Silk-screen vs DTF
Choosing between silk-screen and DTF on T-shirts, hoodies and tote bags. Silk-screen wins at 100+ for solid spot colours; DTF wins under 50 and for full-colour artwork.
When to choose silk-screen
Silk-screen is the gold standard for runs above 100 units with 1-6 spot Pantone colours on cotton or cotton-poly. Plastisol holds 50+ washes. Per-unit cost drops sharply above 250 pieces. Best for: T-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, bandanas at scale.
When to choose DTF
DTF (Direct-to-Film) prints full-colour artwork with no MOQ constraint and reproduces gradients, photos and tiny detail. Cost-effective from 1-49 pieces and on dark fabrics. Hand-feel is slightly heavier than silk-screen but durability is comparable at 40-50 washes.
Pricing — Italy
EUR pricing excluding IVA 22%. E-invoices via SdI. SEPA or card via Stripe. MOQ depends on item tier. Standard lead 5-8 working days, rush production +35% delivers in 3-5 days. Milano production hub serves the whole country.
FAQ
Cost crossover?
Silk-screen becomes cheaper per unit above ~80-100 pieces for 1-3 colours.
Wash durability?
Silk-screen 50+ washes, DTF 40-50 washes — both more than enough for corporate use.
Photographic logos?
DTF handles photos and gradients. Silk-screen does not — use halftones at most.
Dark fabrics?
Both work. DTF needs a white underbase layer; silk-screen needs a flash-cured underbase.
Pantone matching?
Silk-screen yes (Delta-E ≤ 2.5). DTF approximate — submit Pantone references for closest CMYK match.