Other Services
Full Sublimation
Full Sublimation Printing for Garments: A Comprehensive Guide
A digital printing method that involves transferring a full-color image onto a polyester-based fabric using heat. This process offers a unique blend of durability, color vibrancy, and design flexibility.
How Does The Cloth Printing Work?
- Design Creation: A digital design is created using software.
- Print Transfer: The design is printed onto a special transfer paper using special ink.
- Heat Press: The transfer paper, with the printed design, is applied to the polyester fabric and heated under high pressure.
- Ink: The ink transforms into a gaseous state and is absorbed into the fabric’s fibers.
- Permanent Image: Once cooled, the ink becomes part of the fabric, creating a permanent, high-quality image.
Uniqueness of Sublimation Printing
- All-Over Printing: This method allows for seamless, all-over designs, unlike traditional screen printing or embroidery.
- Photorealistic Quality: It can reproduce intricate details and vibrant colors with exceptional accuracy.
- Durability: Printed images are resistant to fading, cracking, and peeling, ensuring long-lasting quality.
- Flexibility: This process can be used on a wide range of polyester-based fabrics, including sportswear, swimwear, and fashion garments.
- Customization: It enables highly personalized designs, making it ideal for custom apparel and promotional items.
Applications Of Sublimation Printing:
- Sportswear: Jerseys, shorts, and jackets for teams and athletes.
- Fashion Apparel: T-shirts, hoodies, dresses, and accessories.
- Promotional Items: Bags, hats, and flags.
In conclusion, this printing method offers a versatile and high-quality solution for creating unique and durable garments. Its ability to produce vibrant, all-over designs and its suitability for various fabric types make it a popular choice for both commercial and personal applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sublimation printing is a technique where specialised ink is transferred into the fabric via heat, so the design becomes part of the cloth rather than just laid on top. This method is especially effective for vivid, full-coloured prints on garments. For example, the ink bonds with synthetic fibres which results in vibrant, durable results.
At Topstitch, our cloth printing service uses this technology to print t-shirts and other apparel with high detail and full-colour capability.
Sublimation printing works best on garments made from polyester or fabric blends that allow the ink to permeate the fibres. According to industry sources:
- 100% polyester or polyester-rich fabrics are ideal.
- Light-coloured or white base fabrics tend to yield better vibrancy.
So if you want to use Topstitch’s service to print t-shirts, ensure the fabric is compatible with sublimation printing for optimal results.
Some key advantages:
- The design becomes part of the fabric, meaning you don’t feel a heavy print layer. This gives a soft hand-feel.
- You can achieve vibrant, full-colour, all-over print designs without many of the constraints of traditional printing methods.
- Better durability: the print is less likely to crack, peel or fade compared to many surface-applied print techniques.
At Topstitch, when you choose our cloth printing service using sublimation, you benefit from these quality-driven features for your t-shirt designs.
When using sublimation for printing a t-shirt, here are important points:
- Submit high-resolution artwork, preferably in a format suitable for large-scale, full-colour printing.
- Since the print can be all-over (covering large areas or entire garments), design accordingly.
- Choose fabric and colour base that will support the sublimation process—lighter or white polyester bases usually perform best.
- Discuss with Topstitch about sizing, placement, and whether the design covers full garment panels.
The process typically involves:
- Design submission and approval
- Fabric selection and garment preparation
- Printing via sublimation (ink transfer + heat press)
- Garment finishing, quality check and packing
Although the exact turnaround time depends on order size, complexity and fabric availability, general industry guidelines for full-colour sublimation printing suggest 7-21 working days.
At Topstitch, we’ll provide you with a tailored lead-time once you place your order for our cloth printing service.