When you want custom apparel, custom sublimation T-shirts give businesses, teams, and organizations more flexibility. Unlike other print methods, you can choose detailed artwork, bright colors, and designs that go beyond a standard logo. Our team at The Sublimation House offers custom sublimation for everything from company shirts and team uniforms to event apparel. Learn more about sublimation and if it’s the right choice for your project.
What Are Custom Sublimation T-Shirts?
Unlike ink that sits on top of shirts, dye sublimation is a process that uses heat to transfer dye directly into polyester fibers. You end up with a T-shirt design that becomes part of the fabric. This allows for:
- Full-color graphics
- Gradients and photographic details
- Large designs
- Repeating patterns
- All-over prints
You end up with a lightweight finish that won’t crack or peel like a surface-applied print. Custom sublimation is also a good choice for T-shirts that need to stay comfortable and flexible during sports, events, or regular wear.
What Are the Best Fabrics for Sublimation T-Shirts?
Sublimation can work on a variety of fabrics, but works great on polyester or polyester-based performance fabrics. Polyester fibers bond with sublimation dye, especially on white and light-colored fabrics. You can still create dark-colored sublimation shirts, but the design and construction require a different approach than just printing directly onto an existing black or navy shirt. The right fabric should also account for comfort, breathability, moisture wicking, and how you intend to use it.
Our goal at The Sublimation House is to create comfortable, durable apparel with the design you’re looking for. We can talk you through your options and make sure you get the best option for your project.
Printing Sublimation Shirts Before They Are Sewn
There’s a difference between using sublimation on a pre-made shirt and using cut-and-sew sublimation. Printing on a pre-made shirt means the garment was already sewn together before the design was ever applied. Cut-and-sew sublimation uses individual fabric panels instead. We print on each panel while it’s still flat so we can control the design process. Afterward, our expert sewists cut and sew the pieces together. Our process gives you more control over how your artwork lines up across the sleeves, shoulders, sides, and seams. It’s also easier to prevent blank spots, folds, and other uneven areas.
Designing a Custom Sublimation T-Shirt
We start with the purpose of the shirt before choosing graphics. It’s important to decide whether you want a design that’s
- Easily recognizable from a distance
- Sponsor-heavy
- Performance-oriented
- Retail-ready
- Promotional
We guide you through how you want the design to look from every direction, especially with all-over sublimation.
Our team makes sure any important text, logos, faces, and other critical details stay away from seams or construction areas unless the garment is being designed specifically around them. We can also let you know if an option like screen printing, embroidery, or another method makes the most sense for the project.
Custom Sublimation FAQs
How long do sublimation prints last on T-shirts?
Our cut-and-sew sublimation designs can last for the life of the garment because the dye becomes part of the polyester fibers. It doesn’t just sit on the surface and potentially crack and peel. However, the fabric itself can eventually fade or wear with repeated use and washing.
Can you sublimate on 100% cotton T-shirts?
Traditional dye sublimation doesn’t work well directly on 100% cotton because sublimation dye is designed to bond with polyester. Polyester or polyester-based shirts usually provide strong, bold colors and durable results.
Can sublimation printing be used on dark-colored shirts?
Standard sublimation works best on white or light polyester because sublimation ink is transparent and doesn’t print white. You can still create dark-colored sublimated shirts, but it requires a different approach than printing directly onto an existing black or navy shirt. We can also accomplish your goals with a cut-and-sew approach instead of just sublimating directly onto a finished dark shirt.
Is sublimation better than screen printing for T-shirts?
Whether or not sublimation is better than screen printing depends on the design and garment. Sublimation is especially useful for full-color, detailed, or all-over designs on polyester, while screen printing can be a better choice for simpler designs on cotton and other fabrics.
How much do custom sublimation T-shirts cost?
Custom sublimation T-shirt pricing depends on the garment, quantity, design, construction, and whether you need standard or cut-and-sew production. Our team at The Sublimation House can provide a quote based on your artwork and project requirements.
Get Started on Your Custom Sublimation T-Shirts
Ready to explore custom sublimation for your project? The Sublimation House creates custom sublimation apparel at our Las Vegas production facility and ships nationwide. Instead of sending your artwork through a generic print-on-demand site, you can work directly with a team that understands the production process and can help you choose the right approach for your design.
Contact The Sublimation House to discuss custom sublimation T-shirts for your business, team, event, organization, or apparel line.
