Decoration
Blank apparel for sublimation
Sublimation dyes the fiber itself — which is why it needs high polyester content and light garment colors. On the right body it produces unmatched all-over, no-hand prints; on the wrong one it simply fades away.
Everything below is polyester-dominant. Cotton blends rate Conditional here: they produce a deliberately faded, vintage result, not full saturation.
How to choose
- For full-color saturation, use 90%+ polyester in white or the lightest available color.
- Want the faded look on purpose? 50/50 blends sublimate into a soft vintage wash — set expectations first.
What goes wrong
- Sublimating dark garments — the dye is transparent and disappears on black.
- Promising retail-bright color on a 65/35 blend.
Common questions
- Can you sublimate cotton?
- Not durably. Sublimation dye bonds to polyester; on cotton it washes out. Blends give a muted, distressed result — which is why cotton-dominant garments are rated Not Recommended for this method.
From the glossary: Polyester · Dye Migration