Sublimation Printing
Vibrant. Durable. Built to Perform. Sublimation printing brings your designs to life in full colour with unbeatable clarity and fade-resistant results. Perfect for performance wear, sports kits, and eye-catching promotional gear— this is printing that lasts as long as your hustle.
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What is Sublimation Printing?
If you're asking, "what is sublimation printing" or "what is dye sublimation printing", it’s a process where your artwork is first printed onto a special transfer sheet using sublimation dye printers or a dye sublimation printer, and then heat-pressed onto a polyester fabric. Under high heat, the sublimation dye turns into gas and permanently bonds with the garment fibres. This produces a sublimation print that is vibrant, breathable, and exceptionally durable ideal for sublimation t shirts, sublimation tees, and other clothes printing applications.
Unlike other t shirt printing methods, dye sublimation printing results in a print that becomes part of the fabric, making it feel as soft as the material itself. It’s also the preferred method among professional tshirt printers and brands using t shirt printer equipment or working with a sublimator for custom apparel.
Why choose Sublimation Printing?
Sublimation is a perfect printing technique for 100% white polyester garments and works best with light-coloured fabrics, which is why it's a favourite for personalised t-shirt printing, sports tops, vests, and socks. The method provides soft, all-over prints with edge-to-edge colour, something traditional t-shirt printers often can’t match. Whether you’re creating branded sublimation t shirts, sublimation tees, or exploring what is sublimation in printing, this is the ideal solution.
With prices starting at £6.95 per item and no minimum orders, even small brands can launch their line using a sublimation printer UK service. And if you're looking for a scalable print-on-demand solution, a dye sublimation printer UK setup offers speed, flexibility, and professional-grade results.
Special Considerations for Dye Sublimation:
Care
To maintain your screen printed t shirts or sublimation tees, wash inside out in cold water. Avoid harsh detergents and tumble drying to preserve both the fabric and the sublimation print.
Printing Marks
Because of the sublimation dye process, white crease marks may appear especially around seams or folds such as the armpits. This is typical with all-over t shirt printing and is most visible on garments made of 100% white polyester.
Black Colour Print
A true black can’t be fully achieved through dye sublimation as the ink can only saturate the fabric so much. This means the black may appear slightly muted compared to other colours, something to keep in mind when creating a screen print t shirt alternative using sublimation.
Printed Position
Dye sublimation is primarily suited to all over randomly placed designs, not position specific designs but please contact us if you have any doubts but please ensure you understand the potential print creases and our terms and conditions related to this found here.
Advantages of Sublimation Printing
1. Photo-Quality Results
Dye sublimation delivers sharp, high-resolution prints with smooth gradients. It's ideal for photographic images, detailed graphics, and complex colour blends.
2. No Texture or Cracking
The ink becomes part of the fabric rather than sitting on top, resulting in a print that doesn’t peel, crack, or fade. The finish is soft to the touch and long-lasting.
3. Perfect for All-Over Printing
It allows full-coverage printing across entire garments or products, making it a go-to for sportswear, promotional apparel, and large surface designs.
4. Great for On-Demand and Short Runs
No screens or minimums required, ideal for ecommerce, small batches, or testing new designs using a subliminal printer or t shirt printer.
5. Fast Production
Once the design is ready, the process is fast and consistent. Ideal for e-commerce and dropshipping operations needing speed and scalability.
Disadvantages of Sublimation Printing
1. Only Works on Polyester or Polymer-Coated Surfaces
Dye sublimation only bonds properly with polyester or specially coated substrates. It is not suitable for natural fabrics like cotton or linen.
2. Limited to Light-Coloured Materials
The process doesn’t print white, and colours won’t show accurately on dark or black backgrounds. It performs best on white or light-coloured surfaces.
3. Possible marks
Due to the printing process for dye sublimation, it is possible that the print leaves white marks where there are creases. These white marks are commonly found around the armpit area.
4. Less Cost-Efficient for Large Runs
While excellent for short runs, sublimation becomes less cost-effective for large-scale bulk production compared to screen printing.
Our Dye Sublimation Gallery
Your Order, Made Easy in 4 Steps
1. Tell us about your project needs
Share your requirements, quantities and deadlines with our team so we can recommend the best solution.
2. Expert advice & visual mock-ups
We recommend the best products and printing methods, then provide mock-ups for approval before production.
3. Production & Quality control
Your order is produced using professional printing and checked at every stage to ensure quality.
4. On-time delivery, every time
We deliver your order on time to offices, events and venues across the UK and worldwide.
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Check Out Prices & Artwork Guidelines for our Printing Techniques
Explore printing prices and artwork guidelines — everything you need to get started with confidence, backed by expert support when you need it.
Printing Prices Artwork GuidelinesMore Garment Printing Techniques Explained
Looking for the best printing method for your design and garment choice? At Garment Printing, we offer a wide range of professional printing techniques to suit every style, budget and project requirement. Whether you need vibrant full-colour detail, fast turnaround or eco-friendly options, our team has the expertise to deliver. Explore the techniques below and find the right solution for your next project — we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Advanced Screen Printing Effects & Finishes - Screen Printing Techniques
Our advanced screen printing effects and finishes create a wide range of visual and tactile results — from ultra-soft prints and subtle tonal designs to bold textures and eye-catching finishes.
Our team recommends the best approach based on your artwork, garment choice and brand goals, considering colour count, durability, feel and budget to achieve the best result for your project.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sublimation Printing
Find quick answers to our most common questions about Sublimation Printing.
Sublimation printing is a digital printing technique where special inks are transferred onto fabric using heat and pressure. The ink turns into gas and bonds permanently with the fibres, creating vibrant, long-lasting prints that won’t crack, peel or fade.
Sublimation works best on polyester fabrics or polymer-coated products. It does not work on 100% cotton unless the garment has a special sublimation coating.
Yes. Sublimation prints are extremely durable because the ink becomes part of the fabric rather than sitting on top. This means the design will not peel or crack and can withstand regular washing.
Absolutely. Sublimation is ideal for photographic images, gradients and complex multi-colour artwork, making it perfect for sportswear, promotional clothing and branded merchandise.
No. One of the biggest advantages is that the print has no texture or weight — the fabric remains soft and breathable because the ink is embedded into the fibres.
No. Sublimation printing works best on white or very light-coloured fabrics because the inks are translucent and do not include white ink.
Common sublimation products include sports T-shirts, performance wear, tote bags, mugs, lanyards, mouse mats and promotional gifts.
Yes. Sublimation is excellent for bulk orders and repeat production, especially when designs are full colour and require consistency across multiple items.
Garments should be washed at 30–40°C and turned inside out. Avoid bleach and very high heat drying to maintain the fabric quality.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Project
At Garment Printing, we support you from product selection to production and delivery. Share your requirements and timelines, and our team will guide your project from start to finish.
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