Full Colour
Reproduce detailed artwork, photographs, gradients and complex colour without separating every colour individually.
WHY SUBLIMATION?
Why choose sublimation?
When the product is compatible, sublimation offers vibrant colour, excellent detail and a finish that becomes part of the material or coating.
No Heavy Print Layer
On compatible polyester apparel, the colour bonds with the fibres rather than creating a thick surface graphic.
Permanent Colour
The dye becomes part of the compatible material or coating rather than behaving like a traditional surface-applied transfer.
Photographic Detail
Excellent for tonal artwork, photographs, gradients and detailed full-colour graphics.
Product Versatility
Compatible apparel, drinkware, ornaments, promotional products and other sublimation-ready blanks can all be decorated.
Personalization Friendly
Useful for projects requiring changing names, photographs, numbers or individual artwork.
MATERIAL MATTERS
Sublimation starts with the right surface.
Great artwork isn't enough—the product itself has to be compatible with sublimation. We review the material, colour, coating and intended application before production.
Polyester Content
Sublimation dye bonds with polyester. Higher polyester content generally allows more of the intended colour to transfer into compatible apparel.
Product Colour
Sublimation ink is transparent, so the colour of the product affects the final appearance. Light and white substrates provide the most neutral base.
Sublimation Coating
Hard products such as mugs and ornaments require a compatible coating designed to accept sublimation dye.
Artwork Quality
High-resolution artwork gives us the best starting point for detailed photographs, graphics and full-colour designs.
NOT SURE IF YOUR PRODUCT CAN BE SUBLIMATED?
ASK US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT →
Send us the product or project details. We'll check.
We'll review the material, colour, artwork and intended application before recommending sublimation.
FAQ
Sublimation questions, answered.
01 What is sublimation printing? +
Sublimation uses specialized dye and heat to decorate compatible polyester materials or specially coated products. The dye becomes part of the compatible material or coating rather than sitting on top like a traditional transfer.
02 What materials can be sublimated? +
Sublimation works best with compatible polyester-based materials and products that have a coating specifically designed to accept sublimation dye.
03 Can you sublimate cotton? +
Traditional dye sublimation does not bond to cotton the same way it bonds to polyester. For cotton apparel, DTF, screen printing or HTV will usually be a more appropriate option.
04 Can you sublimate dark shirts? +
Sublimation dye is transparent and does not include an opaque white layer. Dark garment colours can interfere with the intended artwork, so another decoration method is often a better fit.
05 Does sublimation peel or crack? +
On compatible materials, sublimation dye becomes part of the polyester fibres or compatible coating rather than forming a separate surface layer like many transfers.
06 Can sublimation print photographs? +
Yes. Sublimation is especially well suited to detailed full-colour artwork, photographs, gradients and tonal imagery when the product is compatible.
07 Can you sublimate mugs? +
Yes, provided the mug has a compatible sublimation coating designed to accept the dye.
08 Can you make custom ornaments? +
Yes. Compatible sublimation-ready ornaments can be decorated with logos, photographs, artwork and personalized designs.
09 Can every item have different artwork? +
Personalized artwork, photographs, names and other changing information can be practical with sublimation depending on the product and project.
10 Is there a minimum order? +
Minimums depend on the product, artwork and production requirements. Send us your project details and quantity and we'll recommend the best setup.
11 What artwork files do you need? +
Vector artwork such as AI, EPS, SVG or PDF is ideal for logos. High-resolution PNG, PSD or other quality raster files can work well for photographs and detailed artwork.
12 Can I supply my own products? +
Contact us before supplying products. We need to confirm that the material or coating is designed for sublimation and can safely handle the required production conditions.
13 What's the difference between sublimation and DTF? +
Sublimation dyes compatible polyester fibres or coatings, while DTF applies a printed transfer to the garment surface. The better method depends on the product, material, artwork and desired finish.
NOT SURE SUBLIMATION IS THE RIGHT FIT?
Tell us what you're making. We'll recommend the best way to decorate it.
Sublimation can produce incredible full-colour results, but the product, material, colour and artwork all need to be compatible with the process. Send us your project and we'll help determine whether sublimation—or another decoration method—makes the most sense.
GET A QUOTE →
Explore other decoration methods:
DTF Printing
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Embroidery
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Screen Printing
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HTV & Specialty Vinyl
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Patches