Merchandise branding
Sublimation Printing in Kenya
Dye that becomes part of the fabric. Nothing sits on top, so there is no weight, no cracking and no peeling. The right method for polyester jerseys, sportswear and mugs.
Every job is quoted on its own specification, so there is no fixed price list. The sections below set out exactly what moves the cost, so you can send a brief we can price accurately the first time.
At a glance
Dye turned to gas and bonded into polyester. Zero feel on the fabric, but it needs a white or light polyester base.
- Priced by
- Coverage area, product type, and quantity
- Worth knowing
- Polyester only, light colours only, and it cannot print white
- Your own garments
- Welcome. Bring the items and we brand them
What we brand
Where sublimation is the right choice.
- Sports jerseys and team kit
- All over printed garments
- Polyester sportswear and training tops
- Mugs, bottles and poly coated hard goods
- Mousepads, lanyards and flags
- Full colour designs that must feel weightless
What determines your price
No two sublimation jobs cost the same.
These are the factors that actually move the number on your quote. Knowing them up front means you can adjust the brief to hit a budget, instead of finding out after the fact.
Coverage area
A small chest logo uses a fraction of the transfer paper and ink that a full all over print does. Coverage is the main driver, and an all over design that runs to the seams is the most expensive end of it.
Product type
Pressing a garment, a mug and a bottle are three different jobs with different jigs, temperatures and press times. Hard goods are priced separately from apparel.
Cut and sew or press onto finished garments
A true all over jersey is printed on fabric first and then cut and sewn into a garment, which is a far bigger job than pressing a design onto a shirt that is already made. The two are priced very differently, so tell us which you need.
Quantity
Set-up is modest compared with screen printing, so small runs remain practical. Larger runs still earn better rates through faster handling and more efficient use of material.
Fabric specification
Sublimation needs a high polyester content to bond properly. The higher the polyester, the stronger and more vivid the result. Blends with a lot of cotton print faded and wash out over time, which affects what we can quote and guarantee.
Number of positions or panels
Front, back and sleeves on a cut and sew jersey are separate printed panels. Each one adds material and press time.
Send us the details and we will price it exactly.
Because the cost depends on the combination above, we quote each job rather than publish a rate card that would be wrong for most orders. Tell us what you need and you will get a firm figure for your specification.
Artwork
What your files need to look like.
Getting this right first time saves a round of back and forth and keeps your job moving. If you are unsure, send what you have and we will check it before anything goes into production.
High resolution, at final size
Send artwork at the dimensions it will print, at 300dpi. All over designs need to be supplied full bleed with extra margin beyond the seams so nothing important is lost when the panels are cut.
Remember that white is not printed
Sublimation has no white ink. Anywhere your design is white, the fabric itself shows through. That is why the garment has to be white or very light, and why this method cannot be used on reflector vests or dark shirts.
Design in CMYK and expect a slight shift
Sublimation colours are vivid but they do shift a little between screen and fabric. Send brand colour references and we will confirm the closest achievable match before a full run.
Confirm the garment fabric first
Before artwork matters at all, the garment has to be suitable. Send the product details or a sample so we can check the polyester content.
Honest fit
What sublimation does well, and where it does not.
We would rather point you at the right method than sell you the wrong one and reprint it later.
Strengths
- The design becomes part of the fabric, so there is no weight or texture
- It cannot crack, peel or fade off the way a surface print can
- Unlimited colours and photographic detail at no extra cost
- The only practical way to print edge to edge across a whole garment
Limitations
- Needs a high polyester content. It will not bond to cotton
- Needs a white or very light garment, because the dye is translucent
- Cannot print white at all
- Not an option for reflector jackets, dark workwear or dark t-shirts
Get a quote
Send us these and you will get a firm price.
You do not need all of it to start a conversation. Send what you have and we will tell you what else we need and flag anything that will not work before you commit.
- Your artwork, high resolution and at final size
- The product: jersey, training top, mug, or something else
- Whether you need all over printing or a placed logo
- The fabric composition, if you are supplying the garments
- How many pieces, and any size breakdown
- Whether any pieces need individual names or numbers
Compare methods
Not sure this is the right one?
Heat Transfer & DTF
Artwork printed or cut, then heat pressed on. Full colour on any garment colour, with no screen set-up.
Read moreScreen Printing
Ink pushed through a mesh screen, one screen per colour. Unbeatable on cost once the quantity is high.
Read moreCompare all methods
Side by side on what each one suits, how it is priced, and what to watch for.
Open the guideFAQs
Sublimation questions
Can you sublimate onto a reflector jacket or a black t-shirt?
No, and it is worth being clear about why. Sublimation dye is translucent and it has no white, so it can only be seen on a white or very light base. On a lime reflector vest or a black shirt the design would not show. For those garments the right method is heat transfer printing, which carries its own white underbase.
Will sublimation work on cotton?
Not properly. The dye bonds with polyester fibres, so it needs a high polyester content to hold. On cotton the print looks washed out from the start and continues to fade. If your garment is cotton, screen printing or heat transfer is the correct choice.
What is the difference between an all over jersey and a printed one?
An all over jersey is printed as flat fabric and then cut and sewn into the finished garment, which is how designs run right to the seams with no gaps. A printed jersey is an existing garment with a design pressed onto it. The first gives full edge to edge coverage and costs more, the second is quicker and cheaper.
Can you print mugs and bottles as well as clothing?
Yes. Poly coated hard goods such as mugs, bottles, mousepads and phone cases all take sublimation. They use different jigs and press settings from garments, so they are quoted separately.
