The process in plain language
Artwork is separated into printable panels that match the pattern pieces of the garment. Those panels are printed with sublimation inks onto transfer paper. The paper is aligned to cut panels of polyester fabric and pressed with heat. The solid dye turns into a gas and bonds with the fiber, then returns to a solid state inside the yarn.
After pressing, panels are sewn. That order — print then sew — is why registration at seams, collars and armholes should be reviewed on a sample.
Why polyester
Sublimation bonds with polyester. Cotton and high-cotton blends do not take the dye in the same way. If a buyer wants a cotton hand-feel, sublimation is usually the wrong decoration method for that fabric.
What sublimation is good at
Unlimited color in a single design, photographic graphics, gradients, and repeating patterns. There is no per-color screen cost. That is why it dominates custom team kits and cycling jerseys with many sponsors.
- Design is in the fiber, so it does not sit as a heavy rubber layer
- Breathability of the knit is largely preserved compared with thick transfers
- Both sides of a panel can be designed if the construction requires it
Buyer checks
Ask to see a printed panel or sample, not only a digital mockup. Check color against your references, edge alignment, and whether white fabric remains where you expected it (there is no “white ink” in classic sublimation — white is the fabric).
EQUEST GEAR uses sublimation for custom team uniforms and performance sportswear. Send artwork with your quotation request for a manufacturing review.