DTG, DTF, Screen Printing | Mastering Custom Printing Techniques

Mark and Mo break down the pros and cons of DTG, screen, and DTF printing, along with insights on sublimation and laser engraving. They also discuss eco-friendly solutions like water-based inks and tactics for choosing the best method.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Alright, welcome to Talkin' Shirt,

(00:02):
the Contract DTG Podcast.
I'm excited to kick this off and,
you know, share what we've learned overmore than a decade in the custom
apparel world.
So, why are we here?
Well, it's simple-I wanna give you abehind-the-scenes look at how this

(00:22):
industry really works and maybe,
just maybe,help you level up your own business.
And when he says "help you level up,"
he means he's going to teach you whattook him 10 years to learn in about
10 minutes.
Exactly.
Not everyone has the time to figure thisstuff out the hard way like
I did.
I actually started DTG printing back in2010 with First Amendment Tees.

(00:45):
We were operating out of my basement inErie,
Pennsylvania.
The goal back then?
Just make some custom shirts and see whathappens.
Fast forward to today, and Contract DTGis your one-stop shop for wholesale
DTG, DTF, print-on-demand, embroidery,

(01:06):
laser engraving, and more.
Yeah,
"home basement" to full-scale production.
That's a heck of a glow-up.
It's been a wild ride,
for sure.
But you don't build something like thiswithout learning a thing or two.
DTG, or direct-to-garment printing,
is just one piece of the puzzle.

(01:27):
Over the years, we've added methods thatfit different needs: screen
printing for bulk orders,embroidery for that classic,
high-end look, DTF for...uh, well,
flexibility,and laser engraving for hard goods.
All these methods,
huh?
It's like, where do you even start?
Exactly,

(01:50):
and that's what we'll break down in thisshow.
We'll help listeners figure out whichmethods make the most sense for
their business and why.
But first, it's all about understandingthe big picture and knowing what
tools are in your toolbox.
Let's dive right in.
Mark, we've got all these methods,
but let's kick things off with DTG.

(02:11):
I hear people talk about it like it's theultimate game-changer in printing.
What makes it such a big deal?
Well,
DTG is...uh, it's got its perks,
for sure.
The biggest thing is the quality-it canhandle really intricate,
vibrant designs in full color,

(02:31):
which is something screen printingstruggles with unless you wanna shell
out big bucks for extra screens.
Plus, for small production runs,
it's super efficient.
You can print one shirt without wastingtime or material.
Okay,
so it's great for small orders.
But what's the catch?
The catch?
Oh, there are a few.
Pre-treatment is the big one-it's thisextra step you've gotta do for

(02:56):
most garments.
And then there's fabric compatibility.
Printing on polyester blends or garmentswith textures?
Yeah, that's where DTG can struggle.
Oh, and don't get me started on colormatching.
Color matching is a pain,
huh?
Totally.
You can end up with colors that lookgreat on your screen but don't exactly

(03:17):
pop when printed.
Like, the blues might not be as bright orthe reds could...fade a bit.
And people notice.
It's great for, you know, custom one-offs,
and full color artwork, but scaling that?
Screen printing is still king.
Ah,
screen printing-the OG.

(03:38):
That's where it's all at for biggerbatches,
right?
Exactly.
When you're pushing out hundreds orthousands of shirts,
screen printing is a beast.
It's more time-consuming to set up,
but once it's running,it's fast and the ink durability?
Top-notch.
Your colors stay rich wash after wash,

(03:59):
no fading, no cracking.
Okay, so DTG for small runs,
screen printing for big leagues.
Got it.
What about DTF, though?
That's been making some waves.
Oh,
yeah, DTF is...
Let's call it the wild card.
You print on a film instead of directlyon the garment,
then transfer it with a heat press.

(04:22):
It's gaining traction because it works onall types of fabrics-cotton,
poly blends, even hats, bags,almost anything.
Right,
and it's not just clothes, right?
Exactly.
It's flexible.
Not to mention, quick turnaround time.
Okay,
but let's not forget the snazzystuff-laser engraving and embroidery.

