When you’re looking into custom t shirt printing—whether it’s for an event, a corporate order, a band, a club, or just “fun hoodies” with your friends—the big question becomes: Which printing method should I pick? At 2Broz Custom, we want to help you understand your options so your custom tees (or custom hoodies) turn out exactly how you imagine them: great look, feel, durability, and value. In this post we’ll walk you through three of the most popular methods — Direct-to-Garment (DTG), Vinyl (often heat-transfer vinyl, HTV), and Embroidery — compare their strengths and drawbacks, and help you pick the right one for your project. Whether you search “screen printing near me” or “custom hoodies Sacramento”, you’ll have a clearer roadmap for decision-making. Why the printing method matters Let’s start with the big picture: you might think printing a design on a shirt is just “pick something, print & go”. But in truth: The method affects look and feel (flat print vs textured thread vs vinyl layer) It influences durability (how well the design holds up to washes) It impacts cost and turnaround (set-up fees, minimums, labour) It determines suitability for fabric / colour / order size (cotton vs blends vs dark garments) So picking the “right” method isn’t just a design choice — it’s a business choice (if you’re doing this for a team or brand), and a satisfaction choice (if you want it to last). At 2Broz Custom our goal is to guide you so you get what you expect. The three methods: an overview Here’s a quick cheat-sheet comparing the three methods we’ll dive into: Method Best for Pros Cons DTG (Direct-to-Garment) Complex, full-colour artwork; small to medium runs Full colour, smooth feel, low setup Less durable than some; best on cotton; cost higher for big runs Vinyl / HTV Names, numbers, simple colour designs; custom hoodies, sports jerseys Good durability, works on many fabrics Layer thickness can feel stiff; not ideal for full photo designs Embroidery Logos, premium look, textured finish; uniforms or high-end apparel Very durable, upscale appearance More expensive for complex design; not ideal for very fine/colour-rich artwork Now let’s go through each method in more detail — how it works, when you should pick it, and when you should probably pick something else. 1. Direct-to-Garment (DTG) How it works With DTG, think of a large ink-jet printer for clothing: the garment (often 100 % cotton or a cotton-heavy blend) is first pre-treated so the ink adheres well, then moved into a DTG printer which sprays specialised textile inks directly onto the fabric. After printing, the item is heat-cured to lock in the ink. (blog.gotprint.com) When it shines You’d pick DTG when: Your design has lots of colours, gradients, photo-quality or fine detail (for example a portrait, complex illustration). You are ordering small batches, maybe even one-offs, because the setup is minimal. You want a soft, smooth finish (the print integrates with the fabric, not a heavy layer). Fabric is suitable (preferably cotton or high-cotton content) and you’re comfortable prioritising design over ultra-durability. Advantages Full-colour freedom — no “limit” to how many colours. (Printify) Low setup cost compared to some older methods (screens, big stencils) so better for smaller runs. Smooth feel: design doesn’t sit on top of the fabric in thick layers. Drawbacks / things to watch Durability: while DTG is plenty good for many uses, with heavy wear and many washes it may fade or crack earlier than, say, embroidery or screen printed vinyl. (scalablepress.com) Fabric limitations: best results on cotton; some blends / synthetics may not take as well. Cost for large runs: If you’re doing hundreds or thousands of identical shirts, the cost per piece may be higher than bulk methods (and turnaround may be slower). Dark garments: Printing white ink for dark shirts adds cost/time. Practical advice for 2Broz Custom clients If you’re coming to 2Broz Custom with custom tees for a band, event, or personal design that’s rich in colour — go DTG. But if you’re ordering a large number of hoodies for a club or team, we might suggest weighing other methods. Also: discuss fabric choice (stick to higher quality cotton for maximum visual impact). And ask about wash-care instructions to maximise durability. 2. Vinyl / Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) How it works Vinyl printing (often HTV) involves cutting your design out of coloured vinyl (or layered vinyl) using a plotter/cutter. Then a heat press is used to apply the vinyl piece onto the garment. The result is a design that sits on top of the fabric as a discreet layer. (Fourthwall) When it shines Choose vinyl when: Your design is simple: one or a few colours, bold shapes, names/numbers (e.g., sports jersey style). You want good durability, and you are okay with the slightly raised “vinyl” feel. You want a print on garments that maybe aren’t optimal for DTG (e.g., some blends, or you want the vinyl look). You’re doing custom hoodies or team shirts and want solid legibility on front/back. Advantages Very good durability when done right; vinyl designs resist peeling/cracking decently. (Northwest Custom Apparel) Works on many fabrics without the heavy setup. Good for text/name/number applications (e.g., “TEAM”, “PLAYER 23”). Drawbacks Looks & feel: Because it's a layer on the shirt, you