If you have ever needed to have custom printed shirts for your Salt Lake City business or a family function, you may have heard the terms, screen printing, and DTG printing (direct to garment printing). But what is the difference between the two? If you have never printed custom t-shirts, it can get confusing, so here is a quick guide to answer some common questions. What’s the difference, what is DTG printing, what is screen printing, and how they compare in Salt Lake City?

First, let us start with the difference between DTG and screen printing. Direct to garment is a new method of printing that uses a printer to apply ink to the shirt. On the other hand, screen printing is a traditional method that involves pushing ink onto fabric through a stencil.

So how does DTG printing work? Well, it works similarly to the inkjet printer in your home or Salt Lake City office. The printer translates the image or graphic file onto a blank tee. DTG printers are capable of designs in multiple colors, unlike screen printing, using water-based ink, which is applied in one layer that is absorbed into the shirt’s fibers. The DTG process is precise and yields high-quality results, but the ink is not as deeply soaked in the fabric. Elaborate designs and ones with a variety of multiple colors work best with the DTG printing method.

On the other hand, screen printing is a craft that printers have perfected over the years to create great-looking durable clothing. Because this printing process is more labor-intensive, it can produce beautifully saturated colors with a distinctive, authentic appearance. Contrary to DTG, each color must be printed on a separate screen, meaning your graphic must be separated into different layers. Next, a woven stencil is used to apply a single color of ink at a time. The ink is dragged across the stencil using a tool producing a single layer of the design with vibrant, saturated color. Bold graphics, typographic, and designs with lesser amounts of colors are best suited for screen printing.

When produced by a professional in Salt Lake City, quality does not change between screen printing and DTG. The differences typically fall into two categories, cost, and design. In terms of design, color is the main factor. With DTG using artwork with multiple colors is typically the better option, but it does produce a slightly more faded product. Screen printing will provide a more vibrant full hue, but as you add more color, the cost can increase due to more stencils needed to be created. In terms of price, screen printing will provide savings in high quantity orders using master stencils. DTG will save more on smaller quantity orders, but as the number grows, the amount of ink used grows and creates a higher ending cost. Overall, when looking to get custom shirts printed for your Salt Lake City business or family reunion, consider these factors to make the best decision without having to sacrifice design or cost.

Corporate Image Inc produces affordable high quality screen printing in Salt Lake City for corporate banners and signs.