Both screen printing and DTF (direct-to-film) put your design on fabric, but they work differently, and that difference matters for cost, order size, and how your design looks up close.
Screen printing
Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh stencil, one screen per color. It’s the older, more established technology, and for good reason: it produces vibrant, durable prints that hold up to washing.
Best for:
- Larger orders (usually 25+ pieces), because the setup cost per screen is fixed regardless of quantity
- Simple designs with a limited number of solid colors
- Orders where per-unit cost at scale matters more than design complexity
Trade-offs: each color needs its own screen, so a 6-color design costs more to set up than a 1-color logo. It’s not economical for very small runs or designs with photographic detail or gradients.
DTF (Direct-to-Film)
DTF prints your design onto a special film, then heat-transfers it onto the garment. No screens, no setup cost per color.
Best for:
- Small orders, even a single piece
- Full-color designs, photos, gradients, and fine detail
- Printing on a mix of garment colors without needing separate white-ink setups
Trade-offs: at high volumes, screen printing usually works out cheaper per piece. DTF prints also sit slightly on top of the fabric rather than soaking into it, which some people notice as a light “hand feel” difference compared to screen printing.
Which one should you pick?
A rough way to think about it:
| Situation | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Ordering 50+ pieces, simple 1-3 color logo | Screen printing |
| Ordering under 25 pieces | DTF |
| Full-color or photo-based design, any quantity | DTF |
| Mixed garment colors, same design | DTF |
If you’re not sure, configure your order both ways in our configurator and compare the price directly, no need to email back and forth for a quote. If your order sits right on the edge, we’ll flag which option makes more sense before it goes into production.