In the garment customization industry, a clear shift is happening: many businesses are moving from traditional screen printing to DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing.
Screen printing is still widely used, but DTG is becoming the preferred choice for modern apparel brands, especially those focused on custom orders and e-commerce.
Here are 5 key reasons behind this transition.
Screen printing requires screens, color separation, and setup time before production starts.
DTG printing removes all of that.
You simply upload the design and print directly onto the garment, which makes it much faster for small orders and urgent jobs.
Screen printing is cost-effective only for bulk production.
DTG, however, is ideal for:
This matches today’s demand for customization and on-demand printing.
In screen printing, more colors mean more screens and higher cost.
DTG printing allows full-color, high-detail designs at no extra setup cost.
Photos, gradients, and complex artwork can all be printed easily.
Modern apparel businesses often sell through Shopify, Etsy, TikTok, or print-on-demand platforms.
These models require:
DTG fits this workflow much better than traditional screen printing.
Starting screen printing requires more equipment, space, and experience.
DTG printing is simpler to start:
This makes it attractive for startups and small studios entering the custom apparel market.
Screen printing is still useful for large-scale production, but DTG printing is becoming the preferred solution for modern, flexible, and on-demand garment businesses.
As the industry continues shifting toward customization and e-commerce, DTG is playing a bigger and bigger role in the future of apparel printing.
In the garment customization industry, a clear shift is happening: many businesses are moving from traditional screen printing to DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing.
Screen printing is still widely used, but DTG is becoming the preferred choice for modern apparel brands, especially those focused on custom orders and e-commerce.
Here are 5 key reasons behind this transition.
Screen printing requires screens, color separation, and setup time before production starts.
DTG printing removes all of that.
You simply upload the design and print directly onto the garment, which makes it much faster for small orders and urgent jobs.
Screen printing is cost-effective only for bulk production.
DTG, however, is ideal for:
This matches today’s demand for customization and on-demand printing.
In screen printing, more colors mean more screens and higher cost.
DTG printing allows full-color, high-detail designs at no extra setup cost.
Photos, gradients, and complex artwork can all be printed easily.
Modern apparel businesses often sell through Shopify, Etsy, TikTok, or print-on-demand platforms.
These models require:
DTG fits this workflow much better than traditional screen printing.
Starting screen printing requires more equipment, space, and experience.
DTG printing is simpler to start:
This makes it attractive for startups and small studios entering the custom apparel market.
Screen printing is still useful for large-scale production, but DTG printing is becoming the preferred solution for modern, flexible, and on-demand garment businesses.
As the industry continues shifting toward customization and e-commerce, DTG is playing a bigger and bigger role in the future of apparel printing.
