Screen Printing vs. DTG: Which Is Best for Your T-Shirt Art?

Choosing the Right Printing Method to Bring Your Vision to Life

If you’re in the business of custom t-shirt design—whether for your brand, art portfolio, or print-on-demand store—there’s one big decision that can make or break your final product: how you print it. Two of the most popular methods are screen printing and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. Each has unique strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases.

So which one is right for your t-shirt art? Let’s break it down.

What Is Screen Printing?

Screen printing is a traditional method that involves pushing ink through a stencil-like screen onto fabric. Each color in the design requires a separate screen, making it ideal for bold, simple graphics in bulk quantities.

✅ Pros of Screen Printing:

• Durability: Ink penetrates deep into the fabric and lasts through many washes.

• Vibrant Colors: Especially effective for solid, bright inks on dark fabrics.

• Cost-Effective for Bulk: The more shirts you print, the lower the per-unit cost.

• Special Effects: Can incorporate metallics, puff ink, glow-in-the-dark, etc.

❌ Cons of Screen Printing:

• Not ideal for complex, multi-color, or photographic designs.

• High setup cost (screens must be created per color).

• Waste of materials for small batches or one-offs.

🎨 Best For: Logo tees, bold text designs, simple illustrations, or large volume runs (50+ shirts).

💡 Example: Raven’s Design Shop used screen printing for its “Northwest Bear” line. With only 3 ink colors and over 100 orders, screen printing delivered high impact and low cost.

What Is Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing?

DTG is a digital printing process where specialized inkjet printers spray water-based ink directly onto the fabric—like printing on paper. It allows for highly detailed, full-color prints without the need for screens.

✅ Pros of DTG:

• Photorealistic Quality: Great for gradients, textures, and photographic art.

• No Minimum Orders: Ideal for on-demand or small batch printing.

• Quick Turnaround: No setup needed—print and go.

• Eco-Friendly Options: Uses water-based inks and less waste overall.

❌ Cons of DTG:

• Higher Cost Per Shirt: Especially at scale.

• Color May Fade Sooner: Especially on darker garments without pre-treatment.

• Limited Fabric Choices: Works best on 100% cotton or cotton-rich blends.

🧑‍🎨 Best For: Artists, creators, and POD sellers who need detailed designs, want to print one-offs, or test designs before going all in.

📷 Case Study: A DTG print of a vintage camera collage by an independent illustrator allowed every tiny detail to come through, selling well on platforms like Etsy with zero inventory needed.

Side-by-Side Comparison

How to Decide Which to Use

Ask yourself:

1. How many shirts am I printing?

   • Bulk (50+) → Screen printing is more cost-effective.

   • Small batch / 1-off → DTG wins.

2. How complex is my design?

   • Full color, photo, or gradients? → DTG

   • Bold lines, limited palette? → Screen printing

3. What’s the purpose of the shirt?

   • Merch, events, or team shirts? → Screen printing

   • Art prints, boutique sales, or online dropshipping? → DTG

4. What is my budget and timeline?

   • DTG is fast and flexible; screen printing requires planning but lowers long-term costs in bulk.

Bonus: Can You Combine Both?

Yes! Some brands use DTG for prototyping and screen printing for scaling. This hybrid approach allows you to test what designs sell before investing in large print runs.

🔄 Tip: Many POD platforms (like Printful or Printify) use DTG but offer screen printing services for scaling your top-selling items.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to choosing between screen printing and DTG, the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on your design style, goals, and production needs. For bold branding and bulk orders, screen printing delivers impact and economy. For detail-rich art and small batches, DTG offers unmatched flexibility and visual depth.

Choose the one that amplifies your design—because when the print matches the art, your shirts don’t just look good… they sell.