Go with screen printing when the same bold design is going on hundreds of shirts, like an America's Center show day or a game-day crowd. Go with DTF when the art is full color or changes per guest, like names at a Delmar Loop brand night. A lot of St. Louis events run both from one station.
Screen printing
Ink pushed through a screen on a real press. It's quick, it holds up in the wash, and a one- to three-color design reads from across an expo hall. The catch is timing: screens are burned before the freight leaves Fullerton, so the art has to be final about a week before your date. See live screen printing.
DTF transfers
A printed full-color film pressed onto the garment with heat. Photos, gradients and fine lines all work, and with no screen involved we can add a name or switch designs in the middle of the event. Each piece takes a bit longer. For a private party in The Grove where every shirt is personal, that's a fair trade. See live DTF printing.
Running both
The common St. Louis pairing is a press for the main design and a DTF lane beside it for names. Both fit the same footprint, about 10×10 ft on two 120V circuits. Send the art and your headcount and we'll tell you which one pulls its weight.