April 10, 2026 · 6 min read
Apparel printing methods aren't interchangeable at the file level — a logo ready for screen printing usually isn't ready for direct-to-garment or vinyl without rework.
Each colour in a screen-printed design needs its own physical screen, so artwork must be separated into a limited number of solid spot colours — typically up to six. Gradients and photographic detail don't translate well and need to be simplified or converted to halftones.
DTG prints like an inkjet directly onto fabric, so it handles gradients, photography and unlimited colours easily — but is generally more cost-effective for smaller quantities rather than bulk runs.
Vinyl is cut from solid colour sheets and heat-pressed onto fabric, which makes it ideal for bold, simple shapes and text, but impractical for fine detail or many colours in one design.
We ask which method you're printing with before finalising art, so separations, colour counts and file format match the production method from the start — rather than reworking a finished logo after a screen print run fails to reproduce it cleanly.