Screen printing first appeared in China sometime during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). It was introduced to the Western world in the late 18th century. Direct-to-film (DTF) printing, on the other hand, is a more recent invention.
Are DTF printing services better because they're newer? Or are screen printing services better because they're tried and tested? This article will compare DTF and screen printing services so you can decide.
What is screen printing?
First, printers create stencil designs on different screens. Each color in a screen print design has a designated screen. Once each stencil is finished, the printers apply ink to it and attach it to a printing machine.
Next, they will place a product, such as a piece of fabric, under the press. The pressing machine will then press the design from the mold onto the garment. The ink should pass through the screen onto the garment.
What is DTF printing?
In the DTF printing process, printers first print an artwork design onto a polyester or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film using a DTF printer. Each printer uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) ink, as well as white ink. The printer prints the design's outline in white before applying the other colors.
After the printer has printed the film, the printers are ready to apply it to the fabric. They press the design onto the garment using a heat press. Each type of fabric has different requirements, so the heat press will require different levels of time, pressure, and temperature.
Once the film is fixed, the printers will remove a transparent wrapper from the film.
DTF vs. Screen Printing:
Both DTF and screen printing seem excellent in various printing situations. Ultimately, you should consider the requirements of your print order. Then you can choose the appropriate printing method.
Price:
Screen printing also has a lower entry cost than DTF printing. However, DTF art designs have a lower overall printing price when produced in small quantities.
Versatility:
But screen printing cannot transfer ink onto all products. It is difficult for the ink to show up on darker fabrics. DTF printing films, on the other hand, can appear in a wide variety of colors.
Image Quality:
Furthermore, DTF printing generally creates higher-quality artistic designs than screen printing. PET film is also very durable and doesn't crack easily. However, experts say that screen printing ink has a certain color vibrancy that DTF printing cannot match.
Get DTF film prints.
So, at this stage, regarding DTF versus screen printing, neither is better. But keep in mind that DTF printing is still new. Inventors may create innovations in the future that could propel DTF printing to the forefront.
