Printing Options for Small Orders

Need fewer pieces than our standard screen printing minimums? We have several printing options for small orders.

The best method depends on your quantity, number of colors, artwork, and garment type. We’ll review your project and recommend the printing method that makes the most sense.

Small Order Quantity Guidelines

Here’s a simple guide to how we typically handle orders below our standard screen printing minimums:

• 1–24 pieces with a simple 1-color design: We may be able to screen print the order. Small-run screen printing is specially priced based on setup requirements.
• 1–6 pieces with 2+ colors or full-color artwork: DTG is often a great option for cotton and cotton-rich garments.
• 6–36 pieces with 1–5 colors: DTF is often a great alternative when the order falls below our screen printing minimum.
• 6–72 pieces with 6+ colors or full-color artwork: DTF is often a great option and can be much more practical than setting up multiple screens.

Once an order reaches our standard screen printing minimums, traditional screen printing will usually provide the best pricing.

Standard Screen Printing Minimums

1–2 colors: 24 pieces
3–5 colors: 37 pieces
6+ colors: 73 pieces

These are general guidelines. Garment type, print size, artwork, and print placement can also affect which method works best.

 

Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing

DTG printing works much like a specialized inkjet printer, printing the artwork directly onto the garment.

DTG is best suited for:

• Single items and very small orders
• Full-color artwork, photographs, gradients or fades, and highly detailed designs
• Cotton and cotton-rich garments
• Multi-color designs that would require muliple screens to traditionally screen print

Our DTG printing is intended for cotton and cotton-rich garments. We do not offer DTG printing on polyester garments.

Dark-colored garments require pretreatment before the artwork is printed, note as this may change pricing.

Unlike screen printing, DTG pricing is not based on the number of colors in the artwork. Pricing is affected more by print size, garment color, and ink coverage, making DTG particularly useful for detailed or full-color artwork in very small quantities.

 

Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printing

DTF printing uses a full-color printed transfer that is heat-applied to the garment.

DTF is a versatile option for orders that fall below our screen printing minimums and works on a wider range of fabrics than DTG.

DTF is best suited for:

• Small-to-medium quantity orders
• Full-color artwork, photographs and highly detailed graphics
• Cotton, polyester, blends, and many performance fabrics
• Garments that are not suitable for our DTG process
• Multi-color designs that would require muliple screens to traditionally screen print

DTF can be especially useful for polyester and performance garments, which may require more specialized handling when traditionally screen printed.

DTF artwork can be any shape, but the printed areas need to be solid. Transparent backgrounds are fine, but fades, semi-transparent areas, or soft transparent edges may need to be adjusted before printing.

 

Which Printing Method Is Best?

There isn’t one printing process that works best for every small order.

We consider:

• Quantity
• Number of colors
• Garment fabric and color
• Print size
• Artwork detail
• Print placement
• Durability and print feel
• Overall cost

As a general rule:

Very small, full-color cotton orders: DTG
Small orders below screen printing minimums: DTF
Polyester and many performance garments: DTF
Simple 1-color designs: Small-run screen printing may be available
Orders meeting our standard minimums: Screen printing is generally the most economical option

 

Requesting a Quote

To help us recommend the best printing method and provide an accurate quote, please send us:

1. Artwork: High-resolution PNG files are preferred for full-color artwork. Vector AI, EPS, or PDF files are also welcome.
2. Print size and placement: Let us know where the artwork will be printed and approximately how large you’d like it.
3. Garment type and color: You can provide your own garments or we can help source them.
4. Quantity: Let us know the total number of pieces receiving the same print.

Once we review the artwork, garments, and quantity, we’ll recommend the printing process that best fits your project.

 

Depending if DTG, DTF or traditional screen printing will suit your needs best, will pick the best printing process for you based on the shirt color and graphic provided by you! Request a quote today!