DTF vs. Screen Printing on Gildan Blanks: What Decorators Need to Know
Both methods can produce excellent results on the same blank — the right choice comes down to order size, design complexity, and turnaround time.
Screen Printing: Best for Volume
Screen printing shines when you're running the same design across a large quantity — the cost per unit drops significantly as volume goes up, and the ink sits into the fabric for a soft hand-feel on lighter designs. The tradeoff is setup: each color needs its own screen, so small or highly detailed multi-color runs get expensive fast.
DTF Transfers: Best for Flexibility
Direct-to-film transfers let you print full-color, photo-detail designs with no color limit and no screen setup. That makes DTF the better fit for:
- Small batch or one-off orders
- Multiple designs across a small run (think: 12 shirts, 12 different designs)
- Fast turnaround needs, since there's no setup lead time
Which Blank Works Best for Each Method
- Screen printing: A smooth, tight-knit surface like the Gildan G500 or G200 gives ink a clean surface to sit on.
- DTF: Works well across almost any Gildan style, including SoftStyle G640, since the transfer film handles the print — not the fabric's texture.
Cost & Turnaround Snapshot
| Screen Printing | DTF | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | High volume, 1-2 colors | Small batch, full color |
| Setup cost | Higher (per screen) | Low to none |
| Turnaround | Slower on first run | Fast |
| Design flexibility | Limited by color count | Unlimited colors |
Order Your Blanks and Transfers From One Place
Halo26 stocks Gildan blanks alongside ready-to-press DTF gang sheets and printed transfer designs — so you can source your whole production run, whichever method you use, without juggling multiple vendors.
Shop Gildan Blanks → · Shop DTF Gang Sheets →
Shop the blanks in this guide: Gildan G500 Heavy Cotton Tee · Gildan G200 Ultra Cotton Tee
Related reading: Gildan G500 vs G640 vs G200 · Heat Press & DTF on Umi Sweaters