Sublimation Printing

Dye bonded into the fibre, not sitting on top of it - printed on the panel before the garment is sewn, so the graphic runs right to the seam.

Macro photograph of dye pigment bonding into white polyester fibres

Sublimation turns dye into gas and bonds it into polyester fibres. The print becomes part of the fabric, so there is nothing to crack, peel or stiffen, and the garment weighs and breathes exactly as it did before. It is why team kit is sublimated rather than screen printed.

Detail

Sublimation Printing at FABRIOZA

What it does that other methods cannot

  • Unlimited colours at no extra cost - a photograph costs the same as one colour
  • Edge-to-edge coverage, including over seams, because panels are printed flat before they are sewn
  • Zero hand feel - nothing sits on the surface, so nothing cracks or peels
  • No weight added, which matters on performance wear
  • Does not fade the way a surface print wears away

The one hard limit, stated plainly

  • Sublimation only works on polyester and polyester-rich fabric. On cotton the colours wash straight out - this is chemistry, not quality
  • It cannot print white. White is the fabric showing through, so the base must be white or very light
  • On a dark polyester base, colours shift. We will tell you before you commit, not after
  • If you need cotton, we will steer you to DTG, screen print or DTF instead

Cut and sew, not pre-made blanks

  • We print the panels and then sew the garment, which is what makes all-over coverage possible
  • A sublimated blank bought in and printed afterwards always has gaps at the seams and under the arms
  • Your own pattern, fit and panel layout - the graphic is designed around the actual pieces

Included with production. When you place a garment order with us, this work is included for that artwork. If you only want the files, we quote it separately and confirm the price in writing before we start.

Questions

Frequently asked

Can you sublimate cotton?

No, and nor can anyone else. Sublimation dye bonds to polyester. On cotton it washes out. For cotton we use DTG, screen print or DTF.

Can sublimation print white?

No. White areas are the fabric showing through, so the base fabric must be white or very light.

Does the print crack or peel like a screen print?

No. The dye is inside the fibre rather than on the surface, so there is nothing to crack, peel or wash off.

Can the graphic run across seams?

Yes. We print the flat panels before the garment is sewn, which is why coverage can be edge to edge.

Is there an extra charge for more colours?

No. A full-colour photographic print costs the same as a single colour, which is the opposite of screen printing.

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