ALL JERSEY PRINTING METHODS COMPARED: WHICH IS BEST?

There are five main methods for putting designs on jerseys. Each has its place, but for sports jerseys specifically, one clearly stands above the rest.

SUBLIMATION PRINTING

Best for: Full-color sports jerseys. The ink becomes part of the fabric at molecular level. Unlimited colors, full coverage, permanently vibrant. Only works on polyester. This is what professional teams use worldwide.

SCREEN PRINTING

Best for: Simple logos on cotton t-shirts. Good for 1-3 color designs in bulk. Each color needs a separate screen. Ink sits on top of fabric and eventually cracks. Cost-effective for promotional t-shirts, not ideal for sports jerseys.

DTG (DIRECT TO GARMENT)

Best for: Small runs of detailed designs on cotton. Works like an inkjet printer spraying directly on fabric. Handles photographic detail well but fades with washing. Not suitable for sportswear.

VINYL HEAT TRANSFER

Best for: Individual names and numbers on existing jerseys. Cut vinyl is pressed onto fabric. Durable for text and simple shapes but not suitable for full designs. Peels over time with heavy use.

EMBROIDERY

Best for: Logos on polo shirts and corporate wear. Premium, textured look. Expensive for complex designs. Not suitable for full jersey designs but excellent for small logos on polo-collar jerseys.

THE VERDICT

For sports jerseys: sublimation, no contest. For corporate polos: embroidery for logos. For promotional t-shirts: screen printing. For one-offs on cotton: DTG.

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