What Type of Shirt Is Best for Sublimation

Sublimation is the transition of a substance from a solid state to gas without passing through the liquid state. 

In the fashion industry, it is a printing process that transfers a graphics design on a paper to a fabric by simultaneously heating the paper and fabric using a sublimation printer until the graphic’s ink becomes gaseous.

The gaseous ink quickly diffuses into the fabric and solidifies, creating a permanent, durable, and excellent design. This article will help you identify what type of shirt is best for sublimation.

What Qualities Make A Shirt Ideal For Sublimation?

As amazing as sublimation is, it’s not suitable for all types of clothes. In fact, using the wrong shirt fabric would make the printing dull and unattractive. Worse, the shirt could melt.

These are some qualities to note when picking the type of shirt you want to sublimate:

1. Durability

The first quality of a shirt that makes it ideal for sublimation is that it must be durable. How long-lasting is the shirt, can it withstand pressure, heat, and harsh weather conditions?

For a fabric to be considered ideal for sublimation printing it must have a high resistance to wear and tear. If not the sublimation design will eventually start to fade and crack within a short period of time. 

So, it’s important that you always select a T-shirt with unique durability and adequate amount of polymers.

2. The Fit

Another key factor to consider is the T-shirt’s wearability. It’d be a waste of time and resources to imprint a design on a shirt that you won’t wear in the long run.

There are many shirts that are uncomfortable because of tight fittings and stickiness to the skin when sweating. 

Tight-fitted shirts may lead to the cracking and peeling of the sublimation design while loosely-fitted may cause design distortion.

Therefore before purchasing a shirt for sublimation you should try it out and ensure you feel comfortable in it.

3. Eco-friendly

Every fabric on the sublimation material list must be able to adapt to change in environment and surroundings.

Recycled polyester and organic cotton fabrics are regarded as eco-friendly materials because they are made from nature and free from the use of chemicals and carcinogens.

4. Texture

The feel of the fabric actually has a lot of impact on the quality of the sublimation printing. In essence, the best fabric texture to work with are T-shirts with very smooth and tight surfaces like the polyester shirts.

Having a smooth surface allows for a coherent and clear sublimation design while a rough texture  may cause distortion of print.

5. High Melting Point

During sublimation, fabrics pass through a heating press of about 170°C – 200°C. At this temperature, materials with a low melting point will easily melt away or decompose before the process is completed.

Hence, you need a shirt material that can withstand this heat for at least one minute without causing any form of permanent deformation to its intricate molecules.

What Fabrics Can You Sublimate On?

There are various fabrics on the market but not all are suitable for sublimation printing. While some materials can be manageable, others cannot be used at all.

The best fabrics for sublimation are the ones that contain synthetic fibers, most especially high in polyester concentration.

Let’s examine some of the suitable fabrics for sublimation printing that would give the best outcome and fittings.

Polyesters

Sublimation printing works exceptionally well on 100% polyester shirts or polyester-coated materials giving the most desired and effective results.

Polyesters are synthetic fibers with a high sublimation absorption capacity, which allows a seamless integration and bonding to be formed between the fabric and ink producing vibrant and long-lasting prints

Another alternative to achieving a better result, is to make use of  blended materials with at least a 65% polyester composition. 

Although it is possible to sublimate on a cotton fabric, it is not advisable, because cotton is a natural fiber containing cellulose which can make penetration of the sublimation ink very difficult.

It also has a very low binding power, which makes it impossible to achieve the long-lasting effects evident in polyester shirts.  

Nylon

Albeit not as popular as polyesters, nylon can also be used for sublimation printing. And yes, all types of nylon can undergo sublimation printing but at a low temperature of about 165°C-170°C for 80 to 90 seconds. 

However, it is important to ensure that the nylon is white or light coloured and has a very high polymer content because sublimation does not work well on dark fabrics.

Also before the sublimation process is carried out on a nylon, pre-treatment of a special coating is applied to aid its rate of absorption of the dye.

