Sublimation Printing: How to Choose the Right Base Fabric
Sublimation only works on the right base. Polyester content, PFP finishing, weight and grin-through: how to choose a fabric that prints bright and stays that way.
Sublimation is the go-to method for full-color prints on activewear, team uniforms, cheer and dance costumes and printed swim. The results are vivid, breathable and permanent. But sublimation only works if you start with the right base fabric. Here is what to look for.
How sublimation works
Sublimation inks are printed onto transfer paper (or directly onto fabric), then heated under pressure. The heat turns the dye into a gas that bonds with polyester fibers. Because the dye becomes part of the fiber rather than sitting on top, the print won’t crack, peel or change the hand of the fabric.
1. It must be polyester
Sublimation dyes bond only with polyester. The higher the polyester content, the brighter and sharper the print. Poly spandex blends work very well, because spandex is a small part of the blend. Nylon, cotton and rayon do not take sublimation dye; prints on them look faded or wash out.
- Polyester or poly spandex: ideal for sublimation.
- Nylon spandex: use wet printing with acid dyes instead.
- Cotton and natural fibers: use pigment or reactive printing instead.
2. Start with white or a light base
Sublimation dye is transparent, so it can’t print white or light colors onto a dark fabric. Designs are printed onto white or very light bases, and the white of the fabric becomes the white in your artwork. That’s why print-ready bases are sold in white.
3. Choose a PFP (prepared for print) fabric
PFP fabrics are finished specifically for printing: clean, free of softeners and optical brighteners that interfere with dye uptake, and heat-set so they stay stable on the press. Using a PFP base gives more consistent color and fewer surprises in production. See our full PFP collection.
4. Match the base to the garment
| Garment | Good PFP base |
|---|---|
| Leggings, yoga and activewear | Poly spandex around 240–260 GSM, such as Brite PFP (82% poly, 18% spandex, 250 GSM) |
| Jerseys and team uniforms | Breathable polyester mesh, such as Athletic Mesh PFP (100% polyester) |
| Cheer, dance and gymnastics | Smooth poly spandex with strong 4-way stretch |
| Printed swimwear | Poly spandex swim tricots in white |
5. Watch for “grin-through” on stretch fabrics
When a printed stretch fabric is pulled, the white base can show between the printed fibers. This is called grin-through. Test it by stretching a printed sample to the stretch your garment will see in wear. Denser knits and slightly heavier bases reduce it.
6. Always run a strike-off
Before a full run, print a strike-off: a sample of your design on the actual base. Check color against your artwork, scale and repeat, and how the print looks stretched and after washing.
Let us print it for you
Rex Fabrics offers custom printing on almost any of our solid fabrics: sublimation on polyester, digital print on nylon and pigment print on cotton, locally in Los Angeles or overseas. Orders under 500 yards per design include a fixed setup fee and strike-off charge.
FAQ
Can you sublimate on spandex?
Yes, when the spandex is blended with polyester. Poly spandex blends are among the most popular sublimation bases.
Can you sublimate on nylon or cotton?
No. Nylon is printed with acid dyes and cotton with pigment or reactive dyes.
What is a PFP fabric?
PFP means “prepared for print”: a fabric finished without softeners or brighteners so it takes dye evenly and consistently.
Fabrics in this article
Need help choosing a fabric?
Our team has 30+ years of experience matching fabrics to swimwear, activewear and dance programs. Tell us what you’re making.