The two best ways to put a design on a shirt are screen printing and direct-to-film (DTF) transfers, and the right choice comes down to three questions: how many pieces, how many colors, and what kind of artwork.
How each one works
Screen printing pushes real ink through a mesh screen, one screen per color. Setting up screens takes time, which is why small runs cost more per shirt, but once the press is rolling, every additional shirt is fast and cheap. The ink sits bold and thick and survives years of washing.
DTF prints your design in full color onto film, which we heat-press onto the garment. There are no screens, so there’s nothing to set up and no penalty for smaller orders or complicated art.
Pick screen printing when…
- You’re ordering a bigger run of one design, think teams, schools, events, and merch tables
- Your design uses a handful of solid colors
- You want the classic, bold, printed-shirt feel and maximum durability per dollar
Pick DTF when…
- You need a smaller batch (DTF runs start at just 10 pieces)
- Your art is full color: photos, gradients, or fine detail
- You’re mixing several designs or garment types in one order
The short version
Big and bold: screen printing. Small and colorful: DTF. And if you’re not sure, just tell us what you’re making. We run both methods in the same shop, so our only incentive is recommending the one that looks best and costs you least.
