{"id":30692,"date":"2026-05-31T11:28:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T11:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/?p=30692"},"modified":"2026-06-18T07:11:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T07:11:06","slug":"when-screen-printers-shift-to-dtg-jsuh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/when-screen-printers-shift-to-dtg-jsuh\/","title":{"rendered":"When Screen Printers Should Shift to DTG"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many screen printers understand the growing importance of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/direct-to-garment\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> DTG printing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They hear about it at trade shows and see how their competition is adopting it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the real question is different.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When does it actually make sense for a screen printing business to shift toward DTG<\/span><b>?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The answer is rarely about replacing screen printing. In most cases, the shift happens when shops begin to see certain types of orders that traditional screen printing struggles to handle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below, you\u2019ll find a simple guide to help you identify the right moment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Key Takeaways<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTG makes the most sense when screen printers start receiving shorter runs, faster orders, or more complex, multi-color designs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many shops adopt DTG alongside screen printing, not instead of it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turning down small orders is often the first sign that digital printing could add new revenue.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best time to explore DTG is before competitors capture those opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Screen Printing Is Still Powerful<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before talking about DTG, it\u2019s important to recognize something: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/glossary\/screen-printing-definition\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">screen printing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is still one of the most efficient production methods in apparel decoration. For many types of orders, it remains the best technology for the job. Screen printing works especially well for:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large volume orders (500+ units)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simpler designs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fewer color prints<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Long production runs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the press is set up, screen printing can produce garments quickly. That efficiency is why many shops rely on it as their main production method.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, every production technology has limits. Screen printing begins to struggle when orders fall outside its ideal range. Common challenges include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small to medium orders<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Highly detailed or photorealistic artwork<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fast turnaround requests<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequent artwork changes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On-demand printing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When these types of jobs begin appearing regularly, many shops start looking for a second production method that can handle them more efficiently. That\u2019s where DTG printing comes in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>5 Signs It&#8217;s Time for Screen Printers to Add DTG<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The shift toward digital printing usually doesn\u2019t happen overnight. Instead, shops begin noticing patterns in the types of orders they receive. Here are five signals that it may be time to consider adding DTG.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Sign 1: You\u2019re Turning Down Small and Medium Orders<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many screen printing shops avoid orders under 500 pieces. The setup time required for screens, ink preparation, and press calibration often makes smaller runs unprofitable. But the apparel market has changed dramatically in recent years. Today, many customers want shorter runs, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creators<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Influencers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">E-commerce brands<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Test runs and samples<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/kornit-solutions-for-print-on-demand-businesses\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Print-on-demand businesses<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These customers may only need 10, 50, or 200 shirts. Traditional screen printing setups make these orders difficult to price competitively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTG printing removes the setup process, allowing shops to print anywhere from one shirt to several hundred without the cost of screen preparation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your shop regularly turns down smaller jobs, it may mean that digital printing could open a new revenue stream.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><b>Sign 2: Customers Want Faster Turnaround<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customer expectations have changed across almost every industry. Many buyers now expect production speeds similar to those of online retailers. This can be challenging for screen printing workflows.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditional screen printing involves several steps before production begins:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Screen preparation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Artwork preparation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Press setup<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Screen registration<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drying<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cleanup<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These steps make same-day or next-day production difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTG printing simplifies the process because designs can be printed directly onto garments without screen preparation. That makes it easier to handle quick-turn orders or last-minute requests.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As more customers expect faster delivery, digital printing becomes a useful option for meeting those demands.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><b>Sign 3: Labor Is Becoming Harder to Find<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Labor shortages have affected many manufacturing industries, and apparel decoration is no exception. Operating a screen printing press requires skilled workers who understand:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Press operation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manual setup<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Screen preparation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Color matching<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Training new operators can take time. Meanwhile, experienced press operators are increasingly difficult to hire. DTG systems rely more on automation, which can reduce the number of manual steps required to produce prints.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to clarify that DTG does not replace people. Skilled operators are still necessary to manage production and quality. However, digital printing can reduce the shop\u2019s reliance on highly specialized manual tasks. Advanced equipment, such as Kornit\u2019s system, only requires one operator.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Sign 4: Your Artwork Is Getting More Complex<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design trends in apparel are constantly evolving. Today\u2019s designs often include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gradients<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo prints<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large color ranges<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Detailed artwork<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Producing this type of artwork with screen printing may require multiple screens and complex separations. Each additional color adds time and preparation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTG printing handles full-color designs without the need for additional screens. The complexity of the artwork does not significantly change the setup process.