Sublimation vs DTG
The key difference between Sublimation and DTG is the ink bonding mechanism: sublimation uses heat to convert dye into gas that permanently bonds with polyester fibres (creating all-over, edge-to-edge prints), while DTG sprays water-based pigment ink onto the fabric surface. Sublimation requires polyester; DTG requires cotton.
Head-to-Head
Sublimation
Strengths
- Edge-to-edge, all-over prints — no design size limitations, covers the entire garment
- Colours are permanently bonded into the fibre — will never crack, peel, or fade
- Zero hand-feel — the design is literally part of the fabric, not on top of it
- Photographic quality with unlimited colours and smooth gradients
- Ideal for cut-and-sew — print the fabric, then cut and assemble
Best For
DTG Printing
Strengths
- Works on cotton and natural fibres — no polyester requirement
- Prints on pre-made garments — no cut-and-sew needed for simple designs
- Better colour depth on white cotton — richer blacks and darker tones
- More widely available — more print shops offer DTG than sublimation
- Familiar cotton hand-feel that customers expect from t-shirts
Best For
Detailed Comparison
| Criteria | Sublimation | DTG Printing |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric Requirement | Polyester (65%+ minimum) | Cotton (80%+ best) |
| Print Area | Edge-to-edge all-over | Defined print area |
| Durability | Permanent (lifetime) | 30–50 washes |
| Hand Feel | Zero (dye is in fibre) | Soft (absorbed pigment) |
| Colour Range | Unlimited CMYK | Unlimited CMYK |
| White Garments | Excellent | Excellent |
| Dark Garments | Not possible (needs white base) | Possible (white under-base) |
| Cost per Unit | €3–6/unit | €3–5/unit |
Verdict
Our Recommendation
Choose Sublimation for all-over prints, sportswear, and any design that needs to wrap the entire garment — the permanent colour integration is unbeatable. Choose DTG for cotton garments with placement prints where customers expect natural fibre comfort. They serve completely different markets — sublimation for polyester performance-wear, DTG for cotton casualwear.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked
Can sublimation print on cotton?
No. Sublimation dye bonds only with polyester molecules through a gas-phase reaction. On cotton, the dye has nothing to bond to and washes out immediately. For cotton, use DTG, screen printing, or DTF. Some brands use sublimation on 100% polyester with a cotton-touch finish.
Why do sublimated garments look different from DTG?
Sublimation dye becomes part of the fibre — colours appear to glow from within and have zero texture on the surface. DTG pigment sits on top of the fabric and has a very slight hand-feel, even when well-cured. Sublimation also produces smoother gradients because there's no ink dot pattern.
Which is more cost-effective for custom jerseys?
Sublimation is far more cost-effective for custom jerseys because the all-over print is included in one pass — names, numbers, and full-body graphics cost the same as a simple design. DTG would need to print each element separately on a pre-made garment, which is impractical for jerseys.
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