Our print tech
Eleven ways to put art on a product — and the judgement to pick the right one every time.
There are two broad families of custom printing: onto fabric, and onto hard products like bottles, cases and wood. Within them, the right choice comes down to three things — the material, how complex the design is, and how many you need. Below is every method we print in, in plain English, with the honest trade-offs.
The methods we print in
DTG — Direct-to-Garment
Water-based ink is jetted straight into the cotton fibres, the way an inkjet lays ink onto paper. The art becomes part of the cloth, so it stays soft and breathable with no heavy patch sitting on top.
- Unlimited colours and fine photographic detail
- Soft, breathable, barely-there feel
- No setup cost, no minimum — one piece is fine
- At its best on cotton; softer on polyester
- Dark fabric needs a white under-base
- Slower per unit on very large runs
DTF — Direct-to-Film
The design is printed onto a film, bonded with a hot-melt adhesive and heat-pressed on. Because it bonds on top rather than soaking in, it prints on almost any fabric and any colour, including black.
- Works on virtually any fabric and colour
- Bright, opaque colour even on black
- Strong stretch and wash durability
- A light film sits on the fabric surface
- Less breathable than DTG
- Big solid fills feel heavier
All-over print — Sublimation
Heat turns solid dye into a gas that bonds permanently into polyester, colouring the whole garment edge to edge — seams, sleeves and all. The colour becomes the fabric, so nothing sits on the surface.
- Full-garment coverage, no borders
- Never cracks, peels or fades
- Zero hand-feel — fully breathable
- Polyester only
- Not for dark garments
- Cut-and-sew adds production time
Screen printing
Thick ink is pushed through a fine mesh stencil, one screen per colour. It lays the boldest, most durable layer of colour there is, and gets cheaper the more you print.
- Lowest cost per piece at volume
- Thick, punchy, long-lasting colour
- Superb on cotton
- Setup cost and a minimum order
- Limited colours — not for photos
- Not suited to one-off print-on-demand
Embroidery
The design is stitched into the fabric in coloured thread rather than printed. It reads as premium, adds real texture, and outlasts the garment itself.
- Premium, high-perceived-value finish
- Effectively never fades
- Ideal on caps, polos and heavy fabric
- Not for photos, gradients or fine detail
- Higher cost per piece
- Needs a digitised stitch file
Puff — 3D print
A heat-reactive ink or transfer expands as it cures, lifting the design off the fabric into a soft, foam-like relief. It is the signature streetwear texture.
- Eye-catching raised 3D texture
- Premium streetwear look
- Available on demand, no minimum
- Not for fine detail or photos
- Gentle washing keeps the loft
- A few colours per design
Vinyl — HTV
The design is cut from sheets of coloured heat-transfer vinyl and pressed on. It gives crisp, solid-colour graphics and is the standard for names and numbers on team wear.
- Crisp, vivid solid colour
- Perfect for personalised names and numbers
- Works across many fabrics
- Not for photos or gradients
- Harsh washing can lift edges
- Heavier feel on large designs
Glow-in-the-dark
A phosphorescent ink charges under light and re-emits it in the dark. It looks ordinary by day and glows once the lights go out — a novelty and gifting favourite.
- Stand-out novelty and gifting appeal
- Normal by day, glowing by night
- Pairs with other print methods
- Glow fades minutes after each charge
- Fewer colour options
- Needs gentle washing to last
Reflective print
A reflective ink or film full of microscopic glass beads bounces light straight back at its source, so the design lights up under headlights or a torch. Built for visibility and effect.
- High visibility and safety appeal
- Striking light-up fashion effect
- Works on many fabrics
- Mostly single-tone (silver/grey)
- Reflectivity dulls with harsh washing
- Not for fine detail
UV print — hard goods
Ink is jetted onto a hard surface and cured instantly with UV light, laying a durable, full-colour, slightly raised image onto flat products like cases, bottles and wood.
