Sublimation
How sublimation works
The design is printed onto transfer paper with sublimation inks, then heat and pressure are applied. The ink turns straight from solid to gas, passes into the polyester fibres or the polymer coating of the item, and sets there as the item cools.
The result is part of the material rather than a layer on it: there is nothing to feel, and nothing that can crack or peel. Two constraints come with that. It only works on polyester or on items with a coating made for it, and there is no white ink, so the base has to be white or very light and any white in the design is simply the material showing through.
What sublimation suits
Sublimation is the method for photographic and full-colour artwork, and for designs that run over a seam or across a whole panel rather than sitting in a defined block. On the right substrate it has no practical limit on colours.
Products and materials it works on
- White and light polyester sportswear
- Lanyards, buffs and headbands
- Coated mugs and drinkware
- Mouse pads, flags and umbrellas
- Photographic and all-over designs
Lead time, minimum quantity and artwork
- Lead time
- Confirmed with your quote, against stock and quantity
- Minimum quantity
- Depends on the product and the branding method
- Artwork
- High-resolution artwork at around 300dpi at final size, in CMYK. Vector is still preferred for logos and type, but a photograph is acceptable here in a way it is not for the other methods. Remember that white is unprintable: anything white in the file comes out as the colour of the item.
Other branding methods
Embroidery
Screen printing
Laser engraving
Pad printing
Digital printing
Debossing and foiling
Doming and badges
Vinyl heat transfer
Pen branding
Ask us to price your order
Add the products you want to a quote list, tell us the quantity and how you want them branded, and we come back with pricing. Nothing on this site carries a price because every job is costed on the product, the quantity and the decoration.