Sublimation Printing: The Complete Guide to All-Over Prints on Polyester

Sublimation Printing: All-Over Prints on Polyester

If you have ever seen a sports jersey with a complex all-over pattern, a full-color photo printed seamlessly on a shirt, or vibrant graphics that wrap around the entire garment, that is sublimation printing. It is the only method that can truly print edge-to-edge on fabric with unlimited colors and zero hand feel.

At French Press Custom, sublimation is our go-to for performance wear, jerseys, and full-coverage designs.

How Sublimation Printing Works

Sublimation is a heat-transfer process where dye transitions from a solid to a gas without becoming liquid (hence "sublimation", a chemistry term). The gaseous dye penetrates the polyester fibers and bonds at a molecular level.

The Process

1. Design: Your artwork is created digitally at full size
2. Print: The design is printed onto special sublimation transfer paper using sublimation ink
3. Press: The transfer paper is placed on the polyester garment and heat-pressed at 380-400 degrees F for 45-60 seconds
4. Result: The ink transitions from solid to gas, penetrates the polyester fibers, and re-solidifies inside the fabric

The Science

Sublimation ink has an affinity for polyester molecules. Under heat and pressure, the ink vaporizes, the polyester fibers open, the gaseous ink enters, and when the temperature drops, the fibers close around the dye. The color is literally part of the fabric.

Why Sublimation Is Special

1. Zero Hand Feel

Because the dye is inside the fabric rather than on top of it, there is absolutely no texture, weight, or stiffness added. The printed area feels identical to the unprinted area.

2. Unlimited Colors at No Extra Cost

Unlike screen printing where each color adds cost, sublimation is a single-pass process. A 2-color design costs the same to print as a 2-million-color photograph.

3. Full Coverage (Edge-to-Edge)

Sublimation can cover the entire surface of the garment, front, back, sleeves, and sides. No other printing method can do true all-over printing as effectively.

4. Incredible Durability

The dye is part of the fabric. It cannot crack, peel, fade, or wash off. Sublimated garments maintain their appearance wash after wash after wash.

5. Photographic Quality

Sublimation reproduces photographs, gradients, and complex patterns with stunning detail and color accuracy. It is the closest to "printing a photograph on fabric" as current technology allows.

The Catch: Polyester Only

This is the single biggest limitation of sublimation: it only works on polyester or polyester-coated substrates.

Why Only Polyester?

Sublimation dye has a molecular bond with polyester specifically. It does not bond with cotton, nylon, or other natural fibers. Attempting to sublimate on cotton will result in washed-out colors that fade immediately.

Fabric Requirements

• 100% polyester: best results, most vibrant colors
• High-poly blends (65%+ polyester), acceptable but colors will be slightly muted
• White or light-colored polyester: sublimation dye is transparent, so it cannot cover dark base colors

Common Sublimation Garments

• Performance tees (100% polyester moisture-wicking)
• Sports jerseys (basketball, soccer, esports)
• Leggings and athletic wear
• Polo shirts (polyester or poly-blend)
• Hoodies (polyester fleece)

Cut-and-Sew Sublimation

For the highest quality all-over prints, we use a cut-and-sew process:

1. Sublimate the design onto flat fabric panels
2. Cut the panels into garment pieces
3. Sew the pieces together into a finished garment

This ensures the print goes all the way to every edge and seam, no white gaps at the sleeves or sides. Standard sublimation on pre-made garments can leave white areas at seams and underarms.

Cut-and-Sew vs Standard Sublimation

Sublimation Pricing

Sublimation at French Press Custom starts at 12 pieces and is priced per print location by quantity, with a one-time setup per location. Cut-and-sew all-over garments are quoted per project because the panel count, fabric, and sewing vary by design. Colors never affect the price. Send us your design and quantity for an exact number: request a quote or call (562) 407-3800. For a full-color alternative on polyester that you can price instantly, see our DTF cost guide.

When to Choose Sublimation

Sublimation is the best choice when:

• You want all-over, edge-to-edge printing
• Your design has unlimited colors, gradients, or photographs
• You are printing on polyester performance wear
• You need sports jerseys (basketball, soccer, esports, cycling)
• Durability is critical (the print literally cannot crack or peel)
• You want zero hand feel: the print should feel like the fabric

When NOT to Choose Sublimation

Skip sublimation when:

• You want to print on cotton (use screen printing, DTG, or DTF)
• You are printing on dark-colored garments (sublimation dye is transparent)
• You need a simple 1-2 color logo (screen printing is faster and cheaper)
• Your order is under 12 pieces (setup costs make small runs expensive)

Sublimation Beyond Apparel

Sublimation also works on any polyester-coated hard good:

• Mugs and drinkware
• Phone cases
• Mouse pads
• Puzzles
• Coasters
• Metal prints and signs

This makes it great for promotional products and gifts alongside your apparel order.

Get Started

Sublimation is perfect for teams, performance brands, and anyone who wants full-color, all-over printing. Contact French Press Custom at (562) 407-3800 or submit your design through our quote form. We will mock up your design on the actual garment so you can see exactly what the finished product will look like.