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Screen printing or transfer printing? Printing methods compared
Screen printing or transfer printing (DTF)? We compare design, colours, fabric, run size and feel, and show you which method suits your logo.
Screen printing: how it works
In screen printing, ink is pressed through a fine mesh directly onto the garment. Each colour of your logo gets its own screen, which blocks the areas where no ink should go. A three-colour logo is therefore printed with three screens one after the other.
Setting up the screens takes time. In return, printing is fast and even afterwards, and the colours are strong and opaque – even on dark fabrics. That makes screen printing the first choice for clear designs in larger quantities, for example if you want to have T-shirts printed with your logo that look identical for a whole team or event.
Screen printing is less suited to photos, fine gradients and designs with very many colours. You can find more about the method on our screen printing page.
- Screen 1 · Colour 1
- Screen 2 · Colour 2
- Screen 3 · Colour 3
- Garment · result
- Strong at
- Clear areas, lettering and logos – strong and opaque, even on dark fabrics
- Less suited to
- Photos, fine gradients, very many colours
Transfer printing and DTF
In transfer printing, the design is not created directly on the garment but on a film first. In today’s common DTF process (direct to film), the design is printed digitally onto the film, coated with an adhesive powder and then transferred to the garment with heat and pressure.
Because no screens are needed, the number of colours does not matter. Photos, gradients and fine lines come out cleanly. DTF adheres to cotton, polyester and blends – so also to sports shirts, softshell jackets or bags. More on our digital printing page and in our post Transfer printing explained: DTF, flex and flock.
What does it feel like?
The print sits on the fabric as a thin, flexible layer. On large areas you feel it slightly more than a screen print, on chest logos hardly at all.
- 1Print on filmDigital, all colours in one pass
- 2Adhesive powderBonds to the fabric later
- 3Heat and pressureThe press transfers the design
What about sublimation?
Side noteIn sublimation, the ink passes directly into the fibre with heat. You cannot feel it, and it suits large, colour-intensive designs. The catch: it only works on light polyester.
Light polyester
Large and colour-intensive, with no noticeable layer
Cotton and dark garments
Here screen printing or DTF remain the choice
Comparison at a glance
| Criterion | A screen per colour Screen print | On film DTF |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Clear areas, lettering, logos | Photos, gradients, fine details |
| Colours | Each colour needs its own screen – few colours are ideal | Many colours in one pass |
| Fabric | Mainly cotton and blends | Cotton, polyester and blends |
| Run size | Pays off mainly for larger runs | Also worthwhile for small runs |
| Feel | Strong, opaque ink | Smooth, thin and flexible layer |
Which method suits you?
The quickest way to decide is by your design and the garment. Five typical cases:
Your logo has one to three clear colours and no gradients.
Screen printing
Your design has many colours, a photo or fine gradients.
Transfer printing
You are printing polyester sports shirts.
Mostly transfer printing
You need many identical pieces, for example for a festival or a company run.
Screen printing
Each piece gets its own name or a different design.
Transfer printing
Often the best answer
Combine both
The main logo screen-printed on the chest, names or a multicolour sponsor logo in DTF.
Screen print + DTF
- 1Main logo on the chestScreen print
- 2Name on the backDTF
- 3Sponsor logo, multicolourDTF
How this looks for names and numbers is shown in our post on the right jersey font.
Which garments suit which method
With hoodies with your logo the area matters, with bags the material. This is how we classify the most important garments:
Cotton T-shirts
Suitable for both methods.
- FrontBack
Hoodies
Large back design in a few colours: screen printing. Small multicolour chest logo: DTF.
Sports shirts, rain jackets, softshell
Usually DTF – the transfer bonds well with synthetic fabrics.
Bags and backpacks
Cotton bags take both methods, coated fabrics rather the transfer.
Matching garments
Design them in the shop
Which logo file you need
Ideal
Vector: PDF, AI, EPS, SVG
Ideal for screen printing – the individual colours can then be separated cleanly.
Good enough
PNG, transparent, high resolution
For transfer printing, a good pixel file is enough.
We check
Photo or small graphic
Send it anyway. In the layout consultation we tell you whether it is good enough for printing.
Give colours as values
Ideally as Pantone or HKS values so they are matched exactly.
The larger the print
the more pixels the file needs. Left too few, right enough.
How your print order works with us
Garment and logo
You choose your garment in the shop and upload your logo.
Advice
We check your design and advise you on the layout and the right method free of charge.
Print approval
You receive a print approval with position and size and approve it.
Printing in Munich
We print in our own workshop. Delivery usually takes approx. 7–10 working days.
From the workshop
We align the print position with a laser
We set exactly where your logo sits before printing – on the chest, sleeve and back.
Frequently asked questions
Which lasts longer: screen printing or transfer printing?
Both last a long time with proper care. More important than the method are the right garment and the care instructions. We advise you on this before production.
Is DTF the same as transfer printing?
DTF is today’s most common form of transfer printing. The design is printed digitally onto a film and then transferred to the garment with heat.
Can I combine both methods in one order?
Yes. For example the logo in screen printing and names or a multicolour design in DTF. We tell you in the consultation what makes sense.
Will I see what my logo looks like before printing?
Yes. Before production you receive a print approval on which you check position, size and colours.
Not sure which method suits your logo? Send us your design – we’ll get back to you with a recommendation.
Team Shirtplus
Printing and embroidery in our own workshop in Munich. Created with AI support. Last updated: 15 Oct 2026.
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We advise you on the layout free of charge and tell you which method suits your logo.