DTG vs. Screen printing: Conclusion
| Quality | |
|---|---|
| Screen printing | Vibrant high-quality prints |
| Durability | |
| Direct-to-garment printing | Able to withstand over 50 washes |
| Screen printing | The best choice for garment longevity |
In this post
Which is better DTG or screen?
DTG printing leaves a single layer of ink to create your final design, while screen printing produces several layers. This has a few important effects, particularly on how you use color in your design: Screen printing will produce a vibrant, durable design with more saturated colors than the DTG process.
Is DTG more expensive than screen printing?
How much does DTG printing cost compared to screen printing? For small orders (less than 24 pieces) DTG printing typically costs less than screen printing. For large orders (more than 24 pieces) screen printing typically costs less than DTG printing.
Is printing or screen printing better?
Quality comparison. Where a screen printing gives a more vibrant finish (especially when printing onto a darker surface), digital distribution is better suited to detailed work due to the layers of ink being thinner which assures the final print will turn out more precise.
Is screen printing the best quality?
Pros: Screen printing has a lot of pros, first being the high quality of the print. Your t-shirt prints are going to be more vibrant in color compared to on-demand printers. And if you’re using water-based ink, the print will feel softer and last a lot longer.
Does DTG print crack?
DTG Printers
This is a high-performance machine known for reliability, precision, and brilliance. It’s lightning-fast and prints vibrant, photo-quality images. The Epson F2100 infuses ink into the shirt, so there’s no cracking or fading of the design.
Does direct to garment printing fade?
A quality DTG print can potentially get dozens of washes before it starts fading. Done correctly, screen printing doesn’t have this durability problem. Sure, if the ink isn’t applied or cured properly, even plastisol can fade or deteriorate.
How long do DTF shirts last?
Printing on cold peel film cannot be transferred directly to a garment. Instead, an adhesive must be used to help the image adhere to the fabric. At allprintheads.com, we offer a unique adhesive for DTF printing that is durable enough to withstand up to 45 hand washes, all while keeping the transfer feeling soft.
How long does DTG ink last?
A number that you hear thrown around is that the industry standard for printed clothing is 50 washes. Many agree, however, that DTG prints will last longer than that. Another way to look at it is that direct-to-garment prints tend to last the life of the garment — and age along with it.
What is the difference between DTG and screen printing?
DTG uses a printer to spray the ink into a garment, while screen printing layers the ink on top of the fabric. Most importantly, DTG enables order fulfillment on-demand with no upfront cost, while screen printed products are ordered in bulk.
Why is screen printing the best?
Screen printing ink is typically applied more thickly, resulting in longer-lasting, brighter and more vibrant colours, even on darker backgrounds. For garment design that requires a high level of vibrancy when printing on dark grounds, screen printing is still the best option.
Which lasts longer screen print or heat transfer?
This process can be more time-consuming for designs that have many colors; however, screen-printed art tends to last much longer than heat-pressed art.
Does DTF print last?
More durable than DTG prints
While DTF prints don’t have the same soft hand feel that DTG can boast, the transfers are more durable. Direct to film transfers wash well, and are flexible – meaning they won’t crack or peel, making them great for heavy-use items.
Does screen printing crack?
Quality screen printing won’t crack or peel, and discharge screen printing can’t crack or peel.
Why is screen printing so expensive?
Artwork preparation is also often factored into the screen cost. You then need to print to film, expose each screen, produce/print, reclaim and coat for next production. Not only is there time associated with burning the screens, there is also a lot of material cost that goes into re-creating a film / screen.
How many washes do DTG prints last?
The industry standard for shirts is approximately 50 washes. DTG prints with water-based inks can last longer than 50 washes. The length of time your print lasts also depends on the type of detergent used, the temperature, and aftercare taken when caring for your printed shirt.
Which is better DTF or vinyl?
In conclusion, DTF printing technology as compared to vinyl heat transfer shows disparity in consumable costs, manpower allocation, and production efficiency. Although the 2 printing technologies are often compared to one another, the main difference between the 2 technologies would be its workflow process.
Is heat press better than DTG?
While one of DTG printing’s main strengths over screen printing is its ease to print on-demand, heat printing is even better at it. Consider the time and cost of firing up a DTG pre-treatment machine and printer for just 1 or 2 shirts.
How many washes does screen printing last?
about 40-50 washes
How many washes does screen printing T-shirts last? Screen printing can withstand about 40-50 washes, as the inks used in this technique is quite thicker than the inks used in other techniques, giving it immense power to last till numerous washes without fading away.
How much does a direct to garment printer cost?
A DTG printer can cost about $20,000 and can go up to $250,000 depending on the scale of your business. DTG requires pre-treatment; therefore you need a pre-treatment machine ($3,000-$4,000) and pre-treat solution ($50 – $100 a gallon).
How many shirts can you print with a DTG printer?
“How many shirts can I print with a set of DTG printer cartridges?” The short answer is 194 shirts, or 3,039 shirts or 64,516 shirts.