Okay so this is probably the most common question we get. Someone's got a great design, they've picked their blank, and then, "so how do I actually get it on there?" Screen printing, DTG, DTF. Three methods, three very different outcomes. Let me break it down the way I'd explain it standing in our showroom in Cooroy.
Screen Printing — the OG
Screen printing has been around forever and there's a reason it's still king for bulk runs. Basically, each colour in your design gets its own screen (think a stencil), and ink gets pushed through it onto the fabric. It's satisfying to watch and the results are chef's kiss when it's done well, super crisp, soft hand feel, colours that pop.
The catch? Setup. Getting your screens made costs money, so if you're only doing 10 tees, you're going to wince at the quote. But if you're ordering 50, 100, 200+ units with a clean 2 or 3 colour logo? Screen printing is going to be your cheapest option per unit by a mile.
Use it when: bold design, solid colours (1–6 max), big quantities. Our Slouch Tee 303 and Simple Tee 302 are absolute workhorses for screen printing the combed organic cotton gives the ink a clean surface to sit on and the weight means it doesn't bleed through.
Skip it when: your design has gradients, 47 colours, or you need 8 pieces by Friday.
DTG — for when your design is doing a lot
DTG stands for Direct to Garment, and basically it's a big fancy inkjet printer that prints straight onto the fabric. No screens, no setup cost, no minimum. Full colour, gradients, photography, that incredibly detailed illustration your designer spent three weeks on DTG handles all of it.
It's brilliant for small runs. One-offs, sample sets, merch drops where every piece is different. The cost per unit is higher than screen printing, but when you're not paying for screen setup, small quantities suddenly make sense.
Use it when: complex artwork, 1–50 units, or you just want to test a design before you commit to a big run.
Our Jersey Tee 305 and Raglan Tee 306 are great DTG blanks, smooth GOTS organic cotton, clean results every time.
Skip it when: you've got a simple logo and you're doing 200 units. You'll spend way more than you need to.
DTF — the new kid that's actually really good
DTF (Direct to Film) is the newest of the three and honestly it surprised us when we first started seeing the results. The design gets printed onto a special film first, then heat transferred onto the garment. No pre-treatment, works on basically any fabric or colour, and you can do tiny quantities without crying about the cost.
The main thing to know is the transfer sits slightly on top of the fabric rather than soaking in like screen or DTG ink. So the hand feel is a tiny bit different. On some garments and designs you'd never notice. On others it matters more. Worth asking your decorator about before you commit.
Use it when: you've got a mixed run across different garment types, you're printing onto dark colours, or you need a quick turnaround on small numbers.
It's also a lifesaver for headwear. You can't easily run a cap through a DTG machine, but DTF? Easy. Works great on our Organic Dad Cap 512C and Form Canvas Cap 517.
So which one do you pick?
Honestly? Most decorators use all three depending on the job. The method follows the design and the quantity — not the other way around. Don't let anyone tell you one is always better than the others.
If you're still not sure, come in and see us in Cooroy or reach out here — we're happy to look at your artwork and tell you exactly what we'd do. No fluff, just honest advice.
And if you haven't already, have a browse through our full range of blanks — every product page lists the recommended print methods so you've got a starting point.
