T-Shirt and Clothing Printing Techniques

Types of T-Shirt Printing Compared

The best technique depends on four things: how many garments you need, how many colours are in your design, what the garments are made from and the finish you are after. As a rule of thumb, screen printing is the go-to for larger t-shirt printing orders, DTG and DTF suit smaller runs and full colour artwork, and embroidery gives a polished look on workwear and uniforms. The table below gives a quick comparison.

Technique	Best for	Minimum order and fabric	Finish
Screen Printing	Bulk orders, event and team t-shirts, brand colours	From 20 units, with the unit price dropping as quantities rise	Durable, bold colour with an exact Pantone match
Direct to Garment	Short runs and detailed, full colour designs on cotton	From 8 units with no set up fees, on garments that are at least 80% cotton	Soft print that sinks into the fabric
Direct to Film	Full colour logos, names and numbers on mixed fabrics	From 8 units with no set up fees, on cotton, polyester and blends	Vibrant colour with a soft feel
Embroidery	Polo shirts, workwear, hoodies and caps	From 8 units, priced on the number of stitches in your logo	Premium, hard-wearing and long lasting
All Over (Sublimation)	Statement t-shirts, hoodies, sportswear, tote bags and towels	Best on 100% polyester, with some poly cotton blends	Edge to edge colour, right across the seams
Garment Finishing	Retail ready merchandise and fulfilment	Added to your garments after printing, before packing	Labels, swing tags, folding and bagging

Many orders combine techniques, for example an embroidered logo on the chest with a large screen print on the back, or printed garments finished with woven labels and swing tags. Ordering in large quantities or working to a tight date? Our bulk printing and express printing services are built for exactly that. If you are unsure, tell us about the project and we will suggest the most cost effective way to get the result you want.

Printing Methods Explained

Here is how each method works, where it performs best, how long it lasts and what affects the price, so you can choose with confidence.

Special Effects and Speciality Inks

Alongside standard plastisol inks, our screen printing team can add effects that make a design stand out. Puff printing creates a raised, 3D print you can feel and starts from 25 units. Metallic printing adds shimmer and shine, either with metallic ink from 20 units or with foil printing from 25 units, which bonds a thin metallic film to the garment for a bright, mirror like finish. We also print with glow in the dark ink, soft discharge ink that removes the dye from the fabric, and eco friendly water-based inks that are soft to the touch. For designs that need to be bigger than a standard print area, take a look at jumbo screen printing.

For embroidery, 3D embroidery builds up layers of thread for a raised finish that works particularly well on caps. If colour accuracy matters to your brand, our guide to colour in screen printing answers the questions brands ask most often, and Pantone colours in screen printing explains how we match your brand colours.

Garments We Print On

We print and embroider t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, polo shirts, workwear, sportswear, jackets and outerwear, tote bags, socks and caps, using trusted blank brands from our clothing catalogue. Our guide to which t-shirt is best for printing helps you pick a garment that suits your chosen technique. We work with businesses, schools, charities, events and bands, and you can see how we help different industries on our printing sectors page. For branded items beyond clothing, such as pens, mugs or water bottles, browse our promotional merchandise.

Why Order Your Printing With Us

• Fast replies. Your dedicated Account Manager comes back to you within 15 minutes with pricing and advice on the best technique.
• Free visual proof. You get a free visual proof within 30 minutes of your order being confirmed, and nothing is printed until you approve it.
• Reliable turnaround. Standard orders take six to seven business days from proof approval, with 48 hour express available when the date is tight.
• Low minimums. Screen printing from 20 units, DTG, DTF and embroidery from 8, and puff and foil printing from 25.
• Credit accounts. Businesses, schools, charities and event organisers can apply for 30 or 60 day credit terms through our client registration page.
• Experience. Over 25 years of experience in garment printing, with every order checked piece by piece before it is packed.

Clothing Printing Across the UK

We print and deliver across the UK, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool and Newcastle, with tracked, insured delivery to your door. See every location we cover on our site map.

Printing Techniques FAQs

What is the best printing method for t-shirts?

It depends on your order. Screen printing is best for larger quantities and designs with a few solid colours, DTG is best for detailed full colour designs on cotton, and DTF is best for full colour prints on polyester or mixed fabrics. For a premium logo on polos or workwear, embroidery is usually the better choice. Tell us about your design and quantity and we will recommend the right method.

What is the cheapest way to print custom t-shirts?

For larger orders, screen printing usually gives the lowest price per garment, and the unit price drops further as the quantity goes up. For smaller runs, DTG and DTF are often better value because there are no set up fees. Keeping the number of print colours and print positions down also helps, and our guide on keeping t-shirt printing costs low covers more ways to save.

What is the difference between DTG and DTF printing?

Direct to Garment prints the ink straight into the fabric, giving a very soft finish, and works on garments that are at least 80% cotton. Direct to Film prints your design onto a film that is then heat pressed onto the garment, so it can be used on cotton, polyester and blends. Both handle full colour artwork well. We compare them in more detail in DTF vs DTG printing.

What is the minimum order for each printing technique?

Screen printing starts from 20 units and printed tote bags from 10. Direct to Garment, Direct to Film and embroidery start from 8 units, and puff and foil printing start from 25 units per design.

Which printing method lasts the longest?

Embroidery is the most hard-wearing option, as the logo is stitched into the garment. Of the print methods, a well cured screen print and a sublimated all over print are the most durable, and sublimation never cracks or peels because the dye becomes part of the fabric. Washing inside out at a low temperature helps every print last longer, and our wash care guide has more tips.

Do you offer vinyl and heat transfer printing?

Yes. Vinyl and heat transfer printing are handled by our Direct to Film team, and they are ideal for individual names and numbers on sports kit and one off personalisation. DTF itself is a type of heat transfer, giving full colour prints on cotton, polyester and blends.

Can you match my brand colours exactly?

Yes. Our screen printing inks are mixed using the Pantone Matching System, so your brand colours stay consistent from one order to the next. You can read more about how this works in Pantone colours in screen printing.

Is embroidery or printing better for workwear?

Embroidery is the more hard-wearing option and gives a smart, premium finish on polo shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, caps and workwear. Printing is the better choice for large designs, fine detail, gradients or photographic artwork, which are difficult to reproduce in thread.

What artwork do you need from me?

For screen printing, vector files such as .ai, .eps or a vector PDF work best because they scale without losing quality. For DTG printing, a PNG with a transparent background at 300 DPI is ideal. If you are not sure what you have, send it over and our team will check it and let you know if anything needs adjusting.

How long does printing take?

Standard orders take six to seven business days from proof approval, and you get a free visual proof within 30 minutes of your order being confirmed. If you need your order sooner, our express printing service can turn orders around in 48 hours. All over printing takes a little longer, so allow extra time.