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Decoration Technique
Sublimation Printing
Dye-sublimation fuses ink into polyester fiber. Edge-to-edge print that never peels, cracks, or fades — the only way to achieve true all-over apparel.
Best For
All-over print, full-coverage artwork, photographic prints
Fabric
Polyester and polyester blends (100% polyester recommended)
MOQ
50 pieces per design
Durability
Lifetime — print is part of the fiber, cannot peel
Cost
$$ — most cost-effective for all-over print runs
Lead Time
15–25 days including sampling
About Sublimation
Sublimation printing is the gold standard for full-coverage, edge-to-edge apparel decoration. Unlike screen printing or DTG, sublimation doesn't sit on top of the fabric — it dyes the polyester fiber from the inside out. The result is a print you literally cannot feel, that will not peel or crack for the life of the garment.
At SublimApparel, we run industrial 1.9m wide-format sublimation printers with CMYK plus 8 extended spot colors. Every panel of the garment — front, back, sleeves, side panels, even the inside collar — can carry continuous artwork. Panels are printed together so they match perfectly when sewn, then cut, assembled and finished on the same floor.
Sublimation is the only print method that lets a single T-shirt, polo, hoodie or jersey carry a full photograph, gradient, or pattern across every visible surface. It is the technique behind most esports jerseys, racing kits, festival merch, and event staff uniforms you see today.
Why Choose Sublimation
- True edge-to-edge print — no print area limits
- Photographic detail and unlimited color count at no extra cost
- Print will never peel, crack, fade or wash out
- Soft hand-feel — zero raised surface on the fabric
- Ideal for cut-and-sew garments with perfectly aligned panels
Best Use Cases
Esports team jerseys and tournament kitsCycling jerseys and triathlon suitsRacing suits and motorsport apparelFestival merch and concert tour apparelAll-over print streetwear collectionsEvent staff uniforms and brand activation wear
How Sublimation Works
- 1
Artwork separation
We pre-flight your file. CMYK plus up to 8 spot colors. Underbase white added automatically for polyester.
- 2
Wide-format print
1.9m wide roll-to-roll sublimation printer lays the design onto transfer paper at 4,800 × 1,200 DPI.
- 3
Cut & assemble
Printed paper is cut to garment panel size. Front, back, sleeves kept aligned with registration marks.
- 4
Heat-press transfer
200°C / 30 sec cycle on an 80 × 100 cm platen. Dye sublimates from solid to gas, bonds with polyester fibers.
- 5
Cut & sew
Each garment is cut, assembled and sewn on the same floor. Panels match perfectly because printed together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sublimate on cotton?
Sublimation ink only bonds with polyester. For cotton, we use DTG or DTF — both available in-house. Ask us about our cotton-recommended techniques.
Is there a minimum print area?
No. Sublimation is the only technique with no print area limits — you can print edge to edge, including over seams if we cut and sew for you.
How many colors can I use?
Unlimited. Sublimation uses CMYK plus extended spot colors, so even photographs reproduce cleanly at no extra cost.
Will the print fade after washing?
No. Because the dye is now part of the polyester fiber, the print is colorfast for the life of the garment — even after 100+ washes.
Related Techniques
DTG Printing (Direct to Garment)
Inkjet-printed directly onto the garment. Photographic detail, soft hand-feel, no screen setup — perfect for short runs and one-offs on cotton.
View details
DTF Printing (Direct to Film)
Print on film, transfer to fabric. DTF works on any fabric — cotton, polyester, nylon, leather — with vibrant colors and a soft hand.
View details
Overall Printing (All-Over Sublimation)
True edge-to-edge full-coverage printing on cut-and-sew apparel. The only way to put artwork on every surface of a garment.
View details
Screen Printing
The original apparel decoration method. Cost-effective at volume, vibrant Pantone colors, and the workhorse of band merch, events, and corporate uniforms.
View detailsGet a quote
Tell us your product, quantity and deadline.
You will have a landed, duty-paid price within one business day. If your deadline is not achievable, we will say so in the same reply rather than take the order and manage the problem later.
- Reply within 1 business day
- Team hours overlap US Pacific and UK
- Yiwu factory + Fontana, CA warehouse