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DTF Heat Transfers vs. Screen Printing: Which Is Better for Your Business?

Estimated read time 3 min read

Choosing the right printing method is serious for your business and can have an important impression on efficiency and quality of product output. Two of the many notable choices are direct-to-film (DTF) heat transfers and screen printing.

Modern DTF Heat Transfers

One of the more common methods is to use DTF heat transfers, which are easy to use, versatile, and provide quality output. It prints the design on a special film, applies adhesive powder and finally transfers it to fabric using heat. One of DTF’s mission-critical features is the ability to produce detailed full-color prints. You can use it on a wide variety of fabrics, whether they are light or dark. DTF also stands out for its ability to produce high-quality items quickly, allowing for side sales. It is an easy process that is beneficial for businesses that need to process small or medium-sized orders quickly.

Classic: Screen Printing

Screen printing is more traditional, where you make a custom template (or “screen”) for each color in a design and then push ink through the screens onto fabric. This method is known for its long-lasting nature and capacity to withstand a high quantity of prints. If you are in a business that requires bulk orders with fewer color options, screen printing will be cost-effective for your needs. Still, screen printing does have a couple of disadvantages.

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Choosing What Method is Best for Your Business?

  • Order Size: DTF heat transfers can be a better choice for low-scale orders or when considering custom style. Screen Printing Screen printing is best for larger, bulk orders with less complex designs.
  • Design Complexity: DTF transfers can capture small details and gradients, which makes them suitable for designs that are elaborate or have a large color gamut.
  • Textile: The two modalities are working across the board, but DTF benefits when it comes to putting designs on specific fabrics with problematic textures.
  • Budget: Larger runs benefit from the total number of prints, but the method itself sometimes costs less. Although less expensive to establish, DTF transfers might have higher per-unit costs.

DTF and screen printing have their respective advantages. Depending on how much volume you are doing, whether it’s going to be a detailed design for which the print method would cost more or just simple, what type of fabric and, of course, how much money you are willing to spend. An assessment of these factors will assist you in identifying the method that best fits your business process, whether it’s DTF heat transfers or screen printing, ensuring better support and positive outcomes.heat transfers