Introduction to DTG Printing and Screen Printing
DTG printing and screen printing are two standard technologies that have been used in the garment industry. They differ in many ways, including the type of fabric they are used on, their printing speed, print qualities, and other factors.
DTG printing (also known as direct to garment or digital textile printing) is a process that creates a textile print directly on a garment without the use of any intermediate material such as paper. DTG printers can be used to produce clothing with multi-color prints and gradients, an effect not achievable with screenprinting. DTG printers use inkjet. Technology and special production software to create designs for textiles.
Screen printing, also known as silk-screening, is a printing technique in which ink is placed on the inside of a screen. The screen is then used to transfer ink onto the paper.
Ink first gets sprayed through a fine mesh called the stencil onto a surface or material that can be rolled up to put away. It dries for about one minute, and then the paper is put over the stencil, and it gets rolled so that the stencil touches all parts of it. Pressure from heavy plates or wooden boards is applied for about 15-20 seconds so that the paper will take in some ink from being pressed against the mesh of the stencil.
What are the Benefits of DTG Printing?
Fast Turnaround
The main benefit of DTG printing is time-saving. Compared to screen printing methods, DTG printers are faster generating large batches of custom-printed garments for production. It also eliminates the need for a stencil or screen that costs considerable time compared to DTG technology. Furthermore, this technology does not incur any extra setup costs for customers as it does not require a separate stencil or screen that needs to be arranged before use.
Unlimited Range
DTG printing is a printing technique that allows the user to print on an unlimited range of materials without limitations. Unlike traditional printing technologies, DTG printers print in full color and offer high-resolution prints. DTG printing companies use this technology to create high-quality products with vivid colors while conserving resources. DTG printing allows designers and business owners to print their logos or design onto clothing items.
This can be used in many ways, such as creating personalized products, printing designs on shirts for fundraising events, etc. Designers can choose from many ink types with different vibrancy and longevity, using water-based inks for lighter or oil-based ink for a bolder look. They can also choose the garment’s fabric that they want their design printed onto, cotton being the most popular.
High Technology
Manufacturers of DTG printers are always looking for more ways to create more vibrant prints with fewer issues with cracking and fading because of this technology’s ever-changing nature.
DTG printing is a printing method that has revolutionized the textile industry. Being a quick, and efficient technique, DTG printing has made its way into the garment industry by bringing a new era.
What are the Drawbacks of DTG Printing?
Paper Quality
The paper quality is the biggest drawback of DTG printing. While inkjet printers use water-based ink that is sprayed on paper, DTG printers use a crystalline coating process to print on paper and this coating is what gives it a higher resolution with much better color reproduction. However, this process also means that the paper has to be specially developed for DTG printers and because of that, it can be more expensive than digital printing.
Lower Quality
The downfalls are the lack of quality in the prints and not being able to print heavy materials or with high detail.
DTG printers tend to be more expensive than regular printers and they are not capable of producing high-quality products comparable to traditional screen printing. The colors do not have the same vibrancy and sharpness in DTG prints as they do in traditional prints.
However it’s more cost effective and has lower start-up costs than other types of printing
Less Durable
The drawbacks of DTG printing are that it is less durable, has a higher chance of ink smudging and sometimes the colors don’t pop like they do with screen printing.
Pros and Cons of Screen Printing
Screen printing is an excellent technique for creating prints and designs on t-shirts. It is a cost-effective and durable way to produce high-quality prints and images. It’s affordable for both small and large companies alike and individuals.
Screen printing is an old technique that has been used for many years now. It is a very flexible process, which means that the final product does not have to be in a one-size-fits-all package. Designers can customize the design based on their specific needs.
Another advantage of screen printing is that it is flexible in color and design. It can print large amounts of shirts in a short time because it doesn’t require curing time, which makes them perfect for mass production. At the same time, the disadvantages are that they are expensive and labor-intensive. Screen printers require an extensive setup time (usually 1 hour). There’s also a risk of the ink getting on your hands or clothes when working with screens or squeegees.
There are other drawbacks, however. The process is more time-consuming than other methods and increases the risk of ink smearing on the print. And the ink has to dry before each color can be put down, which can take hours to complete.
Conclusion-Which Technology Should You Select?
DTG printing and screen printing are the two most common methods of printing on garments. Screen printing is the older method of DTG Printing and has been around since 1840 when it was invented by Thomas Edison. However, DTG Printing has been rising in popularity because it’s cheaper than screenprinting and it offers more design options than traditional screen printing.
In conclusion, the two technologies have their pros and cons. In the end, what matters is your business needs. It is challenging to compare DTG with screen printing. They each have their benefits and disadvantages. The quality of both DTG and screen printing depends on the product, like what fabric you are using or the type of design you want to print on it.
All in all, no one is better than the other. Different products require different processes, so it’s hard to say which one is better.
For example, screen printing is mainly used for quick production runs and small quantities of large designs. You can directly contact us for specific suggestions for your clothing brands. We are a professional custom clothing manufacturer, which can bring your design into life. You can visit our help page to learn more about clothes printing. And we have thousands of custom clothing cases for your references. Feel free to get a quote now or simply ask us questions. We’d love to talk with you.