Screen Printing vs Digital Printing: What’s the Difference? (2025)
Screen Printing vs Digital Printing (2025)
Whenever someone comes to me with a new shirt idea, one of the first questions they ask is which print method they should choose. Screen printing or digital printing. I totally get it. There are a lot of terms floating around, and the last thing you want to do is guess. My goal with this guide is to break everything down in a simple, friendly way so you can choose the print method that brings your design to life exactly the way you imagined.
At The Awesome Company, we use both traditional screen printing and modern DTF digital printing. Each method has its strengths. The trick is matching the right method to your design, your fabric, and your quantity.
What Is Screen Printing?
Screen printing is one of the oldest and most trusted ways to decorate apparel, and it is still one of my personal favorites. The process is hands on and a little bit magical. We create a stencil, called a screen, for each color in your design. Then we press ink through the screen onto the fabric to build your artwork layer by layer. The result is bright, bold color that sits on top of the shirt and holds up beautifully over time.
Screen printing works best for simple artwork, solid colors, and large batches. If you want shirts for a big event or you want your logo to pop with strong, vibrant color, this method is usually the way to go. At The Awesome Company, our team takes pride in this process. From mixing the inks to lining everything up with precision, it is a method where skill really shines.
What Is Digital Printing?
When people talk about digital printing for shirts, they often mean a few different methods. At The Awesome Company, we specialize in DTF printing because it gives beautiful results, works on almost any fabric, and is perfect for small batches or full color designs.
DTF stands for Direct to Film. Instead of pushing ink through screens, we print your design onto a special film, then use heat and pressure to transfer that design onto the shirt. The colors come out sharp and vibrant, even if your artwork has tiny details, gradients, or lots of color variation. The print feels soft and flexible, and it holds up well wash after wash.
If you want a design with lots of color, a photo style image, or personalized shirts for each person, digital printing with DTF is usually the best option. It is fast, versatile, and ideal for small or medium sized orders. Our team prints every transfer in house so we can control the quality from the very first step all the way to the final press.
Screen Printing vs Digital Printing: Key Differences
Now that you know what each method is, it helps to see how they compare side by side. Both screen printing and DTF digital printing create beautiful shirts, but they shine in different situations. Here are the main differences in a way that is easy to understand.
Color and Detail
Screen printing gives you bold, solid colors that look incredible on simple designs. DTF printing can handle tiny details, gradients, and full color artwork that screen printing would struggle with.
Best for Small or Large Orders
Screen printing becomes more cost effective when you are ordering in larger quantities because each color needs its own screen. DTF is perfect for small batches or one off prints because it does not require screens at all.
Feel on the Shirt
Screen printing sits on top of the fabric and has a slightly raised feel that people have loved for decades. DTF prints feel smooth and flexible, and they move well with the fabric.
Durability
Both methods hold up well when cared for properly. Screen printing is known for lasting a long time, especially on cotton. DTF also stands up to repeated washing and keeps its color sharp.
Fabric Compatibility
Screen printing works best on cotton and cotton blends. DTF works on almost any fabric, including polyester, fleece, and performance materials.
Personalization
This is where DTF is the winner. Screen printing is not ideal for individualized names or small unique changes. Digital printing allows each shirt to be completely personalized without extra setup.
Which Method Should You Choose?
If you are stuck between screen printing and DTF digital printing, the good news is that you really cannot go wrong. Both methods create great looking shirts. The right choice simply depends on your artwork, your quantity, and what you want the final product to feel like.
Choose Screen Printing if:
Your design is simple with only a few colors
You want bright, bold, long lasting prints
You are ordering in larger quantities
You want that classic ink on fabric feel
You are printing shirts for events, schools, or team apparel
Screen printing is a great choice when you are going for a timeless look with strong color that really stands out.
Choose DTF Digital Printing if:
Your design has lots of color or small details
You need small or medium sized orders
You want flexibility with personalization
You are printing on a variety of fabrics
You want a fast turnaround and consistent results
DTF is ideal for detailed artwork, photo style graphics, and designs that would be too complex for screens. It also gives you more creative freedom with color and custom variations.
