Last updated: July 11, 2026
DTF (Direct to Film) and screen printing are the two most common ways to put a design onto a t-shirt, hoodie or other garment. Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh stencil, one colour at a time. DTF prints a full-colour design onto a film, then heat presses it onto the fabric. If you need a large batch of a simple, one or two colour design, screen printing is usually cheaper per unit. If you need a small batch, a detailed multi-colour design, or a one-off custom order, DTF is the more practical choice.
What is screen printing?
Screen printing uses a mesh stencil, called a screen, for each colour in a design. Ink is pushed through the screen onto the fabric, one colour layer at a time. This makes it well suited to bulk orders of a simple design, since the main cost is in setting up the screens, and printing each extra garment after that is quick and cheap. The trade-off is that a design with many colours or fine gradients needs a separate screen per colour, which adds cost and time.
What is DTF (Direct to Film)?
DTF printing puts a full-colour design onto a special film, then heat presses it onto the garment. There is no screen setup and no limit on the number of colours, so DTF handles gradients, photo-style designs and fine detail in a single print. It works on cotton, polyester, blends and canvas, and there is no minimum order, which makes it a practical fit for small businesses and one-off custom pieces.
DTF vs Screen Printing: Key Differences
| Screen Printing | DTF Heat Transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Large batches, simple designs | Small batches, detailed or multi-colour designs |
| Setup | A screen per colour, higher setup cost | No screens, no minimum order |
| Colour range | Best for a few flat colours | Full colour, gradients, photo-style detail |
| Cost at high volume | Cheaper per unit once set up | Cheaper per unit with a larger gang sheet |
| Durability | Very durable, a long-standing industry standard | Holds up to 50+ washes when applied correctly |
| Turnaround for small orders | Slower, screens take time to prepare | Fast, no setup required |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose screen printing if:
- Your design uses only one or two flat colours
- Cost per unit at large volume is your main priority
Choose DTF if:
- You are ordering a small to medium batch
- Your design has multiple colours, gradients or fine detail
- You want to order without committing to a large minimum quantity
- Fast production
Where Pure Pack Fits In
Pure Pack prints DTF heat transfers, not screen printing. For small businesses ordering custom designs in low to medium quantities, DTF is generally the more practical option, since there is no minimum order and no per-colour setup cost. If you are placing a large, simple, single-design bulk order, a screen printer may work out cheaper per unit, and that is a fair trade-off worth knowing about before you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DTF cheaper than screen printing?
It depends on the order size. For small runs, DTF is usually cheaper because there is no screen setup cost.
Does DTF last as long as screen printing?
Screen printing has a longer track record for durability, especially on simple designs. DTF holds up to 50+ washes when applied correctly, which is enough for most everyday garments, but screen printing remains the more proven option for heavy, long-term wear.
Can DTF handle the same designs as screen printing?
Yes, and DTF can go further. It prints full colour, gradients and fine detail in one pass, without needing a separate screen for each colour.
Is there a minimum order for DTF at Pure Pack?
No. Pure Pack has no minimum order on DTF heat transfers, which suits small businesses that do not want to commit to a bulk screen printing run.
Do I need different artwork for DTF versus screen printing?
DTF accepts full-colour, high-resolution artwork directly. Screen printing usually requires artwork separated into individual colour layers, which adds preparation time.
Not sure which garment print method fits your product? See our full DTF heat transfer size guide, or compare UVDTF vs DTF if you're branding hard surfaces as well as fabric. Ready to order? Shop DTF heat transfers. No minimums, printed and shipped from Brisbane in 1-2 business days.
Written by the Pure Pack team. We print UVDTF stickers, DTF heat transfers, and custom labels and stickers for over 6,000 Australian small businesses from our Brisbane workshop.
