Sublimation printing works on polyester only.
We offer sublimation, but it only works on polyester, and none of our eight garments is polyester. If you came looking for custom sublimated shirts, a DTF or DTG print is what we'd make for you. Both put full color and gradients on cotton and fleece, and a simple tee with one print is $17.02.
Why sublimation only works on polyester
Sublimation heats the dye until it turns to gas, and the gas bonds with polyester fibers. Cotton doesn't hold the dye that way, which is why every sublimated shirt is a polyester shirt.
What our eight garments are made of
| Garment | Fabric |
|---|---|
| T-Shirt | 100% combed ring-spun cotton, 220 GSM |
| Pique Polo | 100% combed cotton piqué, 200 GSM |
| Hoodie, Zip Hoodie and Sweatshirt | 80/20 cotton-poly brushed fleece, 330 GSM |
| Button-Up Shirt | 100% cotton oxford, 140 GSM |
| Cap | Heavy cotton twill, structured 6-panel |
| Beanie | Acrylic-blend 12-gauge knit |
None of the eight is a polyester garment, and we don't make a ninth one for sublimation. On the pieces we do make, full color goes on as a print.
What to order instead of a sublimated shirt
| If you wanted | Order this | With one print |
|---|---|---|
| A full-color tee | A DTF or DTG print on the T-Shirt | $17.02 |
| A gradient hoodie | A DTF or DTG print on the Hoodie | $23.96 |
| A team polo in full color | A DTF or DTG print on the Pique Polo | $20.18 |
| A full-color cap | A DTF print on the Cap | $10.85 |
Both prints add $3.78 to a piece, and DTF is $2.02 on the cap. DTF is rated for 50-plus washes and runs up to about 10 in wide on the chest and about 12 in on the back. DTG puts the ink straight into the fabric, and we don't publish a wash rating for it.
If you wanted sublimation for a print that runs seam to seam, we can't do that on our garments. For that one job, a supplier that sublimates polyester blanks is the better fit.
How sublimation is priced here
Sublimation has no published fee, and like embroidery and screen printing it's priced in one business day. On our current eight garments the quote you get back will be for a DTF or DTG print, from 15 pieces, with 12% off every piece at 50 and 22% at 150.
Related reading
- How We Decorate Team Apparel
- DTF Printing for Custom Team Apparel
- DTG Printing for Custom Team Apparel
- Custom Apparel Decoration Methods, Compared
Sublimation questions we get
Do you do sublimation printing?
Yes, but it only works on polyester, and none of our eight garments is polyester. For full color and gradients on our cotton and fleece, we print DTF or DTG at $3.78 a piece.
Can you sublimate a cotton t-shirt?
No. Sublimation dye bonds with polyester fibers, and our tee is 100% combed ring-spun cotton. A DTF or DTG print puts full-color artwork on it instead, and a simple tee with one print is $17.02.
Can you print a shirt edge to edge?
No. The largest print we publish is a DTF back print about 12 in wide, with about 10 in on the chest. A design that has to run seam to seam needs sublimation on a polyester garment, and we don't make one.
How much does sublimation cost?
It has no published fee and is priced in one business day. Because none of our garments is polyester, we'll quote a DTF or DTG print in its place, at $3.78 a piece on top of the garment rate.
