The way you apply a logo changes how a garment looks, feels, lasts and costs. DTF printing, screen printing and embroidery are the three methods brands ask us about most. This guide compares them side by side and shows which one suits your artwork, garment and quantity.
Quick comparison
| Screen printing | DTF printing | Embroidery | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Ink pushed through a mesh screen, one screen per colour | Design printed on film, then heat-pressed onto the garment | Design stitched into the fabric with thread |
| Best artwork | Bold graphics with a few spot colours | Full-colour, detailed or photographic artwork | Logos and text with clean shapes |
| Set-up | A screen per colour | Little set-up per design | Digitising the design once |
| Cost trend | Gets much cheaper per piece as quantity rises | Fairly flat per piece | Driven by stitch count and size |
| Small runs | Less economical with many colours | Well suited | Well suited for small logos |
| Feel | Soft (water-based) to slightly raised (plastisol) | A thin, flexible film on top of the fabric | Raised and textured |
| Durability | Very good when cured properly | Good when pressed properly | Excellent; often outlasts the garment |
| Best garments | Tees, hoodies, sweatshirts | Tees, hoodies, mixed fabrics | Polos, caps, hoodies, jackets, beanies |
Screen printing
Each colour in the design gets its own screen. Ink is pushed through the screen onto the garment, colour by colour, then cured with heat. Because the screens are made once, the cost per piece falls quickly as quantity rises, which makes screen printing the usual choice for larger runs of the same design.
- Strengths: vivid, opaque colour; durable; specialist inks such as puff, high-density, metallic and glow; soft hand-feel with water-based inks.
- Limits: every extra colour adds a screen and set-up; photographic gradients need halftones; less economical for small multi-colour runs.
- Choose it for: big front and back prints, one to four colour graphics, and repeat runs.
DTF printing
DTF (direct to film) prints the full-colour design onto a film, coats it with an adhesive powder, then heat-presses it onto the garment. There are no per-colour screens, so a 12-colour design costs about the same to set up as a one-colour design.
- Strengths: unlimited colours and fine detail; works on cotton, polyester and blends; good for small runs and many different designs.
- Limits: the print sits on top of the fabric as a thin film, which you can feel on large solid areas; it needs correct pressing to last.
- Choose it for: detailed or photographic artwork, small batches, size-specific or name-specific prints, and testing new designs.
Embroidery
The design is “digitised” into a stitch file, then sewn with thread. Cost depends mainly on the stitch count, which grows with the size and density of the design. 3D puff embroidery stitches over a foam layer for a raised, sculpted logo.
- Strengths: a premium, textured look; very durable; no cracking or fading; ideal on heavier fabrics.
- Limits: very fine lines, tiny text and gradients don’t stitch well; large designs get expensive and heavy; can pucker thin or stretchy fabric without the right backing.
- Choose it for: chest logos on polos, hoodies and jackets, caps and beanies, uniforms and corporate wear.
Where sublimation fits
Sublimation turns ink into a gas that dyes polyester fibres, so the design becomes part of the fabric and can’t crack or peel. It needs white or light polyester and is the standard method for all-over printed sportswear and football kits. It isn’t suitable for cotton.
Which method for which job?
| Job | Usually best | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Full-colour graphic on a small batch of tees | DTF | No per-colour set-up |
| Two-colour logo on a large tee order | Screen printing | Lowest cost per piece at volume |
| Left-chest logo on corporate polos | Embroidery | Premium look that lasts |
| Streetwear hoodie with a bold chest logo | 3D puff embroidery or puff print | Raised, tactile finish |
| Team kits with names and numbers | Sublimation or heat transfer | Per-player personalisation |
| Varsity jacket letters | Chenille patches | Traditional varsity look |
You can also combine methods on one garment, for example an embroidered chest logo with a screen-printed back. Compare all eight options on our decoration methods page.
Artwork you need to send
- Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF) for screen printing and embroidery
- High-resolution PNG at 300 dpi at the final print size for DTF
- Pantone references for colours that must match exactly
- The print or logo size in centimetres and its position on the garment
Not sure? Send your artwork and the garment, and we will recommend a method and confirm it on a sample before bulk. See how sampling works.
Frequently asked questions
Is DTF better than screen printing?
Neither is better in every case. DTF wins for detailed, full-colour artwork and small runs; screen printing wins on cost for larger runs of simpler designs.
Does DTF crack?
A correctly pressed DTF transfer is flexible and wash-resistant. Poor pressing or harsh washing can make any print wear faster, so follow the care label.
Is embroidery more expensive than printing?
For small chest logos it is often comparable. For large designs embroidery gets expensive because cost follows the stitch count.
More guides
- Hoodie GSM chart: how to choose hoodie fabric weight
- What is a tech pack? A guide for clothing brands
- How to start a private label clothing brand
Ready to brand your range? Try decoration options in the AI Design Studio or request a quote.