For streetwear, screen printing is best for solid-colour graphics at 50+ pieces, DTG for photographic artwork and small runs, DTF for full-colour multi-placement designs, and embroidery for logos and premium branding. Screen print and embroidery are the most durable; DTG is the most detailed; DTF is the most flexible.
All four methods run in-house at Mike Apparel, so this is not a sales pitch for one of them. Each suits a type of artwork, a quantity and a fabric, and most streetwear pieces use two. This guide compares them on look, durability, cost and limits, then gives a decision rule.
How do the four methods compare?
| Screen print | DTG | DTF | Embroidery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Ink pushed through a stencil per colour | Inkjet printed directly on fabric | Printed on film, heat-pressed on | Thread stitched into fabric |
| Best for | Bold graphics, 1–14 flat colours | Photos, gradients, tiny runs | Full colour, many placements | Logos, text, premium finish |
| Feel | Soft (water-based) to raised (plastisol, puff) | Very soft, in the fabric | Thin film, slight hand | Raised, textured |
| Durability | Excellent | Good; softens over washes | Very good | Excellent |
| Colour limit | 14 per placement | Unlimited | Unlimited | 15 thread colours |
| Detail | Good; halftones possible | Photographic | High | Limited below 3 mm |
| Setup cost | Per colour, per placement | None | Low | Digitising per design |
| Cost at low quantities | Moderate, driven by colour count | Higher per piece | Moderate | Highest per placement |
| Cost at volume | Lowest of the four | Stays fairly flat | Comes down a little | Comes down a little |
| Fabrics | Cotton, blends, nylon with bonding | Cotton and high-cotton blends | Almost anything | Almost anything, needs backing |
When should you use screen printing?
For any graphic with defined flat colours on 50 or more pieces: front and back prints, sleeve hits, oversized back pieces up to 40 x 50 cm. Water-based inks sink into the fabric for a vintage feel; plastisol sits on top for bright, opaque colour on dark garments; discharge removes the dye for a print that feels like nothing. Special inks (puff, high-density, foil, glow, cracked) are all screen-print additives. Because we print on cut panels, screen prints can cross the shoulder seam or wrap the side. The graphic tee page shows the options.
When should you use DTG?
For photographic or gradient artwork, or for runs too small to justify screens. DTG prints straight onto pretreated cotton with no colour limit and no setup. The trade-off is durability: the print softens and lightens over many washes, and it works poorly on polyester and dark heavy fleece. On 240–300 GSM cotton interlock it is excellent.
When should you use DTF?
When a design has many colours and many positions, or when the fabric will not take DTG (nylon shells, polyester, dark fleece). DTF prints the artwork on film with an adhesive layer and heat-presses it on, giving sharp full-colour results with good wash durability. It has a slight hand feel on large areas, so it is better for logos and mid-size graphics than for full-back pieces.
When should you use embroidery?
For logos, wordmarks and anything that should read as premium: chest logos on hoodies, hats, jacket backs, beanie cuffs. Flat embroidery is the standard; 3D puff raises the design on caps and heavyweight fleece; chenille gives the fuzzy varsity texture. Embroidery is limited in fine detail (letters under 4 mm fill in) and in size (large back pieces are expensive at high stitch counts), but it outlasts the garment and photographs as quality. Costs per placement are in the hat cost guide and hoodie cost guide.
What is the decision rule?
- Flat-colour graphic, 50+ pieces: screen print.
- Photo or gradient, any quantity: DTG on cotton, DTF on anything else.
- Logo or wordmark on a premium piece: embroidery.
- Many colours, many placements, small run: DTF.
- Raised, tactile finish: puff or high-density screen print, or 3D embroidery.
Artwork is reviewed at the quote stage and the method is recommended per placement. For everything else that happens after decoration, see the t-shirt and hoodie pages, and for the washes that pair with prints, what acid wash is.
Frequently asked questions
Which print method lasts longest?
Screen printing with plastisol or properly cured water-based ink, and embroidery, both outlast the garment. DTG fades slightly over 30–50 washes; DTF is durable but can crack on very heavy stretch.
Which method is cheapest for 50 pieces?
Screen printing for one to three colours, DTF for full-colour multi-position designs, DTG for photographic artwork. Embroidery is the most expensive per placement but adds the most perceived value.
Can you combine print and embroidery on one garment?
Yes. A screen-printed back with an embroidered chest is one of the most common streetwear combinations.
What about puff print?
Puff is a screen-print additive that expands under heat for a raised finish. It costs a bit more than a flat print and suits bold, simple artwork best.
Last updated September 6, 2026 · Mike Apparel, Sialkot. Lead times reflect current factory capacity; confirm on your quote.