Embroidery vs DTG Printing

By : Admin 15th December, 2023

Embroidery vs DTG Printing

Most people wonder what's the main difference between embroidery and direct-to-garment printing. This makes it hard for them to choose one for their garments but don't worry in this article we'll go through all the details regarding both embroidery and DTG printing.

Both are popular methods for decorating garments and other apparel however there are many key differences between them.

In the case of embroidery a needle and thread are used to create a design on fabric but in the case of DTG printing specialized technology is used to create a beautiful design on fabric.

What Is Embroidery And DTG Printing?

Embroidery is the oldest method of decorating fabric with colorful threads and stitches. Embroidery can be done by both machines or by hand. Embroidery by hand is traditional and is used to create both smaller and larger designs. But these designs are simple and take from weeks to months to complete.

Direct to Garment printing or DTG methods create vibrant full-color images directly on garments by using inkjet technology with special water–based inks. It‘s a great choice for printing large and complex designs like photographs or cartoons without any color limitations.

DTG printing is the modern and fastest-growing method of digital printing. It is cost-effective, accurate, detailed, and quick. It also allows a wide range of sharp to light water-based colors.

Comparison Between Embroidery and DTG Printing

Embroidery is an ancient art and has been there through centuries but DTG is based on the latest technology. Despite being famous in today's fashion industry both have their pros and cons. We'll discuss each of these differences one by one and then we'll conclude which is best overall.

Use of Fabric In Embroidery And DTG Printing

First and foremost comes the fabric on which embroidery or DTG printing is done.

Embroidery is mostly heavy and is good for thick fabrics whereas DTG can be done on both light and thick fabric.

Embroidery is usually heavy and causes tension in the fabric so if the fabric is light then it may tear after a few uses.

Use Of Colors In Embroidery and DTG Printing

There are no color limitations in DTG printing while embroidery does have a few limitations. In the case of embroidery, multiple colors require multiple threads hence this increases the number of stitches and it becomes messy.

Logo And Design Size

Embroidery is best for small designs like logos or text while screen printing is best for large complex designs.

Durability

In terms of durability, embroidery is long-lasting and durable as compared to DTG. With proper care, embroidery can last for many years while DTG can handle only 20-40 wash, after that, it starts to fade.

Embroidery is cheaper than screen printing or other methods. The only drawback is that it's very time–consuming and requires skill and patience. Also can't create complex designs and color limitations.

Not only that it needs to flatten the design with the palm of hand before it's hanged for drying after washing. In DTG printing pretreatment can cause stains when heat pressed especially with colors like red and blue. Moreover, DTG can't print golden and silver colors.

Customization And Creativity

DTG printing offers extreme customization of designs and allows more creativity. Not only that it is much faster as compared to both screen printing and embroidery. Although it works best with cotton-based fabric it is also ideal for polyester and leather.

Cost Of Machines For Embroidery And DTG

Embroidery machines are more expensive as compared to DTG printing machines.

Embroidery even with a machine becomes a slow process while DTG is much faster as it takes 2-3 minutes to print one piece of garment. Embroidery machines are fully automatic and easier to operate than DTG printers.

Only an expert can operate a DTG printer; also the quality of the final product depends on the quality of the ink. Embroidery machines use high tech and are more complicated. It takes a lot of time to set up the machine for each new design.

The design needs to be programmed into the machine. Embroidery machines offer great precision and are great for large orders like stitching logos or text sayings. DTG printers are best for small–scale orders like a single t–shirt or hoodie. But embroidery is best for a large number of garments that require the same design in the same place in each piece.

Quality of Embroidery And DTG Printing

Embroidery is a durable, permanent, and long-lasting method and cannot be removed easily while DTG printing has a kind of flexibility in removing the printed design as it can be removed or it fades away with multiple washes.

DTG (Direct To Garment) printing is typically of low quality as it's new and needs further advancement and innovation to improve quality. But it has a high accuracy level in terms of details and colors.

Cost Of Embroidery And DTG Printing

In terms of cost, embroidery depends on the quality of the thread and the number of stitches on one design which makes it expensive. DTG printing is affordable as it can print large quantities of products at a much faster rate.

Which Is Best: Embroidery Or DTG Printing?

DTG printing is great for low–quality printing but it gives a high level of accuracy in details and color. Embroidery machines are suitable for orders that require high precision in detail whereas in the case of embroidery quality mainly depends on the thickness of the fabric while in DTG it depends on the quality of ink.

Before choosing a method you need to consider several factors like type of fabric, budget, size, and complexity of design. DTG is less expensive as compared to both embroidery and screen printing but it can't reach the durability and longevity these two have.

Embroidery is the oldest method and requires a high skill that can only be gained with practice and patience. DTG printing creates design directly on fabric just in minutes and doesn't require any high professional skills or patience

Embroidery is long-lasting as compared to both DTG and screenprinting.

The threads are coated so they look and perform the best they can plus once the design has been embroidered it appears 3D which adds a nice effect to your workwear.

But the only drawback is that the Embroidery is only suitable for smaller designs, when doing larger ones, it can begin to look messy and has more potential to snag or become torn.

There is a small digitization fee for the software that you'll have to buy for your machine when you want to embroider. We'll help you with that, at DigitizingRus we create and digitize your design with extreme delicacy. We also provide the best deals and discounts on specific designs. So visit our website for more information.

Now back to DTG printing. Direct to garment printing is the most effective method for making strong colors stand out, but once printed the design can look flat, rather than 3D-like embroidery. For printing, the surface needs to be completely smooth rather than textured (like a polo shirt) which limits the type of items you can print onto.