(04:45):
That's next level for, like,higher-end products,
yeah?
Absolutely.
Laser engraving?
Think patch hats, leather and leatherettepatches for clothing,
tumblers, trophies, that sort of thing.
It's precise and gives this sleek,
permanent finish.
And embroidery-it's timeless.

(05:06):
You want a polished, professional look?
Nothing beats it.
You're not just wearing your brand;you're elevating it.
Hmm.
Fancy stuff.
Okay, I gotta say, though,I see the appeal of a mix-like having all
these tools in your arsenal.
But wow, knowing which to use... it's kindof overwhelming.
It can be,
but each method has its place.

(05:26):
Once you know what your end goalis-whether it's durability,
vibrancy, scalability, or just stickingto budget-it gets easier to decide.
So
we've got all these methods and tools inour toolbox,
but let's add another layer to thedecision-making process-eco-friendliness.
Printing's not exactly known for being,

(05:49):
y'know, green,but there's definitely progress happening,
right?
Like water-based inks.
Why are those such a big deal?
Yeah,
they're actually a major improvement.
Water-based inks don't rely on solvents,
so they're less toxic, safer for workers,
and better for the environment overall.

(06:10):
But, uh,they also lay down softer on garments.
That's why brands pushing forsustainability love them-it's not just
good for the earth; it's good for thefabric feel,
too.
Alright, double win, softer feel andsaving dolphins-it's got my
vote.
But I bet there's some kind of trade-off.
You're not wrong.

(06:32):
Water-based inks don't have the sameopacity as plastisol,
which means...uh, you may need multiplelayers to really make the colors
pop, especially on darker fabrics.
And they can dry out quickly,so you've gotta work fast or have those
ink buckets covered.
Plus, there's the curing-often,

(06:52):
they need higher heat to set the print.
And what about digital printing?
Does that use water-based inks as well?
Absolutely!
Direct to Garment printing, and ourDirect to Film Option are the biggest
players in water-based ink technology.
DTG sprays the ink directly onto thefabric,

(07:13):
allowing for high-detail designs with anultra-soft feel.
The best part?
These water-based inks are free fromharmful chemicals and require less
water during production, making theprocess significantly more sustainable.
Right,
and because DTG doesn't rely on screens,

(07:35):
it's an excellent choice for on-demandprinting,
meaning less waste, no overproduction,
and a lower carbon footprint.
Instead of printing a thousand shirtsupfront and hoping they sell,
brands can print exactly what they need,
when they need it.
Exactly.
That's a huge deal for businesses tryingto be more eco-conscious.

(07:56):
Traditional printing methods often resultin excess inventory that either
sits in storage or-worse-ends up inlandfills.
With our DTG and DTF, you're not justgetting a high-quality print; you're
also making a smarter,more responsible choice.
And the technology keeps

(08:21):
improving.
Today's water-based DTG inks are designedto be just as vibrant and durable
as traditional inks, while still beingbiodegradable and safe for the
environment.
Some brands are even using organic cottonand other sustainable fabrics
to take things a step further.
But let's pivot-what about laserengraving?

(08:42):
That's, uh,that's a totally different beast,
isn't it?
Yeah, definitely.
Laser engraving is more for hard goodsthan apparel.
Think tumblers, coasters,leather wallets-it's all about adding that
custom touch.
What's great is how precise it is.
You can, like, engrave intricate logos oreven fine text and it sticks,

(09:06):
literally.
It's permanent.
And it opens up a whole extra revenuestream if you're already doing
shirts,because people love bundling merch.
Okay,
tumblers.
Those are all the rage in the corporateworld right now.
Laser engraving really gives them aluxurious vibe,
huh?
Oh yeah, one of our best examples was fora local brewery.

