If you've ever worn a team shirt where the number cracked and peeled after a few washes, you've experienced the limits of traditional printing. Sublimation printing solves this problem entirely — and it's the reason we use it for every custom garment we make. Here's how it works, in plain English.
The Science in a Nutshell
Sublimation is a phase change — when a solid turns directly into a gas without becoming liquid first. In sublimation printing, special inks are heated until they turn into gas, and that gas bonds permanently with the polyester fibres in the fabric. The dye becomes part of the material at a molecular level. There's no layer sitting on top — the colour is in the fabric.
The Process, Step by Step
- Design — Your custom design is printed in reverse onto special transfer paper using sublimation inks.
- Heat press — The paper is placed against the polyester fabric and pressed under high heat (around 200°C) and pressure.
- Sublimation — The ink turns to gas and penetrates the polyester fibres, bonding permanently as it cools.
- Finish — The paper is removed, leaving a vivid, permanent image with no texture or added weight.
Why It's Better Than Alternatives
Traditional methods — screen printing and heat-transfer vinyl — apply colour as a layer on top of the fabric. That layer is what eventually cracks, peels, and fades. Sublimation avoids this entirely because there's no layer. The colour is the fabric. This means:
- No cracking or peeling — there's nothing on the surface to break down
- No fading — the dye is bonded into the fibre, not sitting on top to wash away
- No weight or stiffness — the fabric stays soft, breathable, and flexible
- Unlimited colours — complex patterns cost the same as simple ones, with no per-colour setup
- All-over printing — patterns can cover the entire garment, edge to edge
One Requirement: Polyester
Sublimation only bonds with polyester fibres. That's why all sublimated sportswear is made from polyester or a polyester-rich blend — the dye has nothing to grab onto in cotton or other natural fibres. This isn't a drawback; it's why polyester is the standard for performance teamwear. It's lightweight, moisture-wicking, durable, and the perfect canvas for sublimation.
What This Means for Your Kit
When you design with our live 2D customizer, the colours and patterns you see are exactly what sublimation will produce. Choose from 28 performance colours and eight pattern designs, knowing the final product will match your preview — and that those colours will stay vivid for the life of the garment.
Want to see sublimation in action? Start designing and watch your colours come to life in real time.