There are 100's, if not 1000's of promotional items available in the market today. The promotional industry has come a long way in the last 5-10 years and it's now possible to print your logo on any kind of item or product you can think of.
Stationary, technology, drinkware and apparel are just some of the options business owners and entrepreneurs have available to them when it comes to promoting their brand using promotional merch.
Everyday items like pens, water bottles and stubby coolers are some of the most popular choices to print on, but there is one product that will always remain the king of promotional items, and that's the custom T-shirt. Whether it’s for your business, customers, sports team, event or even just for you, a printed Tee is a great way to promote your brand.
When it comes to printing techniques, two of the best and most cost effective options are Screen Printing and Direct to Garment printing (DTG).
So how do the two differ and which is best option for your needs? Let me explain.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is the OG printing method and the most commonly used by customers seeking a high quality, long lasting finish. Screen printing is the process whereby the artwork is printed by pushing inks through a stencil on a mesh screen directly onto the garment.
A new screen must be set up for every new colour. Once done solely by hand, times have changed and screen printing machines can produce high volumes of printed garments in relatively short time periods. This form of printing offers premium replication of the design with a finish that will last a lifetime.
NOTE: Our MOQ for all screen print jobs is 25 units per garment per design. Click Here To Get A Quote >>>
What are the Benefits of Screen Printing.
- Screen printing is a simple and versatile technique that offers vibrant, high-quality prints every time.
- The inks are generally thicker which leads to a long lasting durable prints. There are different types of screen printing inks which can create various textures. Water based eco friendly inks are also available for the environmentally conscious.
- This process is the fastest and most efficient method of decoration for bulk orders.
- The most cost-effective method when ordering in bulk. The larger the order the cheaper the cost.
- This printing method is compatible with many different fabrics.
- Print multiple colours with ease, but note that more colours means more screen set ups, which means an increase in cost.
Cons:
- More colours equals higher costs. Since separate screens are prepared for each colour, each layer of colour leads to more preparation time and more resources used.
- Images can turn out blurred. Detailed photographs or graphics with specific gradients or shades may not come out as focused or exact due to the limitation of colours. Another factor is the thickness of the garment.
- Costly method for small on-demand orders.
- A lot of water is used to clean the screens and mix the inks, so screen-printing is not an eco-friendly method.
Direct To Garment
Direct To Garment Printing (DTG) has been around for over 15 years now but in recent years the technology has improved significantly along with the quality of the printing. Unlike screen printing, DTG is done using Inkjet technology.
Essentially DTG printers are designed to hold a garment in a fixed position while the inks are sprayed into the textile to create your design. Most inks are water based and eco-friendly. It makes it super easy to create cost effective full colour printed garments at low volume runs with fast turnaround time.
NOTE: Our MOQ for all DTG jobs is between 5-24 units per garment per design. Click Here To Get A Quote >>>
What are the benefits of Direct to Garment
- Multiple colours can be printed at the one time with zero set up costs.
- Extremely high detail prints. Perfect for photo realistic designs.
- Minimum set up time and no minimum orders quantities.
- Best for short order runs and one offs.
Cons:
- Can be expensive for larger orders of 25+ units
- Garments need to be at least 50% cotton in order for the ink to take
- Requires more after care steps than screen printing to increase print longevity.
We always recommend screen printing to our customers as the best option for bulk orders as it is not a cost effective option for small order runs. Generally, there is a 25 piece minimum on Screen Print orders and anything from 1-24 is best put through as a DTG job.
If your business, company or team use printed T-shirts as your main uniform or you are on-selling as promotional merch, screen printing is the best quality option for you and most cost effective when ordered in bulk.
Although DTG does not have the same long lasting look and feel as screen printing and the quality is "arguably" inferior, the Inkjet technology today makes it a great cost effective option for small order runs, perfect for events, trade shows, bucks/ hens parties or personal "one-off" style projects.
Get started with a quote from agogo here >>>
Cameron Laing
Owner | Director | agogo