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Sign 5: You&#8217;re Interested in Print-On-Demand or E-Commerce<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the biggest changes in the apparel industry has been the growth of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/how-to-start-a-print-on-demand-business-jsuh\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">online merchandise businesses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brands and influencers increasingly sell products online without holding inventory. These businesses often rely on print-on-demand models.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common drivers behind this trend include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shopify brands<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Influencer merchandise<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">E-commerce fulfillment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personalized apparel<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These business models rely on producing garments one at a time and shipping them quickly while avoiding large inventory investments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Screen printing was not originally designed for this type of production. DTG printing makes it possible to fulfill individual orders efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For shops interested in serving e-commerce customers, digital printing opens new possibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-30696\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MATRIX-in-action.png\" alt=\"Atlas MATRIX printer in action\" width=\"1125\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MATRIX-in-action.png 1125w, https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MATRIX-in-action-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MATRIX-in-action-768x1024.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1125px) 100vw, 1125px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Two Ways Screen Printers Successfully Adopt DTG<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The idea of switching technologies can feel risky for many shop owners. Fortunately, most successful shops do not completely replace screen printing. Instead, they combine the strengths of both methods.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Model 1: Hybrid Production Floor (Most Common)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a hybrid workflow, both technologies work together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Screen printing typically handles:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large runs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simple prints<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTG printing focuses on jobs that are harder for traditional presses. These often include smaller runs, samples, print-on-demand orders, or highly detailed artwork.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Model 2: Digital-First Production<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some companies eventually move toward a mostly digital workflow. This model is common among businesses that specialize in:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">E-commerce fulfillment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Merchandise companies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Print-on-demand providers<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These operations benefit from the flexibility of digital production. DTG systems can support fast order processing, scalable production, and simplified workflows.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The Lowest-Risk Way to Shift (Without Betting the Shop)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many shop owners worry about investing in new equipment before they know whether demand exists. A safer approach is to test the market first.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Phase 1: Sell DTG Before You Buy DTG<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For 30\u201360 days, shops can outsource DTG production to a trade partner while selling the service under their own brand. During this period, it\u2019s helpful to track factors such as order quantities, garment types, turnaround times, reprint rates, and margins.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This experiment helps determine whether digital demand is consistent enough to justify investing in equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Phase 2: Add DTG as a Second Production Lane<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once demand is proven, DTG can be introduced as a complementary production method. Screen printing can continue handling high-volume orders and simple designs, while DTG focuses on complex artwork, smaller runs, and reorders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit\u2019s<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/all-inclusive-click\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> AIC Business Model <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can assist with this part of the implementation process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Phase 3: Scale Only When Demand Is Proven<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a shop sees steady DTG utilization and trains operators, it may consider expanding digital capacity with additional equipment or workflow improvements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This step-by-step approach helps reduce financial risk while allowing shops to grow their capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why Timing Matters<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many print shops hesitate to adopt digital printing because of concerns about cost or unfamiliar technology.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common concerns include equipment investment, learning new workflows, or uncertainty about demand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, delaying adoption can also carry risks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shops that ignore digital trends may begin losing certain types of orders, particularly small runs and e-commerce jobs. Over time, competitors who adopt flexible production methods may capture those opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best time to explore DTG is before competitors fully establish themselves in that space.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For shops with seasonal business cycles, the offseason can be an ideal time to experiment with new production methods and evaluate how digital printing fits into their workflow.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Shift to DTG Printing with Kornit Digital<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Screen printing is not disappearing. It remains a powerful and efficient production method for many types of apparel orders.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, the industry is evolving.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTG printing becomes valuable when shops begin encountering orders that traditional screen printing struggles to handle profitably. Combining both technologies allows print shops to expand the types of jobs they accept while improving flexibility.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Would you like to learn more about shifting to DTG with Kornit Digital? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/#contact\">Let\u2019s talk<\/a>!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many screen printers understand the growing importance of DTG printing. They hear about it at trade shows and see how their competition is adopting it. But the real question is different. When does it actually make sense for a screen printing business to shift toward DTG? The answer is rarely about replacing screen printing. In [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":30714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[276],"tags":[32,306,196],"class_list":["post-30692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insights","tag-dtg","tag-screen-printing","tag-technology"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Angora Media","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30692","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30692"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30692\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30715,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30692\/revisions\/30715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30692"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30692"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}