- Full colour on non-fabric surfaces
- Durable, scratch- and water-resistant
- Sharp detail, no minimum order
- Hard, fairly flat surfaces only
- Not for apparel
- Can chip on very flexible items over time
Laser engraving
A laser etches the design permanently into the surface of hard materials — metal, wood, acrylic, leather — removing a fine layer rather than adding ink. The most permanent mark there is.
- Permanent — never fades or peels
- Premium, tactile finish
- Precise, high-detail marking
- Single-tone (no colour)
- Hard materials only
- Not for fabric or apparel
How we choose the right method
- Detailed, full-colour art on cotton → DTG. Soft finish, unlimited colour, no minimum.
- Dark or mixed fabrics → DTF. A white base keeps colour bright on black and polyester.
- Edge-to-edge, all-over design → sublimation on light polyester — colour becomes the fabric.
- Bulk order in 1–3 colours → screen printing. Lowest cost per piece at volume.
- Premium logo on a polo or cap → embroidery. Stitched thread reads premium and lasts a lifetime.
- Names, numbers, team wear → vinyl or embroidery. Crisp solid colour for personalised text.
- Standout streetwear texture → puff, for a raised 3D finish.
- Bottles, cases or wood → UV print for full colour, or laser engraving for a permanent etch.
Every method compared
| Method | Best for | Works on | Full colour? | Feel | Durability | Min order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTG | Detailed, photo art | Cotton, light colours | Yes | Soft, no-feel | 40–50 washes | 1 piece |
| DTF | Any / dark fabric | Cotton, poly, blends, dark | Yes | Slight film | 40–50 washes | 1 piece |
| All-over (sublimation) | Edge-to-edge prints | Light polyester | Yes | None (in-fabric) | Permanent | 1 piece |
| Screen print | Bulk, 1–4 colours | Cotton, blends | Limited | Slight raised | 50+ washes | Bulk (MOQ) |
| Embroidery | Premium logos | Caps, polos, jackets | Thread colours | Raised stitch | Lifetime | 1 piece |
| Puff (3D) | Streetwear, logos | Cotton, blends | Limited | Raised 3D | 40–50 washes | 1 piece |
| Vinyl (HTV) | Names, numbers, text | Cotton, poly, blends | Solid colours | Smooth layer | 30–50 washes | 1 piece |
| Glow-in-the-dark | Novelty, events, kids | Cotton, blends | Limited | Slight layer | 25–40 washes | 1 piece |
| Reflective | Safety, activewear | Cotton, poly, blends | Solid / grey | Smooth layer | 25–40 washes | 1 piece |
| UV print | Hard, flat products | Cases, bottles, wood | Yes | Slight raised | Scratch-resistant | 1 piece |
| Laser engraving | Premium hard goods | Metal, wood, acrylic | No (etched) | Etched | Permanent | 1 piece |
Durability figures are typical ranges with proper garment care.
Printing types — quick answers
Which printing method lasts the longest?
Sublimation and embroidery are effectively permanent, because the colour is dyed into the fabric or stitched in thread. Screen printing and DTF comfortably pass 50 and 40 to 50 washes; DTG lasts 40 to 50 with a softer finish. Wash care makes the biggest difference to all of them.
Which method is best for dark garments?
DTF. It lays a white ink base first, so colours stay bright and opaque on black, navy, polyester and blended fabrics where a straight print would sink in and dull.
How do I print a photograph on a cotton tee?
DTG. Water-based ink goes straight into the cotton and reproduces gradients and fine photographic detail with a soft feel and no minimum order.
Can you print on bottles, mugs and phone cases?
Yes. Hard products use UV printing for full colour, or laser engraving for a permanent etched mark, chosen to suit the material.
Is there a minimum order?
No minimum on most methods, because everything is made to order, so a single piece is fine. Screen printing is the exception; it needs a small minimum since a stencil is made per colour, and it becomes the most economical choice at volume.