Printing & Decoration Methods for Branded Apparel & Products
Not sure whether DTF, screen printing, embroidery or sublimation is right for your job? Here’s how the main methods compare.
DTF Printing (Direct to Film)
DTF transfers are printed onto a film, then heat-pressed directly onto the garment. They handle full-colour, detailed artwork cleanly — including gradients, fine lines and multi-colour logos — without requiring a minimum colour count or a large order quantity.
Best for:
- Detailed or full-colour artwork
- Dark-coloured garments
- Lower-to-medium run quantities
- T-shirts, hoodies, polos and other apparel
Want to build your own DTF transfers? Use our DTF Gang Sheet Builder to upload artwork, arrange your sheet and order online.
Screen Printing
Screen printing applies ink through a mesh stencil, one colour at a time. It produces clean, bold, consistent results and is highly cost-effective at volume — the more you print, the lower the unit cost.
Best for:
- Bulk apparel orders
- Simple, bold logos with defined spot colours
- Staff uniforms, event shirts and promotional runs
- Consistent colour across large quantities
See our Custom Printed Shirts & Apparel page, or explore Business Branding & Bulk Printing for volume pricing and full-brand runs.
Embroidery
Embroidery stitches your logo directly into the fabric, giving a premium, textured finish that holds up well through repeated wash and wear. It works best with clean, reasonably simple logos — fine detail and very small text can be difficult to reproduce at stitch scale.
Best for:
- Corporate uniforms, polos and business shirts
- Jackets, caps and structured headwear
- Workwear where a professional finish matters
- Logos with defined shapes and limited fine detail
Browse our Corporate Uniforms range or visit the Branded Workwear, Uniforms & Apparel hub.
Sublimation
Sublimation converts ink into a gas that bonds permanently into the fabric at a molecular level, producing vibrant, all-over prints where the design becomes part of the material rather than sitting on top like a transfer. It works best on polyester and sublimation-ready products — particularly light-coloured substrates — where the dye can bond effectively into the material.
Best for:
- Sportswear, teamwear and performance fabrics
- All-over or large-format design coverage
- Sublimation-ready products including jerseys, drinkware and accessories
- Light-coloured garments and substrates
See our Custom Sports Uniforms & Teamwear page for sublimation apparel options.
Quick Comparison
| Method | Best for | Artwork type | Run size | Go to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTF | Apparel, dark garments | Full colour, detailed | Low–medium | DTF Gang Sheet Builder |
| Screen Print | Bulk apparel & promo | Bold, spot colour | Medium–large | Custom Printed Shirts & Apparel |
| Embroidery | Corporate uniforms, workwear | Clean, defined logos | Any | Corporate Uniforms |
| Sublimation | Sportswear, all-over | Full colour, all-over | Low–medium | Custom Sports Uniforms & Teamwear |
Not Sure What You Need?
If you’re not certain which method is right for your artwork, product or quantity, get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.