DTF printing vs. screen printing? Which method fits your brand?

So, you want to start your clothing brand but don’t know which printing method to go with. If you can’t see the difference or small factors that put one of these methods above the other, no worries. This blog will magnify those details for you!

DTFlex — Printful’s premium DTF (direct-to-film) method — and screen printing are both popular for apparel. While they share similarities, DTF and DTFlex are engineered for sharper detail and on-demand consistency, making it ideal for starting a print-on-demand business.

The key to choosing the most suitable printing method for you is to see which connects with your brand and needs the most. For that, you need to have a proper understanding of how they work.

Keep reading to find out what sets DTFl printing and screen printing apart. Let’s get right into it!

What is DTF printing? 

DTF printing is a versatile method that produces detailed, vibrant prints on a wide range of fabrics, including cotton, polyester, fleece, nylon, and blends. It’s become a go-to option in the industry thanks to its flexibility and reliable results.

At Printful, we’ve taken this technology further with DTFlex — our premium, in-house version of DTF. Refined for over a decade, DTFlex is engineered for vivid colors, fine detail, and flawless edges, delivering consistent, retail-quality results on every order.

With DTF,  you can also print on dark-colored garments effortlessly. Its wide color range and suitability for versatile garments such as cotton, polyester, fleece, and even blends make it an easy favorite for businesses.

How does DTF printing work?

Now, let’s get into how exactly the DTF printing method delivers your end product.

Your design is digitally printed on transfer film with water-based inks, coated with a fine adhesive layer, and heat-pressed to the fabric. The result is a vibrant, durable print with crisp edges — ready to ship in minutes.

Source: Printful

What is screen printing?

Screen printing or silk screen printing is a popular printing method that’s been around for a while. This technique uses a mesh stencil and a screen. Due to how it’s done, your prints can have your desired thickness and texture.

From cotton to denim, screen printing works well on a gamut of fabrics, offering consistent prints and a long lifespan.

Valuable read: What is Screen Printing: Your All-in-One Roadmap

How does screen printing work? 

Screen printing is a bit more time-consuming, with an intricate process.

So, to start off, you have your design, mesh stencil, and inks. Now, the most critical part is the specific screens. These screens are the shape of elements of your design or the whole design itself, depending on how complex the design is. Some designs need multiple colors and layers to achieve the end look.

Source: Unsplash

Once the specific screens for the design are made, it’s pressed onto the mesh screen. Which is then kept under a UV light, making the exposed areas dry, thus allowing the ink to pass only through the element shapes.

Now, with the aid of the custom mesh stencil, the ink is transferred onto the fabric, creating your design. And, of course, it needs time to dry before adding the next layer or element. So now you understand why it’s a long and detailed process.

Considering screen printing bulk services? Let us know!

DTF printing vs. screen printing: which suits you better?

To help you decide better, let’s see what both of these methods can offer you and how they differ. Who knows, one of these tiny yet crucial details might be your winning point.

Print quality and durability

Printful’s DTF method DTFlex produces crisp, full-color designs with a smooth finish. Prints may feel slightly firm at first but soften after a couple of washes, while maintaining sharpness and vibrancy over time. For best comfort, avoid oversized solid blocks of color.

Source: Pexels

Screen printing is well known for its high durability, and it won’t fade away with a couple of washes, meaning your product will be getting your money’s worth. This method is better to be used if you have a simple design or text that takes up less space.

And although you can have more colors, it’s better to limit them. Screen printing requires separate screens for each color within the design. 

Print complexity

DTF excels at precision — from gradients and fine text to photographic artwork — with unmatched detail retention on-demand.

In screen printing, the inks have to be mixed if needed, and even then won’t be as accurate as that of DTF printing. And as you can imagine, having gradient prints is also very tricky and time-consuming.

An interesting detail about screen printing is that since the ink is layered on top of the first coat of ink, it gives you a raised design with a texture to it.

Number of colors

Any color you want, in any style you desire, can be achieved with DTF printing. It’s a big advantage of having digital print. This will let you create gradients and give high color accuracy as well.

