T-shirts are a staple in merchandising. Whether you’re handing out swag to corporate employees or selling wearable art prints, the T-shirt is renowned for its versatility in many situations. It’s no surprise, then, that there are numerous ways to print graphics on a T-shirt–some with more advantages than others. But which should you choose? We’re looking at 5 of the most popular different methods of printing on T-shirts and when to use them.

This list focuses more on factory-made or high-production cost printing rather than private use. Many different methods of printing on T-shirts, like stenciling, offer great control and customizability on the final product but become very inconvenient in mass production. These other methods provide more options for your business’s production and distribution. 

1. DTG (Direct to Garment) Printing

1. Best Used For: Cotton fabrics with detailed designs
2. Cost: Expensive in high quantities due to ink costs, affordable in lower quantities
3. Advantage: Seamless, detailed, and quicker than other methods
4. How Long Does it Last?: Roughly 50 washes, depending on the materials and how it’s treated

Direct to Garment printing has a lot of similarities to paper printing. Both methods directly spray ink onto a surface and keep it there, and the process comes out very quickly. Unlike some other methods, DTG printing doesn’t crack as the image ages since much of it is absorbed into the garment. If taken care of correctly, it’ll last for quite a bit of time in the long run.

While shirts are the most popular use of DTG printing, this method can be applied to any fabric that can be flattened and heated for printing. Tote bags, cloth trousers, and even hoodies can be colored in this manner. As a whole, this printing method is a great choice for artists looking to sell lower quantities of their shirt designs to their fans.

2. DTF (Direct to Film) Printing

1. Best Used For: Most types of fabrics, including cotton and polyester, with bright and poppy designs
2. Cost: Very affordable
3. Advantage: Vibrant, flexible for any fabric color
4. How Long Does it Last?: Around 50-100 washes 

Direct to Film printing is a very popular option in the merchandising business–and for good reason, too. Compared to all the other different methods of printing on T-shirts, DTF has lower costs, more vibrance, and quite a bit of durability.

All of this is thanks to the power of PET films. These special layers can absorb the main design on an adhesive sheet, and then stick to the surface of a pressed and heated fabric. The final print matches closely to the original design and isn’t as affected by fabric quality or color compared to DTG printing.

The main disadvantage of this printing type is the film’s thickness. Since it’s sticking on the fabric rather than being a part of it, the shirt can feel stiffer on the print’s surface. You’d be better off sticking to smaller prints (no bigger than half of the front) than bigger designs to avoid constraining the fabric.

3. Screen Printing

1. Best Used For: Cotton shirts and blends with simple designs
2. Cost: Expensive initial costs, cheaper and faster for mass production  
3. Advantage: 
4. How Long Does it Last?: More than 50 washes

One of the most commonly used methods of fabric printing, screen printing can be considered the polar opposite of DTG printing. Whereas DTG printing methods excel in complex designs for low quantities, screen printing shines for simple high-quantity designs that pop. The initial setup costs might be daunting, but it goes a long way when producing 500 shirts or more at once.

Screen printing requires a silkscreen mesh to push colored ink through. This means that, unlike DTG and DTF printing, the design has to be filled in one shade at a time. More elaborate designs with multiple colors will lead to more meshes, and gradients are more challenging to execute.

However, the end result is a beautiful and vibrant print like DTF printing that has the same seamless and light texture as DTG printing. There are also multiple variations you can go with in screen printing, like water-based or plastisol ink, so this method sports a lot of flexibility. If you’re producing a ton of shirts for your brand, this method is an easy and reliable go-to in the business.

4. Puff Printing

1. Best Used For: Any type of fabric with simple but trendy designs
2. Cost: Similar to screen printing, a little bit more expensive
3. Advantage: Unique and trendy appearance
4. How Long Does it Last?: Around 20-50 washes, keep cold to last longer

Puff printing is an innovation out of the traditional screen printing methods. Unlike other different methods of printing on T-shirts, puff prints enhance tee designs using their unique puffy texture and outward appearance. They’re shaped similarly to marshmallows or puff pastries, and softer to the touch, too.

The way to produce this effect is exactly the same as screen printing, except you use a particular ink that has a rising chemical in it. When pressed with heat, this chemical fluffs up the resulting print, creating an impressive graphic texture.

Overall, it’s a very easy way to make a simple design stand out from other prints. Just keep in mind that the puff prints need to be washed cold to retain their 3D appearance.

5. Embroidery

1. Best Used For: Any type of fabric, designs may vary
2. Cost: More expensive due to labour and machine costs
3. Advantage: Traditional, unique, often considered more sentimentally valuable than regular prints
4. How Long Does it Last?: As long as the fabric itself

While not a typical print, embroidery is one of the oldest and most traditional ways of enhancing shirts and cloths. This method stitches designs directly into the fabric, making it durable for many, many years, and much grander than other different methods of printing on T-shirts.

Creating embroidery designs can be a little trickier than straightforward printing. Most modern embroidery techniques digitize designs so that a machine can stitch it onto the fabric. However, some smaller-quantity merchandise services still embroider by hand.
These are just some of the more popular printing techniques in the industry as of now. If you’re looking for more different methods of printing on T-shirts, check out our comprehensive print list!