If you are still not sure which method fits your project, that is exactly what we are here for. Our team will help you choose the printing style that makes your design look its best and fits your budget.
How Our Design Team Helps You Get the Perfect Print
One of my favorite parts of this work is helping people bring their ideas to life. You do not have to be a designer or even know what printing method you want. Our team walks you through every step so your shirts turn out exactly the way you pictured them.
We Help Shape Your Idea
You can come to us with a sketch, a photo, a Pinterest board, or a simple description of your vision. We take whatever you have and turn it into a polished design that works beautifully for screen printing or DTF.
We Create Clear Mockups
Before anything gets printed, we send you mockups that show your design on the actual product. You get to see how the colors look, how the artwork sits on the shirt, and how the final outcome will feel.
We Recommend the Right Method
Not every design works the same on every method. If your artwork has tiny details or a full color gradient, we may guide you toward DTF. If you want bold, solid color for a large order, we may suggest screen printing. Our goal is always to help you choose the best option for your project and your budget.
We Pay Close Attention to Detail
Our neurodivergent production team is incredible at precision. Alignment, placement, consistency, and finish are all checked carefully during production. This level of attention is one of the reasons our prints come out so clean and accurate.
We Make the Process Easy
No confusing jargon. No guessing. Just a friendly, collaborative process that helps you feel confident from start to finish.
Why Print with The Awesome Company
When you choose The Awesome Company, you get more than a simple T shirt order. You get a partner who truly cares about your project, your artwork, and your experience. We print every shirt with purpose, pride, and a commitment to quality.
Quality You Can See
Every print is checked carefully for clarity, alignment, and consistency. Whether your order is ten shirts or five hundred, we treat each one with the same level of care. We want you to feel proud when you hand them out.
A Team That Loves the Work
Our neurodivergent workforce is the heart of everything we do. Many of our employees excel at precise, process driven tasks like alignment, folding, ink checking, and heat pressing. Their attention to detail is a huge part of what makes our prints so reliable and clean.
Honest Guidance and Real Support
We are not here to upsell you. We are here to help you choose what works best for your project. If DTF is better for your design, we will tell you. If screen printing gives you a cleaner look, we will tell you that too. You get real humans who care about doing things the right way.
Custom Design Services
From initial ideas to final approval, our design team helps bring your vision to life. We make sure your artwork looks its best in whichever method you choose.
Social Impact Through Every Order
When you print with us, you support meaningful employment for autistic adults. Your project helps create steady, skill based jobs in a supportive environment. It is printing with purpose, and we are proud to offer that.
Choosing Screen Printing or Digital Printing
Choosing between screen printing and digital printing does not have to feel overwhelming. Once you understand what each method does well, the decision becomes simple. Screen printing delivers bold, long lasting color that is perfect for larger orders and classic designs. DTF digital printing gives you incredible detail, full color options, and flexibility for small batches and personalized shirts.
At The Awesome Company, we guide you through every step so you get the results you want. Our design team helps shape your artwork, our production team brings it to life with precision, and your final product arrives looking clean, vibrant, and ready to wear. Whether you need one shirt or five hundred, your order supports meaningful work for autistic adults and helps create real impact.
If you are ready to start your next project, we would love to help you choose the perfect method. Send us your idea and we will take it from there.
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Screen printing uses individual screens to apply ink on the shirt, which works best for simple designs and large batches. Digital printing with DTF prints your full color artwork onto a film that is then transferred to the shirt, which is ideal for detail rich designs and smaller orders.
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Both can last a long time with proper care. Screen printing is known for its durability on cotton fabrics, while DTF also holds up well and keeps colors vibrant through regular washing.
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Digital printing can be more budget friendly for small or medium sized orders because it does not require screens. Screen printing becomes more cost effective when you order in larger quantities.
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Yes. DTF digital printing is the better choice for photo style artwork, gradients, and detailed graphics. Screen printing works best for simple shapes and solid colors.
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You can send us your artwork or even a rough idea, and we will guide you based on the design, your budget, your fabric choice, and your quantity. Our goal is to help you choose the method that makes your print look amazing.
Check out our previous blog on services we offer and their differences here.