Screen printing, on the other hand, is not the best printing technology to use with multiple colors. It’s better if you stick with a few colors, or your print will be very thick; as you might remember, screen printing “stacks” its inks. However, the good news is that the prints will work on any color garment.

Source: Pexels

Fabrics and materials

DTF and Printful’s DTFlex works across a wide range of fabrics — cotton, polyester, fleece, nylon, and blends — making it one of the most flexible POD methods available.

Screen printing, in contrast, is limited to natural fabrics and certain hard surfaces.

Source: Pexels

Quantity

DTF is built for on-demand fulfillment — whether it’s one unit or hundreds. With no minimums and quick setup, it’s perfect for testing designs or scaling your business.

Screen printing requires way more time to prepare the equipment and even a specific screen just for the design. This means it’ll be a waste of time and resources for small-batch orders.

On-demand fulfillment

As I said before, DTF printing is a good on-demand fulfillment method. For bulk orders or even a single unit order, DTF won’t cost you any extra time or resources. Therefore, this is a good start for small businesses.

Since the screen printing method and equipment setup take longer, it’s cost-effective to have a minimum order volume for this method. Because of this, screen printing may also not be suitable for quick turnaround business needs.

Source: Unsplash

Upfront investment

If you’re handling your own printing production, you need to look into the best printer and other equipment. ​​With Printful, there’s no upfront investment — your DTFlex products are printed only after an order is placed. You get premium results without equipment costs or inventory risk.

As for screen printing, you need a mesh screen, frame, inks, and squeegee. On top of that, whichever product you’d like to sell—trending t-shirts, cups, canvas, etc. On average, the starting investment ranges from $1–3K.

But once the order comes in, you’ll spend a lot of time as well as materials to fulfill your order. And due to the high-volume orders (which are recommended for profit), a significant ongoing expense may incur for preparing the screen and equipment and maintaining it.

So, it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth having your own setup for your custom t-shirts, when we’re here to deliver your customers a smooth and quality experience.

DTF printing vs. screen printing: why should you opt for one printing method from the other?

We’ve reached the end of the read. Now, with a better understanding of how both methods work, you can decide which will better fit your print-on-demand business.

Is DTF printing your best option?

DTF (or DTFlex how it’s called with us) is the premium choice for vibrant, detailed designs that demand sharpness and color accuracy. Best used for logos, graphics, and colorful artwork rather than full-coverage prints, it gives your brand retail-quality results without order minimums.

Source: Unsplash

DTF printing also lets you choose from various products, such as t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, hats, pillows, etc. The best part? You have wider options of fabric materials to choose from—cotton, polyester, nylon, and even synthetic blends. And most importantly, there’s no minimum number of orders for DTF printing.

Or, is screen printing your best option?

As you now know, screen printing is time-consuming. However, if your brand has a bold yet simple vibe, screen printing can offer you long-lasting, high-quality prints.

Although, since it’s a low turnaround method, print-on-demand companies tend not to offer this method. But you can try and find a company that provides it. However, the orders would have a minimum order volume to keep it cost-effective.

Source: Unsplash

Screen printing is a good choice for you if you like the feel of the ink. And if you want to create your designs in different textures, maybe a bit coarse or with a sprinkle of glitter, screen printing is the way to go.

And last but not least, screen printing works best on fabric fibers such as silk, cotton, or its blends. It’s great since these are popular apparel fabrics. However, it limits your catalog to specific products and keeps you out of lucrative polyester products like most sportswear.

DTF printing or screen printing?

Both methods have their place — screen printing works for bulk orders with simple designs, while our DTF technique DTFlex gives you premium, on-demand quality for intricate, colorful artwork. 

If you want flexibility, consistency, and no minimums, DTFlex is the better fit for POD brands.

And if you feel you’re still missing something, you can continue your research and explore more printing methods, and find the right one!

Read next:

• Embroidery vs Screen Printing: Which Should You Go With?

• Types of Shirt Printing: Picking the Best Method for Your Brand