Sublimation vs Screen Printing vs Vinyl: Jersey Printing Explained
By SPORTY Fit Wear · 2026-10-10
Most custom sportswear is printed in one of three ways. Here is how they differ in plain words.
Sublimation
The design is printed on special paper and transferred into polyester fabric with heat and pressure. The ink turns into a gas and bonds with the fibres, so the print becomes part of the fabric.
- Best for: colourful, all-over team jersey designs
- Strengths: no cracking or peeling, unlimited colours, fabric stays breathable
- Limits: needs polyester fabric; not for plain cotton
Screen printing
Ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto the fabric, one colour at a time. It suits simple logos on T-shirts in larger quantities.
- Best for: simple one- or two-colour logos
- Strengths: works on cotton, strong colours
- Limits: each colour adds setup work; detailed full-colour designs are harder
Vinyl (heat transfer)
Letters and numbers are cut from a sheet of coloured vinyl and pressed onto the garment. It is often used to add names and numbers.
- Best for: adding names and numbers to plain shirts
- Strengths: crisp single colours, works for one-off pieces
- Limits: sits on top of the fabric and can crack or peel over time
Which should you choose?
For a full team kit with a colourful design, sublimation is usually the best choice. For a simple logo on cotton T-shirts, screen printing may suit better.