• High Heat Required: This method uses high temperatures, typically between 350–400ºF, to transfer designs onto items.
• Step-by-Step:
  1. The design is created digitally and printed in reverse on sublimation paper using special dyes.
  2. The printed paper is placed on a product, like a polyester shirt, and heated.
  3. The solid dye sublimates into gas, embedding into the fabric fibers.
  4. Upon cooling, the dye solidifies, creating a durable and vibrant print that resists fading and cracking.

• Layered Application: Screen printing requires creating a stencil for each color in your design.
• Step-by-Step:
  1. Design is separated by color.
  2. A mesh screen is prepared for each color.
  3. Ink is pushed through each screen onto the product layer by layer.
  4. Each ink layer dries, which may require additional heat and time.

Material Compatibility：

• Requires specific materials: Sublimation works best on fabrics with over 65% polyester. T-shirts made of 100% polyester yield the best print results, while a 50/50 poly-cotton blend produces less vibrant and durable prints.
• Not suitable for natural fibers: This technique cannot be used effectively on cotton, wool, or other natural materials because it relies on the bonding of dyes with polyester molecules under heat. For cotton-heavy products like jeans, partner with specialized Jeans Manufacturers in China​​ to leverage screen printing or dye-sublimation transfers.
• Special coatings for hard goods: Items like mugs and phone cases need a special polymer coating to accept sublimation dyes. For instance, a white polyester mug can be sublimated, but a standard glass mug cannot.

• Highly versatile: Screen printing can be applied to almost any surface, including cotton, polyester, wood, glass, metal, and more. This makes it perfect for a wider range of applications.
• Variety of ink options: With options like metallic, gloss, or temperature-sensitive inks, you can tailor the screen printing process to meet diverse material needs.
• Ideal for bulk production: Over 90% of cotton T-shirt printing is done through screen printing due to its flexibility and efficiency, while sublimation is favored for polyester sportswear.

Production Time and Efficiency

• Sublimation Printing takes about 10-15 minutes per shirt. This makes it great for on-demand orders and small batches.
• On the other hand, Screen Printing can take up to 2 weeks to complete an order. This longer timeframe is due to a more complex setup.

• Sublimation requires minimal setup. You can start printing right away.
• In contrast, Screen Printing needs extensive setup. Each color requires a separate screen, which adds to both time and labor.

• Sublimation is ideal for small batches and quick turnarounds.
• Screen Printing works best for bulk manufacturing, especially with simple designs.

Conclusion