Sublimated Team Uniforms, Print That Lives in the Fabric

Sublimation vs screen print vs heat transfer

Screen printing lays ink on top of the fabric. It works well on cotton and is cheap at high volume, but each color is a separate screen, the print stiffens the panel, and it cracks over a season of washing.

Heat transfer vinyl is fast and good for one time names, but the edges lift, especially on a jersey that gets pulled at. Sublimation has no edge to lift because there is no added layer, which is why it has become the standard for performance team kits.

What sublimation makes possible

• Unlimited colors, gradients, fades, camo and photographic patterns at no extra cost
• Full-bleed designs that wrap seams to the hem and cuff
• Sponsor logos and district patches printed rather than applied
• Numbers that never peel, even after a full season of hot washes
• No added weight or stiffness anywhere on the garment

The one limitation to know

Sublimation only bonds to polyester, and only prints darker than the base fabric. That means a true white graphic on a dark jersey is created by masking the white polyester rather than printing white ink, and cotton garments cannot be sublimated at all, for cotton hoodies and tees we use embroidery or screen print instead.

Caring for sublimated kit

• Machine wash cold, inside out, with a mild detergent
• No bleach and no fabric softener, both break down performance fibers
• Tumble dry low or hang dry. High heat is what shortens a jersey's life
• Do not iron directly on the print area