Sublimation vs Silkscreen Printing: Which is Right for Your Team?
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Choosing between sublimation and silkscreen printing is one of the first decisions you'll make when ordering custom jerseys or corporate shirts. Both methods produce high-quality results, but they're suited to different designs, fabrics, and budgets. Here's how to choose the right one for your team or company.
Quick Answer
Sublimation is best for full-colour, all-over designs printed on polyester fabric — the print won't crack, peel, or fade. Silkscreen printing works best for simpler designs limited to logos or pictorials, and can be printed on both polyester and cotton fabric.
What is Sublimation Printing?
Sublimation is a printing process where dye is turned into gas and infused directly into the fibres of the fabric, rather than sitting on top of it as a layer of ink. This makes sublimation ideal for jerseys with intricate, full-body designs — patterns, gradients, and colour blocking that cover the entire garment.
Pros:
- Print becomes part of the fabric itself — won't crack, peel, or fade over time
- Supports unlimited colours and complex, full-coverage designs
- Feels lightweight and breathable, since there's no extra layer of ink on the fabric
Limitation:
- Can only be done on polyester fabric — it won't work on cotton, since the dye needs polyester's fibre structure to bond properly
Best for: Sports jerseys with bold team colours, gradients, or all-over graphic designs — football, basketball, and bowling jerseys are common examples.
What is Silkscreen Printing?
Silkscreen printing (also called screen printing) applies ink through a stencil, layering it directly onto the surface of the fabric. It's a well-established method, especially suited to designs limited to a logo, text, or a simple pictorial rather than a full-body graphic.
Pros:
- Works on both polyester and cotton fabric
- Cost-effective for simpler designs, especially in smaller print areas
- Typically applied to ready-made ("blank") shirts, giving you flexibility in base garment choice
Limitation:
- Best suited to designs no larger than A3 size
- Pricing is affected by the number of colours in the design — more colours generally means more cost, since each colour typically requires a separate screen
Best for: Corporate shirt logos, small team crests, or designs where only a portion of the shirt (not the entire surface) needs printing.
Sublimation vs Silkscreen: Side-by-Side
| Sublimation | Silkscreen | |
|---|---|---|
| Design coverage | Full, all-over design | Limited to logo/pictorial, up to A3 |
| Fabric compatibility | Polyester only | Polyester and cotton |
| Durability | Won't crack, peel, or fade | Durable, but can wear over many washes |
| Pricing factor | Design complexity, quantity | Number of colours, quantity |
| Common use | Sports jerseys | Corporate shirts, simpler logos |
Which Should You Choose?
If you're designing a sports jersey with bold team colours, patterns, or a design that covers the whole shirt, sublimation is almost always the better fit — it's built for exactly this kind of full-coverage, long-lasting print.
If you're printing a corporate shirt with just your company logo, or a design that's limited to one area of the shirt, silkscreen printing is often the more practical and cost-effective choice — especially if you want the flexibility to print on cotton rather than polyester.
Get a Quote
Not sure which method fits your design? LEAM works with schools, sports clubs, and companies across Singapore to match the right printing method, fabric, and collar style to your team's needs. Contact us on WhatsApp for a quote tailored to your design.