Sublimation printing on shirts has become a thriving industry due to rapid advancements in printing technology. Starting a sublimation printing business is accessible and cost-effective, allowing many entrepreneurs to operate conveniently from home.
If you’re entering the sublimation shirt market, you may wonder which shirts work best for sublimation printing.
Rest assured, there are many excellent shirts designed specifically for sublimation printing. The key factors to consider are the shirt’s fabric composition and blend. As long as you understand these essentials, finding the ideal t-shirts for sublimation printing is straightforward.
Choosing the right shirt is one of the most crucial decisions when launching a sublimation printing business. The vast array of options can be overwhelming, but selecting proper products can directly impact your business success. Sublimation is a fantastic printing method, but the right shirt will make all the difference.
What Defines an Ideal Shirt for Sublimation?
A shirt suitable for sublimation printing must possess several key qualities. Without these, sublimation prints will not adhere or last properly. The main features that define an ideal sublimation shirt include:
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Durability of the Shirt
Durability is essential for sublimation printing shirts. Sublimated designs will not hold up well on garments that degrade or wear out quickly. Over time, the print can crack or fade if the fabric lacks strength.
For this reason, always select shirts that offer excellent durability and a high polymer content, which is critical for holding sublimation inks.
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Comfort and Wearability
The shirt must be comfortable to wear. Printing on a shirt that people hesitate to wear wastes time and resources.
Polyester shirts sometimes feel sticky against moist skin, so choosing shirts with superior breathability and softness enhances wearability and customer satisfaction.
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Eco-Friendliness
The best sublimation shirts adapt well to various environments without losing print quality or fabric integrity. Eco-friendly materials contribute to sustainability, reducing the need to frequently replace garments due to environmental stress.
5 Recommended Shirts for Sublimation Printing
Choosing the right shirts for sublimation printing is vital because incorrect fabric can cause poor transfer quality or fading after washing.
Polyester or polyester-blend shirts consistently provide the best sublimation results. They absorb the transfer perfectly, making any plain shirt vibrant and eye-catching.
100% polyester shirts yield the most vivid sublimation prints. Sublimation also works well on some blends, but polyester content must be high enough to retain color brightness. The best white shirts for sublimation guarantee the most intense colors and contrast.
Custom Round Neck T-Shirts
Ludyway’s custom round neck 100% polyester shirts are ideal for sublimation printing. Polyester fibers contain polymers that chemically bond with sublimation inks, ensuring vibrant, long-lasting prints.
Polyester shirts offer cost advantages over natural fibers like cotton or linen. As polyester is a synthetic fiber made from spun plastic filaments, it dominates over 60% of the global apparel market, providing a wide variety of options, including sportswear and uniforms.
Although polyester can feel less soft and breathable than cotton, many brands prefer polyester blends for balanced comfort and print quality. Ludyway offers customized options combining softness and durability tailored to your needs.
Custom Sublimated Hoodies
Polyblends such as 65% polyester and 35% cotton also work well for sublimation printing, producing vivid and detailed prints that balance softness and color retention.
While 100% polyester prints are the boldest, polyblend prints offer a unique vintage or distressed look. Ludyway’s custom sublimated hoodies can perfectly capture these design styles.
Tri-blend Full Sleeves T-Shirts
Tri-blend shirts, made from cotton, polyester, and rayon, provide a soft, flexible fabric that feels luxurious while supporting sublimation printing with some adjustments.
Precision in heat pressing is required for optimal transfer, but Ludyway’s tri-blend full sleeves shirts offer a premium cotton-like feel combined with the ability to hold sublimation prints.
Note that the cotton content limits color saturation, resulting in a more subtle or vintage print style.
Custom Sports Clothing
Sportswear, often made with high polyester blends, is excellent for sublimation printing due to its durability and moisture-wicking properties. Ludyway provides customized sports clothing designed for vivid sublimation prints and optimal athletic performance.
Custom Leggings
Leggings with high polyester content are perfect for all-over sublimation printing, enabling seamless, colorful designs that maintain elasticity and comfort. Explore Ludyway’s custom leggings collection for superior quality sublimation-ready fabrics.
Best Colors for Sublimation Printing
The optimal t-shirt color for sublimation printing is white. White 100% polyester shirts provide the best background for vibrant and high-quality prints.
Because sublimation printers cannot produce white ink, designs require the shirt’s white base to represent white areas. Using colored shirts may cause fading or distortion under heat press conditions, so always test your design on the actual garment.
Common Questions About Sublimation Shirts
Do Sublimated Shirts Fade Over Time?
Even the best sublimation prints will gradually fade, similar to retail garments. However, sublimation inks penetrate fabric fibers, making prints last significantly longer than other decoration methods.
Can You Sublimate on Any T-shirt?
While sublimation can technically be applied to various blends, 100% white polyester shirts yield the brightest and most durable results. Poly-blends may fade faster and produce less vivid designs.
Conclusion
Ludyway specializes in premium sublimation-ready apparel, focusing on 100% polyester and polyester blends optimized for vibrant, long-lasting prints. Our extensive range of customizable products, including custom t-shirts, custom hoodies, custom sports clothing, custom leggings, and custom cut and sew garments, ensures you can find the perfect product for your sublimation business.
Before launching your sublimation projects, we recommend ordering samples from Ludyway to test print quality, comfort, and durability. This helps ensure your customers receive the highest quality sublimated apparel.
With Ludyway’s expertise and product variety, you can confidently grow your sublimation printing business with top-tier garments designed to deliver stunning, lasting results.
