What Is Sublimation Printing? A Guide to Selling Sublimated Merch on Demand
By the Brikl team · Guides · Published: · Last updated:
Sublimation printing is a decoration method that uses heat to turn special ink into a gas, which then bonds with polyester fibers or a polymer coating. The design becomes part of the material instead of sitting on top of it. That makes sublimation the go-to method for full-color, all-over prints on sportswear and for photo-quality prints on coated hard goods such as mugs and tumblers.
Sublimation is also widely available on demand. Print-on-demand providers such as Printful and Printify run the industrial printers, heat presses and cut-and-sew lines, and they produce sublimated products one at a time, with no minimum order. Brikl works with these providers, so distributors can sell full-color team and branded merch from a quantity of one, without buying stock up front, guessing sizes or sitting on leftovers. This guide explains how sublimation works, where it shines and where it doesn't, and how to sell it on demand.
In short
- What it is: a heat-based printing method where ink turns into a gas and bonds with polyester or a polymer coating.
- Best for: white or light-colored polyester apparel, jerseys and performance wear, all-over prints, and coated hard goods.
- Not for: cotton, dark fabrics, or designs that need white ink.
- Why choose it: vibrant, full-color prints with no feel on the fabric, that don't crack, peel or wash out.
- Why it suits on demand: print-on-demand providers such as Printful and Printify produce sublimated items one at a time, with no minimums, and Brikl routes orders to them.
How does sublimation printing work?
Sublimation is named after a physical process: a solid that turns straight into a gas, without becoming a liquid first. The printing process uses that effect in four steps:
- Print the design onto transfer paper. A printer with sublimation ink prints the design, mirrored, onto special paper.
- Place the paper on the product. The printed side faces the fabric or the coated surface.
- Apply heat and pressure. A heat press heats the paper to around 400°F (about 200°C) for under a minute. The ink turns into a gas, and the heat opens the polyester fibers or the coating.
- Let it cool. As the product cools, the fibers close around the ink. The design is now part of the material.
Because the ink becomes part of the fibers, a sublimated print has no layer you can feel, and it stays as vibrant as the day it was printed, wash after wash.
What can you sublimate?
Sublimation works on two kinds of products:
- Polyester and polyester-rich fabrics. Jerseys, performance tees, athletic shorts, socks, hats and fleece. The higher the polyester content, the brighter the result.
- Coated hard goods. Products with a special polymer coating, such as mugs, tumblers, water bottles, mousepads, coasters, metal and wooden signs, and phone cases.
It does not work on cotton. The ink has no polyester to bond with and washes out.
Advantages of sublimation printing
- Full color, no extra cost per color. Photos, gradients and complex artwork print as easily as a one-color logo.
- All-over prints. On cut-and-sew garments, the design can run edge to edge, across seams and sleeves.
- No feel. The print adds no weight or texture, which matters for performance wear.
- Durable. The design won't crack, peel or fade in the wash.
- Available on demand. Print-on-demand providers such as Printful and Printify produce sublimated products from a quantity of one, with no minimum order.
Limitations of sublimation printing
- Polyester or coated surfaces only. Cotton and cotton-rich blends are out. For all-over designs on cotton, some providers, such as Printful, offer a separate all-over cotton process.
- Light colors only. Sublimation ink is transparent and there is no white ink, so it shows on white or light-colored products, not on dark ones.
- Possible white creases. On ready-made garments, folds or seams can block the ink and leave small white lines. Cut-and-sew garments, printed before they are sewn, avoid this.
- Colors can shift. Bright colors on screen don't always match the printed result, so colors are best checked with a sample.
Sublimation vs DTG, DTF, screen printing and embroidery
| Method | Best materials | Colors | Feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sublimation | White or light polyester, coated hard goods | Unlimited, no white | None; the ink is in the fibers | All-over prints, jerseys, performance wear, mugs |
| DTG (direct-to-garment) | Cotton and cotton-rich blends | Unlimited, including white | Soft, slight | Detailed full-color prints on cotton tees and hoodies |
| DTF (direct-to-film) | Cotton, polyester, blends, light and dark colors | Unlimited, including white | Thin film on the surface | Full-color prints on almost any fabric, including dark garments |
| Screen printing | Most fabrics | Priced per color | Thicker ink layer | Large runs of simple designs |
| Embroidery | Most fabrics, hats, bags | Thread colors | Raised, textured | Logos on polos, jackets, caps and bags |
A simple rule of thumb: choose sublimation for light-colored polyester and all-over designs, DTG for cotton, DTF when you need full color on dark or mixed fabrics, and embroidery for a premium logo.
When should you choose sublimation?
Sublimation is the right choice when:
- you are making team uniforms, jerseys or performance wear
- the design should cover the whole garment
- you want a print that athletes can't feel and that survives heavy washing
- you are printing photos or full-color artwork on mugs, tumblers or other coated products
Sublimation printing on demand with Brikl
On Brikl, sublimation is one of 12+ decoration methods built into the platform, alongside DTG, DTF, embroidery, UV printing and engraving. When you add a sublimated product to a store, Brikl routes each order to a decoration partner that offers that method, including print-on-demand providers such as Printful and Printify. The item is made and shipped straight to the buyer, from a quantity of one, with no inventory and no minimums.
That means one store can mix a sublimated jersey, an embroidered polo and a DTG tee, while Brikl sends each item to the right decorator. Browse the product catalog or the sport apparel range to see what you can sell, or see how Brikl works.
Frequently asked questions
What is sublimation printing?
Can you sublimate on cotton?
Can you sublimate on dark shirts?
Does sublimation printing fade or crack?
What is the difference between sublimation and DTF?
Is there a minimum order for sublimated products on Brikl?
Sell sublimated merch without the equipment
Create a free Brikl account and add sublimated products to a store in minutes, or launch a complete store in about ten seconds with Turbo Store.