To determine the best printing process for your personalized/branded apparel, it’s important to know how each type of printing works. There are several types of printing available, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
What is Sublimation Printing?
Sublimation printing encompasses the dye transfer process that happens through the application of both heat and pressure to transfer the dye directly into the fibers of the garments. It allows for all-over designs, where your design can be printed on every inch of your garment; there are no limitations on placement or colors used. When completed, the finish is smooth on the garment, lightweight and highly durable compared to other transferred printing methods.
What is Screen Printing?
Screen printing is the process of using ink to transfer images and designs onto the surface of materials, such as clothing, with the help of a mesh screen. It works effectively with bold, simple design elements and can be used on many different types of substrates, including cotton.
Due to its affordability, screen printing is a great option for businesses that need large quantities of printed products and have only a few colours used on the products. However, with every additional colour being added to the design, there will be an increase in production time and cost.
Design Flexibility and Visual Appeal
Custom T-shirts designed using sublimation have the added benefit. Because the process utilizes heat transfer to print onto fabric, you are allowed to utilize as many colours as you want. This is why custom sublimated jerseys tend to have such colourful and intricate designs.
On the other hand, the screen printing can produce some visually stunning graphics with a few simple colours. It can become very limiting when creating more complex designs and/or photo-realistic images.
Comfort, Durability and Maintenance
Sublimated apparel keeps the natural qualities of the materials, allowing your body to breathe and stay comfortable all day. The sublimation process embeds the dye in the material’s fibers, so prints will not peel or crack after repeated washing or use.
Most screen-printed shirts use several layers of ink. Therefore, these garments may be heavier than an equally sized sublimated shirt.
Bottom Line: Which Approach Is Better?
The final decision really relies upon what you desire in a t-shirt. Custom sublimation t-shirts are an excellent option if you want long-lasting prints with intricate artwork as well as a contemporary look. Screen-printed apparel can still produce some very nice and attractive-looking images; however, sublimation has a more prolonged lifespan as it relates to durability, as compared to screen-printed apparel.
