DTG vs Screen Printing - What is the difference?
The print method affects how your design looks, how it feels, how long it lasts and what it costs. We do screen printing, DTG and embroidery under one roof, so we can recommend whichever suits your project best.
Where each method fits by order size
Number of garments in one order, with the same design.
Order size is one factor. The number of colours, special finishes and fabric matter too.
The short version
Screen printing is best for bold colours and bigger runs. DTG is best for detailed, full colour designs and small runs. At Live Ink, both use soft, water based inks.
Screen printing for bold colour
Colours are mixed to Pantone references and printed one at a time. You can also have discharge, metallic and neon inks. The price per garment drops as your order grows.
DTG for detail and small runs
Photos, gradients and designs with lots of colours print in a single pass. There are no screens and no minimum order.
Eco-friendly either way
Both processes use PVC free, phthalate free, water based inks, printed with renewable energy in Bristol on our GOTS certified organic range.
Screen printing vs DTG, side by side
How the two processes compare on the points that make the biggest difference to your order.
| Feature | Screen printing | DTG printing |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Ink is pushed through a mesh screen, one colour at a time | An industrial inkjet printer prints your design straight onto the garment |
| Minimum order | 20 garmentsMost cost effective from around 50 | No minimumPrint one garment or a thousand |
| Setup | No setup chargesA screen is required for each colour, but at Live Ink we don't charge screen setup fees | No setup chargesFully digital, no screens |
| Colours | Exact Pantone matchesMixed and printed as spot colours. Each extra colour needs another screen | Unlimited coloursNo extra cost per colour. Exact Pantone matching isn't guaranteed |
| Detail | Great for bold graphics. Photos and gradients need more screens, which adds cost | Photos, gradients and fine detailPrinted in a single pass |
| Special finishes | Discharge, metallic, neon and high gloss | Not available |
| Feel | SoftWater based ink that gets softer with washing | SoftAlmost no feel on white garments. A little more on dark garments, which need a white underbase |
| Wash durability | Lasts the most washes | Durable, scoring 4 or higher on every AATCC wash test |
| Fabrics | Best on natural fibres. Synthetics are possible with a more complex setup | At least 80% cotton recommended. Polyester and viscose blends print, but may not wash as well |
| Inks | Water based, PVC free and phthalate free | Water based, GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified, CPSIA compliant |
| Best for | Bulk orders, logos and merchBold designs with a few colours | Small runs, samples and print on demandDetailed designs with lots of colours |
Based on how we print at Live Ink. Other printers may use different inks and minimum orders.
How each process works
Screen printing
Screen printing is our most popular process for bulk orders. Ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto the fabric one colour at a time, building up a print that becomes part of the garment. The result is vibrant and durable, and it can have finishes that digital printing can't reproduce well.
Every colour needs its own screen, which is why screen printing is most cost effective at higher quantities. We don't charge screen setup fees. We use water based inks for all screen printing. They're softer than plastisol and contain no PVC or phthalates.
DTG printing
DTG stands for direct to garment. It's an industrial inkjet printer built for fabric, printing water based textile inks that bond with the fibres. On coloured garments, a white underbase goes down first and your artwork is printed on top. White garments don't need an underbase, which makes the print even softer.
Because it's fully digital, your artwork can have as many colours as you like. DTG inks bond best with natural fibres, so we recommend garments that are at least 80% cotton.
Which is right for your project?
A full colour illustration on 10 shirts needs a different approach from a two colour logo on 100 organic cotton t-shirts.
Choose screen printing if
- You're ordering 20 or more garments with the same design
- Your design uses a few bold colours
- You need exact Pantone colour matches
- You want discharge, metallic, neon or high gloss inks
- Your prints need to last as many washes as possible
Choose DTG if
- You need fewer than 20 garments, a one off or a sample
- Your design has photos, gradients or lots of colours
- You run a print on demand store on Shopify, Etsy, Squarespace or WooCommerce
- You want to test a design before a bigger screen printed order
For DTG, supply your artwork as a 300dpi PNG with a transparent background at the correct print size. The maximum standard print area is 40 × 45 cm. When you upload your design, we check the resolution automatically and warn you if it's too low.
DTG vs screen printing FAQs
Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh screen onto the fabric one colour at a time, with a separate screen for every colour in the design. DTG (direct to garment) is a fully digital process. An industrial inkjet printer prints your design straight onto the garment in a single full colour pass, with no screens and no minimum order.
It depends on your artwork and quantity. Screen printing is better for bold spot colours, Pantone matching and finishes like discharge, metallic and neon inks, and it gets more cost effective as quantities rise. DTG is better for photos, gradients and designs with lots of colours. With no screens and no minimum order, it's the natural choice for small runs, samples, print on demand and one off pieces.
Screen prints last more washes before they start to fade. DTG is still durable: our DTG inks score 4 or higher on every AATCC wash test.
Yes. On coloured fabric, a white underbase is printed first and your artwork goes on top. White garments don't need an underbase, so the print has almost no feel at all.
DTG inks bond best with natural fibres, so we recommend garments that are at least 80% cotton. Designs will print onto polyester and viscose blends, but they may not wash as well as on cotton. For performance fabrics and polyester heavy blends, talk to us about alternatives.
Exact Pantone matching isn't guaranteed with DTG, because it prints in full colour from a digital file. If exact colours are essential, choose screen printing. We mix inks to your Pantone references and print them as spot colours, so the garment matches your artwork.
A 300dpi PNG with a transparent background at the correct print size. The maximum standard print area is 40 × 45 cm. When you upload your design, we check the resolution automatically and warn you if it's too low.
They're fairly even. At Live Ink, both use water based, PVC free and phthalate free inks, and both can be printed on our GOTS certified organic garments using renewable energy. DTG for print on demand has one extra benefit: every garment is printed after it's ordered, so there's no unsold stock to waste.
Not sure which to choose?
Send us your artwork and tell us which garment you have in mind. We'll recommend the best process for your design.