Which print method lasts longer on a graphic t-shirt, screen print or DTG?

Screen print lasts longer. Plastisol screen prints hold their color and edge definition through 30-plus wash cycles with only minor softening. DTG prints fade faster, especially on dark shirts, and tend to look their best in the first 20 to 40 wears before showing visible age.

Is DTG cheaper than screen printing for small orders?

Yes. DTG has almost no setup cost, so a single shirt runs roughly the same per-unit price as a batch of 50. Screen printing charges roughly $20 to $50 per screen in setup, which only amortizes across larger runs — making screen print cheaper per unit once you hit 50-plus units of the same design.

Can DTG print on black shirts?

Yes, but the printer has to lay down a white underbase first, then deposit colored ink on top. That underbase can look slightly chalky and adds a small amount of stiffness to the print area. A screen-printed graphic on black cotton typically looks more opaque and more 'designed.'

What print method do streetwear brands use?

Most streetwear brands use screen printing for production runs because the unit cost is lower at scale, the prints are more durable, and the thicker ink gives the bold, tactile look the category is built on. DTG is reserved for samples, limited drops, one-off reprints, and on-demand restocks of sold-out designs.

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