Three methods can put your design on a shirt — screen printing, DTF and DTG — and each one is genuinely better for different jobs. Here's how to know which one you need before you request a quote.
Indy Custom Apparel connects Indianapolis-area customers with independent custom apparel providers. We don't own or operate a print shop — pricing, production and turnaround are set by the provider handling your order. See how it works →
We'd rather tell you upfront where this method doesn't make sense than match you to the wrong provider.
✓ High-volume orders with 1-3 ink colors (screen printing)
✓ Full-color or photo-based designs at any quantity (DTF/DTG)
✓ Mixed-size runs for teams and staff
✓ Dark or light fabric, cotton or blends
✕ Screen printing gets expensive fast below 24 pieces
✕ DTG works best on cotton — poly-blends print less reliably
✕ Very fine detail or tiny text can blur at small print sizes
✕ Full-bleed edge-to-edge designs need sublimation, not these three
Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG) print at any size without quality loss — that's the gold standard. A high-resolution PNG with a transparent background works for most jobs too. Avoid pulling logos straight off a website; those are almost always too low-resolution to enlarge onto a shirt without visible pixelation.
Screen printing wins on cost at 24+ pieces with simple color counts. DTF handles full color at any quantity with no setup fee and works on any fabric. DTG gives the softest hand-feel and best photo realism but performs best on cotton specifically. Tell us your quantity, color count and fabric, and we match accordingly.
Garment type, quantity and design.
Your project matched to a provider suited to custom t-shirt printing.
A qualified provider reaches out with pricing.
Proofs and production handled directly by that provider.
No — Indy Custom Apparel is a matching service. We connect you with a qualified Indianapolis-area provider whose equipment fits your project. Production, pricing and turnaround are handled by that provider.
It depends on quantity and color count — screen printing is cheapest per-shirt at high volume with few colors; DTF is cheapest for small runs or multi-color designs since it has no setup fee.
Some providers accept customer-supplied blanks, others require ordering through them for quality control. Mention this on your quote request.
Free to submit. No obligation until you approve a quote from a matched provider.