(09:27):
They wanted these leather-wrappedtumblers for their VIP members-custom
logos, different color wraps.
The laser engraving worked perfectly.
It's not just about adding stuff; it'sabout giving their members something
unique,something that screams exclusivity.
See,

(09:48):
now that's branding done right.
Exactly.
Hearing about the impact of those
laser-engraved tumblers really got methinking.
How do you even start choosing the rightmethod?
I feel like, for small brands especially,
a wrong decision could, you know,
seriously mess things up.
You're absolutely right.
The first step is understanding yourpriorities-are you aiming for high

(10:12):
detail or lots of color?
Then you've gotta consider cost andtiming.
For instance,DTG is fantastic for vibrant,
intricate designs but can be pricey forlarge runs.
Whereas screen printing, it's ano-brainer for big orders but lacks
flexibility
for fine details.
And then there's budget.

(10:33):
I mean, let's be real-when I launched mybrand every dollar mattered.
If I'd gone with the wrong method for mydesigns,
I'd probably be out of business.
No pressure or anything.
Exactly.
And that's where versatility comes in.
Say a brand wants a full-color design onthe front of a tee-that's where
DTG and DTF shine.

(10:55):
But for a bold,two-color logo on the back,
screen printing is the way to go.
Then, to keep things sleek and tagless,
a heat-pressed neck label ties it alltogether.
Mixing and matching methods like thislets you get the best of each process
while keeping it efficient andsustainable.
Okay,

(11:15):
so you're basically saying there's noone-size-fits-all.
It's about juggling options to fit theproject and the moment.
Exactly.
But there's also room to innovate.
Hybrid approaches can give businesses anedge in terms of product quality
and creativity.
Oh, I love that.
Like taking the best traits of eachmethod and Frankensteining them into

(11:37):
something next-level.
This could totally separate smallerbrands from the competition,
especially when customers are expecting'next big thing' vibes.
It's all
about leveraging strengths.
And you think ahead, too-like,
DTF's flexibility with fabrics could pairbeautifully with screen printing
on durable, high-wear areas.

(11:59):
There's so much potential in mixingtechniques; it's just about exploring
what works.
Absolutely.
And honestly, for creative entrepreneurs,
this hybrid thing opens up so manypossibilities.
You could do wild combos-like intricateDTG prints,
then maybe throw on a laser-engravedleather patch for a premium touch.
I've

(12:23):
actually seen that done.
Classy, minimal,and it made their products stand out.
You don't just sell a shirt-you sell avibe,
an identity.
Exactly.
And, you know, it's about positioningyourself in the market.
The more
you can innovate with how you executedesigns,
the more memorable your brand becomes.
So finding the best solution really

(12:46):
comes down to knowing your tools andexperimenting.
When you're juggling all thesemethods-DTG,
screen printing, embroidery-how do youdecide what's worth the risk?
Yeah,
we really dove in.
I mean,if people take away one thing from today,
it's that there's no one-size-fits-allmethod.

(13:07):
Whether you're just starting or you're,
uh, scaling up, the key is knowing youroptions and how they fit your
business model.
Exactly.
And it's not just the tech-you need agame plan.
Otherwise, you're just, what,throwing spaghetti at a wall and hoping
it sticks?
Pretty much.
But when you've got the right tools,

(13:27):
techniques, and a clear vision,
it's like the possibilities just open up.
Whether you're catering to theeco-conscious crowd,
looking for bold branding with embroidery,
or trying to juggle small and bigorders-it all starts with having the
right setup.
And speaking of setups,

(13:47):
if you're need any of the services wetalked about today for your business-you
gotta check out Contract DTG.
Here's the deal-they've got DTG,
DTF, screen printing, embroidery,
print-on-demand,and all the bells and whistles.
Not to mention,
laser engraving and embroidery.
If you've got a custom idea or need abulk order done fast,

(14:14):
we can handle it.
Head over to contract-dtg.
com and get a quote-we're here to helpyour
project come to life the right way,
and be the printing extension of yourbusiness.
Alright,
everyone,thanks for listening to Talkin' Shirt.
Keep hustling, keep creating,and remember-every great T-shirt starts

(14:35):
with a great print.