Sublimation vs screen printing vs embroidery: which is right for your kit?
How your logo, names and numbers are applied changes how the garment looks, feels, lasts and costs. Here is how the main methods compare.
Sublimation
In sublimation, the design is printed onto paper and transferred into the fabric with heat, where the ink becomes part of the fibre. The whole panel is printed before the garment is sewn, so the design can cover every part of it.
There is nothing on the surface to crack, peel or fade, the fabric stays just as light and breathable, and the number of colors makes no difference to the cost. Every piece can be different, which makes individual names and numbers straightforward.
The limits: it only works on polyester (or high-polyester blends), and on white or light base fabric. It is the standard method for team kits for good reason.
Screen printing
Screen printing pushes ink through a stencil onto the finished garment, one color at a time. It gives bold, opaque prints and works well on cotton, which sublimation cannot print.
Each color needs its own screen, so designs with few colors and larger quantities are the most economical. It is the usual choice for t-shirts and hoodies with a front or back graphic.
DTF and DTG
DTF (direct to film) prints a full-color design onto a film that is heat-pressed onto the garment. DTG (direct to garment) prints straight onto the fabric like an inkjet printer.
Both handle photographs and unlimited colors without screens, which makes them practical for smaller quantities and detailed artwork on cotton.
Heat transfer
Heat-transfer vinyl and printed transfers are cut or printed separately and pressed onto the garment. They are commonly used for names and numbers on solid-color kits, and for silicone or reflective effects.
Embroidery
Embroidery stitches the design into the garment with thread. It gives a raised, premium finish that outlasts print, and is the natural choice for crests on polos, tracksuits, hoodies and caps.
It suits small to medium logos on heavier fabrics. Large embroidered areas become stiff and heavy, and very fine detail or gradients do not translate well into thread.
A quick way to decide
Match the method to the garment and the design:
- Polyester team kit with stripes, patterns, names and numbers: sublimation
- Cotton tee or hoodie with a one- to three-color graphic: screen print
- Small run or full-color artwork on cotton: DTF or DTG
- Crest on a polo, tracksuit or hoodie: embroidery
- Names and numbers on a solid-color kit: heat transfer
Combining methods
Methods are often combined on one garment — a sublimated jersey with an embroidered or woven crest, or a screen-printed hoodie with an embroidered sleeve logo. Say what finish you want when you send your design and we will quote it that way.
Ready to price your own kit?
Build it in the kit designer and send it to us with your quantities.