may feel the design more than you would a DTG print (especially on thin fabric). Colour limitations: While vinyl comes in many colours, doing full-photo or detailed gradients is impractical. If the garment fabric is lightweight or stretchy, vinyl might crack or not flex well over time. Practical advice for 2Broz Custom clients If you’re ordering custom hoodies for a club, or “custom tees” for a group with bold text (e.g., “Family Reunion 2025”), vinyl is a strong choice. At 2Broz Custom we’d check the fabric weight (hoodies should be medium/heavy weight) and ensure design size fits well so vinyl layer adheres properly. Also ask: what colour vinyl works best on dark garments, and what wash-care will preserve it. 3. Embroidery How it works Unlike “printing”, embroidery uses thread stitched into the fabric to create a design. The design is digitised (converted into a stitch pattern), then embroidery machines sew the threads into the garment. The result: a textured, raised design that becomes part of the apparel. (Sussex Clothing) When it shines Pick embroidery when: You want a premium, textured, upscale look (logo on a polo shirt, company uniform, high-end hoodies). Your design is relatively simple (not thousands of colours or gradients) and you’re fine with the “stitched” look. Durability is key — logos on workwear, jackets, hats often benefit from stitches rather than ink. You’re doing something that should look like quality: uniform, corporate, branded merchandise. Advantages Extreme durability: Stitching lasts many washes, looks sharp. (Northwest Custom Apparel) Upscale feel: Embroidery gives a professional appearance, texture, and perceived quality. Works great for items like hats, polos, jackets — garments where you want to “brand” rather than “print”. Drawbacks Cost: Because it’s labour-intensive, embroidery can be more expensive especially for complex designs. (scalablepress.com) Design limitations: Fine photographic detail, colour gradients, photographic prints don’t translate well to thread. Fabric limitations: Very thin or lightweight fabrics may pucker under heavy stitches; not ideal for very light tees with large embroidered areas. Practical advice for 2Broz Custom clients If you’re at 2Broz Custom and asking for custom hoodies or jackets with your business logo (for example “XYZ Corporation”) or you want custom tees that feel more “premium”, embroidery is a go-to. We’ll check the stitch count (which affects cost), discuss colour thread choices, and confirm fabric weight supports stitching. Also: maybe pick embroidery for smaller placements (chest, cap) and consider print for larger graphic areas. 4. What about Screen Printing? Now you mentioned “screen printing near me” in your keywords — while not one of our three primary methods here (DTG, Vinyl, Embroidery), screen printing is still very relevant — especially for bulk orders of custom tees. Some notes: Screen printing uses stencils (or “screens”) for each colour and inks are pressed through onto the garment. (Fourthwall) It’s extremely durable, vibrant, cost?effective for large quantities (hundreds to thousands) of shirts. The catch: Setup is higher (creating screens), fewer colour gradients (unless you pay more), and less flexibility for one-off or small runs. So if a client comes to 2Broz Custom needing 500 custom shirts for an event, we might recommend screen printing rather than DTG (depending on design). That said, for small runs or personalised items (names/numbers), the other methods may be more economical. Keep this in mind — you can mention if a customer is looking for “screen printing near me” that while 2Broz Custom supports many methods, we’ll help pick what fits their order size, budget and design. 5. How to decide: A decision checklist Let’s give you a simple decision path — walk through these questions, and you’ll be better positioned to say “I want method X”. Question 1: What is your order size? Small run (1–50 items) ? DTG, Vinyl or Embroidery likely. Medium/large (50–500+) with identical design ? Screen Printing may dominate (or maybe Vinyl if text?based). Huge batch (500+) ? Screen Printing (or Vinyl for names/numbers) often best cost wise. Question 2: How complex is your design? Full-colour photo, many colours, fine detail ? DTG. Simple logo, bold text/numbers, 1-3 colours ? Vinyl or Screen Printing. Logo/monogram for premium look on polo or jacket ? Embroidery. Gradients, photo-like image on hoodie ? DTG (if fabric supports it). Question 3: What fabric are you printing on? 100% cotton (high count) ? great for DTG, screen printing. Blends or synthetics ? Vinyl or Embroidery may perform better. Dark garments ? watch white-ink cost (for DTG) or use vinyl/embroidery. Heavy-weight hoodie/jacket ? Embroidery or heavy-duty print works. Question 4: What’s the expected durability / usage? Everyday wear, many washes ? Embroidery or good-quality Vinyl or Screen Printing. Event wear, occasional use ? DTG is fine. Names/numbers on sports jersey ? Vinyl or Screen Printing is ideal. Question 5: What’s your budget and timeline? Tight budget, small run ? vinyl or DTG might be best. Budget allows premium look ? embroidery. Large order with time to setup ? screen printing gives best cost per unit. Rush turnaround ? fewer setup methods (DTG or Vinyl) may be advisable. 