A promotional t-shirt isn’t just a piece of clothing—it’s a powerful marketing tool. Whether you’re giving them away at events, selling them in your store, or outfitting your employees, the right custom t-shirt can turn everyday wearers into walking advertisements for your brand.
When designing custom promotional t-shirts for your business, choosing the right printing method is just as important as picking the shirt itself. The three most common decoration methods—screen printing, dye sublimation, and direct-to-garment printing (DTG)—each have unique benefits. Let’s look at how they compare so you can select the best fit for your project.
1. Screen Printing: Bold, Durable, and Cost-Effective
Best for: Large orders, bold logos, and designs with solid colors.
Screen printing is the traditional favorite for branded t-shirts. It involves pressing ink through a mesh screen directly onto the shirt, creating long-lasting, vibrant prints. This technique is especially effective for bold, simple designs and works well on both light and dark shirts.
Advantages of Screen Printing:
Extremely durable—resists fading after many washes
Cost-effective for bulk promotional t-shirt orders
Works on a variety of fabrics and shirt colors
Considerations:
Less ideal for intricate, photo-realistic designs
Not as cost-effective for small batches
2. Dye Sublimation: Edge-to-Edge, Full-Color Designs
Best for: All-over prints and full-color designs on polyester garments.
Dye sublimation uses heat to turn dye into gas, bonding it directly into the fibers of the shirt. This method creates custom t-shirts with a smooth, soft feel and vibrant colors that won’t crack, peel, or fade. It’s perfect for intricate patterns, gradient effects, and all-over prints.
Advantages of Dye Sublimation:
Permanent, vivid colors
Ultra-soft feel with no raised ink
Perfect for detailed, full-shirt designs
Considerations:
Works best on white or light-colored polyester
Not recommended for cotton shirts
3. Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing: Photo-Quality Detail
Best for: Small runs, highly detailed graphics, and unlimited colors.
DTG printing works like a high-resolution inkjet printer, applying ink directly to the fabric. It’s ideal for custom logo t-shirts with intricate designs, photographic images, or lots of color variation.
Advantages of DTG Printing:
High-resolution, photo-quality prints
Soft, lightweight feel
Great for small orders or one-off designs
Considerations:
Works best on 100% cotton shirts
Slower for high-volume production
Choosing the Best Promotional T-Shirt for Your Brand
When selecting the right method for your custom business t-shirts, consider:
Quantity – Large runs often favor screen printing for cost efficiency.
Design Complexity – Photographic or highly detailed designs work best with DTG.
Fabric Type – Polyester blends shine with dye sublimation, while cotton works best for DTG and screen printing.
Budget – Match your printing method to your order size and desired finish.
At Gallagher Promotional Products, our team can help you choose the perfect shirt style, fabric, and printing method to make your brand stand out—whether it’s for employee uniforms, tradeshow giveaways, or customer appreciation gifts.
Let’s Make Your Brand Wearable.
Call GPP's sales team at 800-367-8458 to start your custom promotional t-shirt order today.
