What is hybrid printing?
Hybrid printing screen prints a white underbase onto the garment, then prints full-colour artwork over it with a DTG head. Each method does the job it is best at: an opaque, even white from the screen; photographic detail from the digital print.
Why it matters
It is the method for detailed full-colour artwork on dark cotton from about 100 pieces up — cheaper and more consistent than DTG's own white, softer than DTF.
On our floor
One screen setup, around $30, then a per-piece cost between DTG and screen print — roughly $2.60 for a full front at 100 from our current rate sheet. Cotton only.
Common questions
- Is hybrid the same as DTF?
- No. DTF prints onto a film; hybrid prints ink into the fabric over a screened white base. Hybrid is softer; DTF suits any fabric.
- Does hybrid work on polyester?
- No — the digital layer is DTG ink. Use DTF or sublimation.
- Why not DTG alone on black?
- For a few pieces, fine. For 100 or more, DTG white is slow, ink-heavy and varies; a screened underbase is fast and identical on every garment.
- What is the minimum?
- 50 pieces; economical from about 100.
Related terms
underbase
An underbase is a layer of white ink laid down before the colours so that the design stays bright and opaque on a dark garment instead of…
DTG printing
DTG — direct-to-garment — prints water-based ink directly into the fabric with a large inkjet printer. The ink sits in the fibre rather…
screen printing
Screen printing pushes ink through a fine mesh screen stencilled with your artwork, one screen and one pass per colour. Setup is per…
DTF printing
DTF — direct-to-film — prints your artwork onto a clear film with a white backing layer, coats it with adhesive powder, and heat-presses it…
Where this applies
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