Screen printing remains the workhorse of garment decoration: ink is pushed through a mesh stencil, producing durable, vivid results that become economical as quantities grow. Direct-to-garment printing works like an inkjet printer for fabric and excels at full-color, one-off designs, while direct-to-film transfers offer similar flexibility across a wider range of textiles. Heat-transfer vinyl is cut rather than printed, which makes it the standard choice for names and numbers, and embroidery stitches thread directly into the garment for a textured, long-lasting finish. Sublimation infuses dye into polyester fibers and is the basis of most all-over printed sportswear.
Choosing among these methods involves trade-offs in feel, wash durability, color range, and sensible batch size. A buyer does not need to master the technical details, but asking which method will be used — and how the finished garment should be washed — is a reasonable question that experienced sellers answer without hesitation.