Usually Nylon 6 and Nylon 7 are the most preferred types for sublimation printing as they have a higher melting point, colour absorption and adaptability.

Nylon offers a durable print on fabrics but the sublimation process must be carried out under careful and controlled conditions.

Lycra/Spandex

Lycra, also called spandex, is a stretchy fabric that is commonly used to make sportswear and swimwear. It is a synthetic polymer which makes it ideal for sublimation printing.

Because of its elasticity nature, lycra fabric is best for shirts that require the dye print to conform to the shape of the body which makes it popular in the sports industry.

It is a 100% synthetic fiber that offers maximum comfort, sweat wicking, soft on skin, durable, and produces vibrant designs.

Acrylic

Also on our sublimation material list is acrylic. It’s a synthetic fiber with a low thermal conductivity which gives it the tendency to melt under much pressure and heat.

Just like nylon fabric, sublimating an acrylic is to be done at a moderate temperature ranging 180°C to 200 °C and under a monitored environment.

Polypropylene

It is one of the lightest synthetic fibre making it suitable for sublimating. Although, for maximum result, polypropylene has to be made from 100% polyester.

This feature allows dye to completely integrate with the fabric producing excellent colour vibrancy, and ensuring the quality maintenance of the sublimation prints over a long time.

Which Shirts Are Best for Sublimation?

The Gildan Performance T-Shirt

Gildan Men’s Moisture Wicking shirt is well-known for its versatile and reliable capacity,  designed to meet the various demands of users.

It is made from 100% polyester, making it one of the best shirts to use for sublimation printing. 

This polyester shirt is light-weight and breathable, allowing the circulation of air during strenuous activities like jogging, running and other outdoor engagement. 

The Gildan Performance T-shirt is not just a piece of clothing, it is an activewear that suits both sport activities and casual occasions.

This T-shirt has the polyester structure which makes it resistant to shrinking, fading, and maintains its vibrant sublimation print colours over a long period even after multiple laundry.

Bella Canvas Tri-Blend T-Shirt

Bella Canvas Tri-Blend T-shirt is one of the best sublimation shirts that feel like cotton due to its high cotton composition. 

The T-shirt comprises 50% polyester, 25% cotton, and 25% rayon. Although, not having 100% polyesters doesn’t make it less effective for sublimation. 

It contains a significant percentage of polyester fibers which gives a strong bond between the fabric and sublimation dye ensuring vibrant and lasting designs.

The rayon component of the shirt adds a layer of flexibility and softness, also ensuring that the shape of the shirt is retained after repeated usage. 

Additionally, this t-shirt is resistant to fading and gives premium comfort. It also offers a unisex fit, making it ideal for everyone.

Next Level Triblend

Just like the Bella Canvas Tri-Blend, the Next Level Triblend comprises 50% polyesters, 25% cotton, and 25% rayon.

The shirt is lightweight, comfortable, and comes in different sleeve sizes. When you sublimate with this shirt, you won’t get the same effect as you would with a 100% polyester fabric.

Triblend is also one of the best sublimation shirts that feel like cotton, having a soft and breathable texture.

Where Can I Buy Sublimation T-Shirts

You can buy sublimation T-shirts on wholesale and retail from various brick and mortar stores. However, reputable online stores are your best bet for convenience, quality, and variety.

For instance, Goal Uniform is one of the most reliable manufacturers of polyester shirts for sublimation. The company focuses on T-shirts for all kinds of indoor and outdoor sports.

Most incredibly, Goal Uniform can start, process, and complete a wholesale sublimation T-shirt order of hundreds or thousands of units within 14 – 19 days.

Conclusion

Determining the best shirt for sublimation actually depends on its intended usage. Polyester shirts are still the best pick for sublimation printing because of its ability to completely absorb the dye when transferred to the shirt creating vibrant, long-lasting, quality prints. 

However, you can use any other fabric from the sublimation material list we outlined in this article. Contact us now to learn how we can offer you the best sublimation shirts printing services.