Finding a garment printing process that’s ideal for your business can be a challenge. Whether you wish to start a new venture, replace current technology or simply expand the offering to your customers – the choice available today is probably bigger than ever before.
The cost is no longer your main purchase criteria, as print buyers or/and consumers are more demanding than ever before in terms of print quality, minimum order quantities, speed of delivery and mass personalisation. So what is right for you?
The truth is that most likely you won’t be able to fulfil all your customer demands with just one garment decoration technology. Therefore it is crucial for you to understand what the differences are between them and which one/ones are suitable for your business. Here is a quick summary guide to help you choose the right technology:
| Direct to Garment | Dye Sublimation | Thermal Transfer | Screen Printing | |
| Basic technology | Inkjet, printer prints direct onto garment | Print images on a release paper, then transfer image to garment by heat press | Transfer preprinted images to garment by heat press | Analoque process. Screen printing directly on garment |
| Graphics | Full digital color | Full digital color | Color separations | Color separations. 4 -color simulated process approximates digital |
| Technology History | 10 years | 50+ years | 50+ years | 50+ years |
| Supported substrates | 100% cotton, high cotton blends, polyester belnds, canvas, hemp and linen | 100% white polyester or pastels | Synthetic, poly blends | Any fabric type |
| White ink supported (for impressions on dark or black shirts) | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Ink and Environmental Concerns | Water-based pigment ink is environmentally friendly and non-toxic. No fumes. | Typically solvent-based ink. VOC and environmental concerns. | Ink is already on transfer paper. | Ink is already on transfer paper. Commonly plastisol ink with environmental concerns. Produces VOC and waste water problems. Water-based inks available but cost more. |
| Printed Garment’s Tactile Feel | Soft and natural cotton feeling. It depends on ink quality. | Natural feeling | Depends on the character of transfer paper used. Mostly stiff to touch. | Thick hardened plastisol. “Tarp” feeling |
| Wash ability (durability of print) | High | Low | Medium | High |
| Profitability of short runs | High | High | High | Not feasible, especially for multiple colors. Runs below 25 prints are cost prohibitive |
| Supports personalisation | Yes – digital process supports personalisation |
Yes – digital process supports personalisation |
Yes – digital process supports personalisation |
No – analogue print process does not support personalisation |
| Suitable for large production volumes | Yes provided that machines recommended daily/monthly print volume supports it | Not suitable for larger production volumes |
Not suitable for larger production volumes |
Yes – industrialised print process supports large production volumes |
| Ideal Owner Profile | Professional commercial system, small scale commercial, hobbyist | Hobbyist or small scale commercial | Hobbyist or small scale commercial | Professional Commercial System |
| Set-up Time | 2-5 minutes | 2.5 minutes | zero | 2-4 hours, depending on many variables |