Print techniques in detail
Sublimation Printing
Heat turns ink into vapor, vapor bonds inside polyester fibers. The print becomes part of the fabric — edge-to-edge color, no boundary, no cracking.
Sublimation turns solid ink into gas under heat, which then bonds permanently with synthetic fibers. The print becomes part of the fabric rather than sitting on top of it — soft hand-feel with zero texture on the surface, full-color photo detail, and true edge-to-edge coverage. The trade-off: polyester-family fabrics only, and works best on light or white base colors.
Why pick this
Sublimation Printing
01
Full-coverage, edge-to-edge printing
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Never cracks, peels, or fades
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Lightweight and breathable
04
Best for sportswear and activewear
Sublimation works by turning solid dye into gas under high heat, then permanently embedding it into polyester fibers. The print becomes part of the fabric rather than a layer sitting on top — run your hand across a finished garment and you feel smooth fabric, not ink. Nothing to crack, peel, or fade, even after heavy washing. The standout capability no other print method matches: true all-over printing edge to edge, with photographic full-color graphics and gradients across the entire shirt. That's because sublimation happens before cut-and-sew, not on finished garments.
Brands choose sublimation when they need sportswear, running shirts, cycling jerseys, or activewear that has to stay light, breathable, and sweat-tolerant — since the print isn't sitting on the surface, the fabric breathes the same as blank polyester. The trade-off is that it only works on polyester-family fabrics, and lands cleanest on light or white base colors. At our own factory we pair sublimation with eight performance fabrics — Atom, Microreap, Micro Mesh, Rice Grain, Starburst, Bubble, Golf, and Wool — picked by weight and hand-feel for each brand.
MOQ for sublimation is 30 pieces, same tier as silk screen. Lead time runs 14-21 days after sample approval; simple team kits ship faster, and rush slots are available for events at +15-25%. Every order includes one real sample on the actual fabric and ink before production starts — nothing prints in bulk until you sign off. With 27 years of in-house production since 1999, we've delivered sportswear and uniforms with this technique for over 200 brands.
Best fit for
- Running shirts, cycling jerseys, and full-cut team kits with all-over graphics
- E-sports and gaming jerseys that need photographic artwork
- Corporate sports uniforms and charity race tees
- Activewear fashion brands wanting edge-to-edge prints
- TK polyester polos with sponsor logos printed around the entire garment
Frequently asked
- Can sublimation print on cotton shirts?
- No — sublimation only bonds with polyester-family synthetic fibers. If you want photographic prints on cotton, DTG or DTF are the right techniques instead.
- Why does sublimation only look good on light-colored shirts?
- Sublimation ink is translucent with no white base layer, so it blends with whatever color sits beneath it. On black or dark fabric the print barely shows. White and pastel shades give the truest, sharpest colors.
- Does full all-over printing cost the same as a small chest logo?
- Price scales with print area and fabric used. All-over jobs require printing fabric before cut-and-sew, so per-piece pricing runs slightly higher than a single-spot logo. We quote against the actual artwork every time — no hidden fees.
Not sure which technique fits?
Send us your design and run size; we'll come back with the right technique and a quote within 24 hours.