Sublimation printing dyes the design directly into polyester fibres, so it will not crack, fade or peel and suits full colour, all over designs. Screen printing sits on top of the fabric as layers of ink, which works well for simple, high opacity logos in a small number of colours and can be more economical for smaller print areas. The right choice depends on your design, fabric and order size.
How Sublimation Printing Works
Sublimation transfers dye from a printed paper onto fabric using heat and pressure. The heat opens the fibres of polyester fabric, the dye gas bonds with them, and the fibres close again as they cool. Because the colour becomes part of the fabric rather than sitting on the surface, sublimated garments keep their full colour and detail even after heavy wash cycles.
This method is the standard choice for match day jerseys that use gradients, photographic textures or an all over pattern, since it can reproduce unlimited colours and fine detail at no extra cost per colour.
How Screen Printing Works
Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh stencil, one colour at a time, directly onto the fabric surface. It produces bold, highly opaque results and works on cotton as well as polyester, which sublimation cannot do. Screen printing is usually the better choice for a simple chest logo, a sponsor wordmark, or any design using a small number of flat colours.
Durability Compared
Sublimated graphics resist cracking and peeling because the dye lives inside the fibres. Screen printed ink sits on top of the fabric, so over many wash cycles and with repeated stretching, especially around high movement areas like shoulders and sleeves, it can eventually crack at the edges. For garments with heavy, full colour graphics that need to last an entire season, sublimation is the more durable option.
Cost And Order Size
Screen printing and heat transfer can be more cost effective for small orders with a simple one or two colour design, since sublimation set up is usually most efficient for full colour, all over artwork. For larger kit programs with complex graphics, sublimation often becomes the more economical choice per unit, because the cost does not increase with the number of colours used.
Which Method Should You Choose?
- Choose sublimation for full colour jerseys, gradients, photographic effects or all over patterns on polyester
- Choose screen printing for simple, high opacity logos on cotton or polyester in a small number of colours
- Choose embroidery for crests and wordmarks that need a raised, premium finish
- Choose DTF or heat transfer for small runs of custom names and numbers added after the base garment is produced
A factory with all of these methods available in house, rather than outsourcing some of them, can mix techniques on the same garment, for example a sublimated jersey body with an embroidered crest, which is common on premium teamwear.
Questions Buyers Ask Us Directly
Is sublimation or screen printing better for team jerseys?
Sublimation is generally better for full colour, edge to edge designs on polyester jerseys, since the dye becomes part of the fabric and will not crack or peel. Screen printing suits simpler, high opacity designs on a limited number of colours and can be more cost effective on larger flat areas.
Does sublimation printing fade over time?
Sublimation printing is dyed into the fabric fibres rather than sitting on top of them, so it resists fading, cracking and peeling far better than surface prints, even after repeated washing and heavy game use.
Can sublimation be used on cotton fabric?
Sublimation works best on polyester or polyester blend fabrics, since the process relies on heat opening the fibres to absorb dye. Cotton does not accept sublimation dye well, so cotton garments typically use screen printing, embroidery or heat transfer instead.
Which printing method is cheaper for a small order?
For a small quantity with a simple one or two colour design, screen printing or heat transfer can be more cost effective, since sublimation usually suits full colour, all over designs better. For larger full colour kit programs, sublimation often becomes more economical per unit.
Not sure which method fits your design?
Send us your artwork and we will recommend the right printing method for your fabric and budget.