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For team shirts, club kit and event tees, the choice usually comes down to screen printing or direct-to-film (DTF) printing. Both are done in-house at our Unanderra workshop. They suit different jobs, and the order size, the number of colours and the amount of detail in the artwork decide which one is the better fit.
How each method works
Screen printing pushes ink through a screen onto the garment, one colour at a time. The ink sits on the fabric as a bold, solid layer, so colours stay strong and edges stay sharp.
DTF prints the design onto a clear film, coats it with adhesive powder and cures it. The transfer is then heat pressed onto the garment. Our DTF printing page explains the process.
Order size
Screen printing is the usual choice for larger runs of the same design. The design is set up once and every shirt in the run carries the same artwork, which suits a whole team, a school or a big event.
DTF suits smaller jobs. There is no screen to set up for each design, so a short run, a one-off or a batch with different versions of the artwork is practical.
Colours and detail
Because each colour in a screen print is applied separately, simple logos and bold text with a few solid colours work best. A design with many colours or fine shading is harder to screen print.
DTF handles photographic detail, gradients and fine lines in full colour. If the artwork is an illustration, a photo or a crest with a lot of small detail, DTF is generally the better fit.
Fabric and garment
Screen printing suits tees, hoodies, singlets and hi-vis with a bold chest or back print. DTF works on a wide range of fabrics, including cotton, polyester and denim, on both light and dark garments.
For a polo or jacket that will be worn and washed on site, embroidery may suit better than either. Our guide to DTF printing or embroidery for uniforms covers that choice.
Names, numbers and sponsors
Teams often need a common front print plus something that changes per player. A common setup is a screen printed or DTF front design with names or numbers added as DTF. Sponsor logos usually need a vector file from each sponsor and an agreed placement before the order goes in. There is more on this on our sports clubs and community groups page.
Getting your artwork ready
Send a vector file such as PDF, AI or SVG if you have one. If all you have is a low-resolution image, our design team can prepare it for printing. Our guide to preparing your logo for embroidery and printing lists what to send.
You approve a proof before anything is printed. Our screen printing page has the full process, including how long orders usually take.
Still not sure?
Send us the artwork, the garments and the number of shirts through the contact form or call 02 4228 3508. We will tell you which method suits the job, or whether a mix of both is the better answer.
Common questions
- Is screen printing or DTF better for a large order of the same shirt?
- Screen printing usually suits a large run where every shirt carries the same design in a few solid colours. The ink sits on the fabric as a bold layer and the design is set up once for the whole run. DTF is the better fit for smaller jobs and detailed artwork.
- Which is better for a design with lots of colours or a photo?
- DTF. It reproduces gradients, shading and fine lines in full colour. In screen printing each colour is applied separately, so simple designs with a few solid colours work best.
- Can I get different names or numbers on each shirt?
- DTF suits names and numbers or small batches of different designs, because each transfer is printed from the artwork rather than from a screen set up for one design. Tell us what each shirt needs when you enquire and we will recommend a method.
- Do you print on hoodies and hi-vis as well as tees?
- Yes. Screen printing suits hoodies, singlets and hi-vis with a bold chest or back print, and DTF works on a wide range of fabrics. Send us the garments and the artwork and we will confirm what suits.