6. Real-world scenarios for 2Broz Custom Here are some sample use-cases and how we might recommend the method at 2Broz Custom: Scenario A: You’re ordering 25 custom tees for a bachelor party, with a photo design of the groom + a fun slogan. Recommended method: DTG Why: Photo design, small run, full-colour. What 2Broz Custom will do: Use high-quality cotton blanks, pre-treat, print with DTG, heat-cure, inspect. Tip for you: Ensure design resolution is high, pick 100% cotton if possible, ask about wash instructions (cold wash inside-out, air dry recommended). Scenario B: Your high school soccer team needs 60 hoodies each with player name + number + team logo (2 colours) on the back. Recommended method: Vinyl (or Screen Printing if budget allows) Why: Text + number, modest colours, medium run, hoodies heavy fabric. What 2Broz Custom will do: Choose appropriate vinyl grade (for hoodie fleece), cut and apply heat press, check adhesion. Tip: Provide player list early, get garment colour confirmed, ask whether front chest logo is needed (could add cost). Scenario C: A local business wants 40 embroidered polos for staff uniforms — small logo on left chest. Recommended method: Embroidery Why: Premium look, uniforms, small logo. What 2Broz Custom will do: Digitise logo (if not already), select thread colours, test stitch sample, run production. Tip: Choose quality polo fabric (not the thinnest), confirm thread colours match brand, allow time for digitising setup. Scenario D: You want 300 custom tees with a simple design (two solid colours) for a non-profit fundraiser. Recommended method: Screen Printing (or Vinyl if budget lower) Why: Large quantity, simple design, cost per unit matters. What 2Broz Custom will recommend: Use screen printing – setup cost amortised over 300 units gives good value, simple colours keep cost down. Tip: Ask for mock-up, check fabric weight and colour contrast, plan order timeline. 7. Why 2Broz Custom is your go-to for custom apparel & printing Since you’re creating posts for 2Broz Custom, here are a few selling points you might emphasise in this blog: Local presence in Sacramento & Fairfield — quick communication, potentially same-day or fast-turn for certain orders. Broad capability: custom tees, custom hoodies, banners, stickers, engraving, etc (so you get one-stop). Flexibility: Bring your own apparel or use our blanks; pick shipping or in-store pickup. Expertise in choosing right method: We don’t just print — we advise you on what method fits your design, fabric, budget, and timeline. Quality guarantee – we stand behind our work (maybe add a testimonial or review snippet). Free shipping over threshold (as your site indicates) and special offers for local pickup. You could weave these into the blog: “At 2Broz Custom we help you choose the method that fits your need — whether that’s custom tees for a one-off, or custom hoodies for 50+ staff members.” 8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: Can I mix methods on the same order (e.g., some tees DTG, some vinyl)? Yes — depending on design and budget. For example if you have 20 with names and numbers and 5 “premium” ones with photo prints, you could do vinyl for the bulk and DTG for the special ones. At 2Broz Custom we can guide you. Q2: Does the fabric colour matter? Absolutely. Dark garments often require white-under-base for DTG which ups cost/time. Vinyl colours might be more limited. Embroidery thread colours must contrast. Always review fabric colour before finalising. Q3: How should I care for my printed/embroidered apparel to maximise life? Wash inside-out, cold water, gentle cycle. Avoid heavy bleaching or drying at high heat. For vinyl: turn inside-out before ironing over print. For embroidery: avoid rough abrasion over stitch area. Q4: What’s the turnaround time? It depends on method and order size & complexity. For small DTG or vinyl jobs, you might see same-day or 1-2 day rush at 2Broz Custom. For embroidery or large screen-printing orders, allow more time (digitising, setup, larger quantity). Always ask when placing. Q5: Can you print on hoodies, and is it different from tees? Yes — “custom hoodies” are fully supported. Hoodies are heavier fabric, may require different vinyl grade or stitch handling. For DTG, pre-treatment and curing may differ. At 2Broz Custom we handle hoodies and will make sure we pick the right method and materials. 9. Final thoughts Choosing the right printing method for your custom tees or custom hoodies is more than just price or design. It’s an informed choice that blends order size, design complexity, fabric/material, durability needs, budget, and timeline. When you walk into 2Broz Custom (or talk to our team) with clarity about these factors, we can help you pick the method that gives you the best value and outcome. So next time you search for “custom t shirt printing”, “custom tees”, “screen printing near me”, or “custom hoodies” — don’t just look for the cheapest option. Look for the one that fits your project. And if you’re local to Sacramento/Fairfield, drop by 2Broz Custom — we’ll walk you through your options and get you set up with the method that makes sense. Ready to get started? Bring us your design, pick your apparel (tee or hoodie), tell us your quantity, deadline and budget — and we’ll recommend the ideal method, give you a quote, and begin your custom printing journey. Happy designing and printing! — The Team at 2Broz Custom