trying things on your own, why don’t you give screen printing a try? It is one technique that you can try on your own and accomplish it manually using ready-made materials.
Tools needed for the manual application are typically available at your local book and craft stores, screen printing supply stores and even online. Feel free to explore and give it a try, it pays to have first-hand experience in manual screen printing before deciding to give the business a go signal.
The Pros Of Screen Printing
What separates screen printing from direct to garment printing is the speed and volume of printing it can generally accommodate using an automatic machine. Although it is essential to consider your target average daily production and your investment budget, an automatic screen printing machine generally produces more outputs in a shorter period of time.
Screen printing also tends to create long-lasting prints because of its ink composition and thickness when applied. You can adjust the thickness of the paint in your design by applying multiple layers of ink.
Image by threads_screen_print
It can withstand stress without losing the print’s durable character. It also creates high-quality designs vibrant colors that cannot be compared nor replicated by other printing techniques.
And how about its cost-effectiveness when it comes to bulk orders? Does this printing technique cost less when producing bigger order quantities?
The answer is yes. Because screen printing method requires screen fabrication for each color you will need in a single design, it is best utilized for large, repetitive, and continuous orders.
The larger quantity of order on a single design has, the cheaper it gets because each piece will take part of the cost of the setup materials that will be used to produce the actual artwork.
The Cons Of The Screen Printing Method
Speed and volume is screen printing method’s biggest advantage, but getting into its full potential will also require you to shell out quite a hefty amount. Your investment will include the automatic screen printing press and other equipment; a big space for large screen-processing, ink mixing, and conveyor dryers; and of course the cost of training.
Although you can practice or try out screen printing designs on your own manually. This will only serve as an immersion of the process and for testing purposes only.
Manual screen printing is not advisable to cater both small orders because preparing the process will not be practical and bulk orders because the quality will not be accurate all throughout and it will be physically demanding.
You may have wondered how the screen printing technique will cater to a complex design created with extensive colors. Well, designs with more colors tend to be more expensive not just only because it will require more ink hues but it will also demand screen for each color.
And due to the technique’s limitations, complex designs are not ideal to be done with this method. Test prints using the screen printing method may seem not too practical but may also be offered.
Having a test print using this technique will cost you much in terms of materials and preparation. It may appear to be too pricey for one single test shirt but the method justifies its cost.
Although not business related, some other aspect such as environmental issue arises as screen printing technique disadvantage. Because despite the efforts to produce eco-friendly inks and other materials, the screen printing technique wastes loads of water which is commonly used to prep and clean screens.
Direct To Garment Printing (DTG) Method
Direct to Garment or DTG for short is a technique that uses inkjet technology and directly prints designs to garments. It uses water-based inks that are absorbed by the garment. Your printer translates your digital design onto your plain garment.
Simply imagine a printer printing directly on paper; that is how DTG printing goes too. And since it works much like that of a computer printer, it can accommodate the most complex design you or your clients have, with no color limits.
Since DTG is a digital process, it suits realistic designs well with a sharper, high-resolution output. And since it can print one shirt without the need to prepare much, it is also preferred in creating design prototypes prior to mass productions.
The Pros of Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing Method
Being able to create designs as precise as photo printers, designs will be produced in complex details and accurate colors. Why not? The limit of colors is endless just like what your printer can do.
There are quite a number of customized shirt printing shops that are willing to sacrifice profit margin from low volume orders using screen printing by catering to the demand for small orders customized shirts.
Preparation and breakdown are very minimal in contrast with the set-up demands of screen printing technique. It may print at a slower pace similar to printing high-resolution photos onto a photo paper using your desktop printer, but the set-up is undoubtedly faster and more convenient.
The estimated time required to screen print 12 shirts with 5 color requirements from set-up to curing is between 4 to 5 hours while with direct to garment technique, 12 shirts can be produced in about 30 minutes from set-up to curing.
These make DTG an advantage for shops to accommodate orders with no minimum order requirement. Although it projects smaller profits per order, the larger market of clients with low quantity, customized orders will be accommodated.
The market’s trend is towards lower volume order for customized designs simply because the people are demanding for a more personalized and original design that fits their tastes.
It is one of the best advantages of direct to garment printing against other methods, but it does not ultimately mean that DTG will be your best option.
The Cons of Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing Method
Direct to garment printing may seem to be so perfect for you and your business, but of course, everything has its imperfections or disadvantages.
Aside from the fact that a DTG printer is quite expensive, like for example – the cheapest available is around 5,000 USD while one top of the line unit like Kornit Hexas costs 350,000 USD.
It is also not ideal in producing large quantity orders. It roots up from the fact that the actual printing process is slower than the other techniques even though the preparation phase is much shorter and easier.
Which Printing Method Best Suits You?
Technically, both printing methods work well in different ways. Aside from the comparable, stand out print qualities; you must weigh things out in choosing the technique that suits you.
You can ultimately decide base on your usual design and quantity requirements, and of course, your budget. Make these 3 factors your guide in choosing which printing method will best suit you.
You have to consider your budget first before anything else. There’s no sense in balancing things out if, in the first place, you are not capable to shell out or loan the necessary amount.
Know that any of these printing methods will require you hefty budgets because both will require machines and computers. And these technologies will definitely entail shipping, training, and supplemental tools or equipment to function.
Aside from considering the amount of equipment, you have to have a big and comfortable working space to house it, your staff and your working areas. You surely won’t want to work in a space where everything seems to be compressed.
Choose a space where your equipment will be housed well and where there will be enough space for you and for your staff to work and move around. Take all things into consideration, then head to the next factor to consider.
If you are eyeing to cater to clients who are into bulk and heavy orders such as team sports, mass uniforms, or club shirts, then you will make the most out of a screen printing technique.
But if you are after the smaller groups and individuals who are into having customized and unique shirts, then direct to garment printing best suits your plan.
In terms of designs, you will also be able to come up with a decision whether or not to cater designs with intricate details and extensive color requirements. If you opt to go for a business that will support artworks that are more realistic and requires high resolution, accurate printing, then DTG will be your best option.
But if you will be able to set your design requirements to fewer colors and wishes to cater the not too complex designs, screen printing will be your best shot.
Now that you have all the factors in your hands, and you already have the knowledge if the pros and cons of screen printing and direct to garment methods, the decision will be all up to you. It is best to weigh things out properly before making your choice.
Take note of the fact that the possibilities in business have no limits. Today, one may weigh more than the other, but the next day, the other may be of the same gravity.
If you opt to use both techniques and you have that budget, then you go for it. But if not, and if your prepared investment allows you to choose only one for now, then learn to prioritize.
Make one choice at a time, who knows you might be needing screen printing machine today, and the next day you will be needing both?
Related Questions:
What is the best garment type for DTG to print on? While DTG is applicable on any garments with 50% cotton, the best garment to print on is made of 100% cotton with a smooth surface. Cotton is made of natural fiber that is highly absorbent and DTG printers use water-based inks. Garments with less than 50% cotton blend might affect the quality of your printed design.
What will happen to the DTG print after washing? DTG print outputs on shirts usually give a bit of shine due to pre-treatment. But after the first wash, the print will look more natural while the shine disappears. But nonetheless, the print should hold up just as well as other printing methods when done properly.
Can I screen print on any materials? Aside from cotton fabrics which are always the preferred medium for shirt printing, other materials will do as well such as acrylic, polyester, silk, and jersey and wool fabrics. Garments or fabrics with more natural composition helps faster and better ink absorption.
