Screen Printing vs DTG Printing: Which Method Is Right for Your St. Pete Apparel?

What Is the Difference Between Screen Printing and DTG?

When you are ordering custom apparel for your St. Pete business, event, or team, you will likely run into two main printing methods: screen printing and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. At Imprint Printing Co., we get this question almost daily. Both methods can produce great results, but they work very differently and serve different purposes.

Screen printing uses a mesh screen and layers of ink pushed through a stencil to create your design. It is the traditional method that has been around for decades. DTG printing, on the other hand, works like a giant inkjet printer for fabric. It sprays water-based ink directly onto the garment, printing your design pixel by pixel.

When Screen Printing Makes the Most Sense

Screen printing shines when you need bold, vibrant colors that last. The ink sits on top of the fabric, giving you that classic, slightly raised feel that many people associate with quality custom shirts. For local St. Pete breweries, restaurants, and event organizers ordering 24 shirts or more, screen printing is usually the smarter choice.

Here is where screen printing wins:

Bulk orders: The more you print, the cheaper each shirt becomes. That setup cost gets spread across more units.
Bold, simple designs: One or two colors look crisp and punchy.
Long-term durability: Screen printed designs withstand hundreds of washes without cracking or fading.
Specialty inks: Want a metallic gold print for your Tampa Bay food truck? Or glow-in-the-dark ink for a 5K race? Screen printing handles specialty inks that DTG cannot match.

At Imprint Printing Co., we recommend screen printing for most local businesses ordering staff uniforms, event merchandise, or promotional apparel in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area.

When DTG Printing Is the Better Option

DTG printing excels at detailed, full-color designs with gradients, photographs, or lots of colors. Because there is no screen setup, you can print a single shirt with a 10-color design without breaking the bank. This makes DTG ideal for custom one-offs, prototypes, or small orders.

Consider DTG for:

Small quantities: Need just 5 shirts for your startup team? DTG is cost-effective for low volumes.
Photographic designs: Complex images with gradients and shadows print beautifully.
Quick turnaround: No setup means faster production for rush orders.
Eco-conscious projects: DTG uses water-based inks and produces less waste than traditional screen printing.

Cost Comparison: Screen Printing vs DTG Printing

The biggest factor in choosing between these methods is usually cost. Screen printing has upfront setup costs for each color in your design. Print 100 shirts and that setup cost is negligible. Print 5 shirts and it hurts.

DTG has minimal setup costs, so the price per shirt stays fairly consistent whether you order 1 or 50. For orders under about 24 pieces, DTG is often cheaper. Above that threshold, screen printing becomes more economical.

Pro tip: If you are a St. Pete nonprofit or school booster club working with a tight budget, tell your printer your quantity upfront. At Imprint, we will run the numbers both ways and recommend what saves you money.

Which Method Is Right for Your Apparel Brand?

The right choice depends on your specific project. Are you outfitting your entire restaurant staff with matching shirts? Go screen printing. Are you creating a limited-run artist series with a detailed, full-color design? DTG might be your answer.

Many successful apparel brands in the Tampa Bay area actually use both methods. They screen print their core logo tees in bulk and use DTG for special releases, test designs, or custom orders.

Still not sure which method fits your project? Bring your design to a local St. Pete print shop that knows both. A knowledgeable printer can look at your artwork, quantity, and timeline and point you in the right direction. After all, the best printing method is the one that gets you quality shirts your team will actually wear.