Carhartt Workwear Pocket Long Sleeve T-Shirt

Ink is pushed through a fine mesh screen onto the garment, one screen for each color in your design. It lays down a thick, opaque, hard-wearing layer of ink, and it is the most economical option once you are ordering in quantity.

Best for bold designs with a small number of solid colors, and for larger runs. Because every color needs its own screen, the price moves with how many colors are in the artwork rather than how big it is.

Your design is stitched into the fabric with thread rather than printed onto it. It gives a raised, textured, premium finish that will outlast the garment, and it does not crack, peel or fade in the wash.

Best for polos, caps, jackets, bags and fleece, and for logos rather than large or photographic artwork. Embroidery is priced by stitch count — how much thread the design takes — so a compact design costs less than a wide one, regardless of how many colors it uses.

Direct to film. Your artwork is printed onto a special film, coated with adhesive, and heat-pressed onto the garment. It reproduces full color with no limit on the number of colors, and it holds detail and gradients that screen printing cannot.

Best for complex or photographic artwork and for smaller runs, where setting up a screen per color would not be worth it. It also sits well on a wider range of fabrics and blends than direct to garment printing does.

Direct to garment. The design is printed straight into the fabric by what is essentially a very large, very precise inkjet printer. The ink soaks into the fibers rather than sitting on top, so the finish is the softest of any method — you can barely feel it.

Best for full color and photographic designs on cotton, and for small runs and one-offs, since there is no setup per color. Colors are brightest on lighter garments.