KEY POINTS:
- DTG is the process of printing a logo or design directly onto a garment or piece of fabric with the use of a DTG Printer.
- One of the big positives to using a DTG printer vs. screen print is that DTG has the ability to print fine details onto a garment.
- DTG and screen print are very comparable in price. The biggest difference is that DTG will most likely be a lower price for projects that require multiple colors to be printed.
We love helping Ag, Western, and Outdoor businesses design and source their company merchandise. One of our most popular options of branded merchandise is custom DTG apparel. However, DTG is such a new option, that we get asked all the time – what exactly is Direct-to-Garment (DTG Printing)? And how does it compare to Screen Printing?
DTG and Screen Printing Defined
DTG is the process of printing a logo or design directly onto a garment or piece of fabric with the use of a DTG Printer. DTG is similar to printing ink on a piece of paper with a home or office printer.
Screen-print is a very different process and uses a stencil that is laid over the garment. Ink is then pushed through the stencil to adhere to the garment. Due to the simplistic nature of this process, there must be a unique stencil for each unique color that is included in the design.
One of the big positives to using a DTG printer vs. screen print is that DTG has the ability to print fine details onto a garment, where as a screen print application is intended for more simple designs.
Appearance
Just like branding is key to your overall marketing story and message, the same is true for your branded merchandise. This is one of the main reasons we believe in working with custom factories who build the merchandise from scratch instead of value-added options such as cap blanks with added embroidery. Since your giveaway items will be seen in public, good branding as part of your overall design will make your merchandise more memorable. Ways you can include branding in your design include using custom fabrics, custom thread colors, and private labeling on the interior of the merch that matches your overall brand identity.
While designs that are applied with screen print are bright and bold, they tend to be a thicker application than DTG. This sometimes give a heavy feel to the garment. Especially designs that require multiple colors in the design. DTG is different in this way and instead the ink will be applied as a single thin layer.
Wear and Durability
While Screen Print has a bright and bold color, it unfortunately has the tendency to start cracking and even flaking with multiple wears and washes. DTG on the other hand will not crack if applied correctly, and will slowly fade over a prolonged period of time instead of flaking.
Cost
DTG and screen print are very comparable in price. The biggest difference is that DTG will most likely be a lower price for projects that require multiple colors to be printed. DTG also has the ability to be printed in smaller runs. Instead of having to order a large qty of each color combination you can order smaller minimums. DTG also doesn’t require a screen to be made, so there are no setup fees.
Private Label
One of our favorite features with our DTG program at Sterling Brands has access to printers who have the ability to private label garments for our customer. Full color private label logos are available to be placed on the interior collar of the garments. This allows another opportunity for branding and gives your brand more credibility in the marketplace.
There are so many factors to consider when choosing a custom apparel option. However, for the above reasons we recommend DTG printing over screen printing.
For more information about custom branded merchandise for your company contact us at info@brandcowboy.com or checkout www.brandcowboy.com.
