CentralCustom offers dye sublimation printing across the UK — a process that dyes your artwork permanently into polyester fabric rather than sitting a layer of ink on top of it. That means edge-to-edge colour, unlimited detail, and a finish you genuinely cannot feel through the garment. It is the method behind most modern club kit, and it is the right choice whenever your design is too colourful, too intricate or too large for screen printing.
Why choose CentralCustom for sublimation printing
The design becomes part of the fabric. Sublimation ink turns to gas under heat and bonds with the polyester fibres. There is no ink layer to crack, peel or wash off, so a sublimated shirt looks the same in its third season as it did on day one. For clubs washing kit at 40 degrees twice a week, that difference adds up.
No limit on colours or coverage. Screen printing charges by the colour and works best on flat, simple designs. Sublimation does not care — photographic gradients, sponsor logos, patterned side panels and full-bleed designs that run over the shoulder seam all cost the same. If you have ever been told to simplify your crest, this is the process that says yes.
Made to order, in your colours. Sublimated garments are cut and printed to your specification rather than pulled off a shelf, so your club colours are matched properly instead of being close enough. Player names and squad numbers can be built into the print at the same time, with no separate application stage.
Sensible minimums and matched reorders. We work to realistic UK quantities rather than large overseas runs, and we keep your artwork on file. When you need three replacement shirts in March, they will match the batch you ordered in August.
One supplier for the whole order. Sublimation is not right for everything, and we will tell you when it is not. Cotton hoodies, caps and staff polos are better handled by embroidery or screen printing, and we can produce all of it alongside your sublimated kit in a single order.
Who dye sublimation printing suits
Sublimation is the standard for performance sportswear, and it works well for:
- Sports clubs ordering match and training kit — netball, basketball, rugby, football, cycling, athletics and hockey
- Schools and colleges kitting out house teams, PE departments and sports academies
- University clubs and societies wanting bespoke kit rather than a stock design with a badge added
- Event organisers producing technical running vests and tees for races and charity events
- Businesses branding polyester polos, gilets and softshells with complex or multi-colour artwork
- Anyone with a detailed logo — crests with fine linework, shading or many colours reproduce cleanly
The one real limitation is fabric. Sublimation needs a high-polyester garment, and the colour sits on top of whatever the base fabric already is, so it works brilliantly on white and light polyester and cannot be used on cotton or dark-dyed natural fibres. If your garment is cotton, we will recommend a different method.
Frequently asked questions
Does sublimation printing fade or crack?
No. Because the dye bonds with the fibre rather than sitting on the surface, there is no printed layer to crack, peel or flake. Sublimated kit fades far more slowly than printed kit and holds up to repeated hot washes.
Can you sublimate cotton garments?
Not successfully. The process relies on polyester fibres to hold the dye, so cotton and cotton-rich fabrics need screen printing, DTF transfer or embroidery instead. Poly-cotton blends will print but come out noticeably softer in colour.
Can I have a different design on the front and back?
Yes. Each panel of a sublimated garment is printed separately before it is made up, so front, back, sleeves and side panels can all carry different artwork at no extra cost.
What artwork do you need from me?
Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF) are ideal. High-resolution PNG or JPEG files usually work for photographic elements. Send us whatever you have and we will tell you honestly whether it will reproduce well at the size you want.
Can you add player names and numbers?
Yes — they are printed as part of the design rather than applied afterwards, so there is nothing to peel off later. Send us your squad list and we will lay it out.
What are your minimum quantities and lead times?
Minimums are lower than most overseas suppliers and depend on the garment. Lead times vary with design complexity and quantity, and we will confirm a realistic date when we quote — order well ahead of your season start where you can.
Ready to get your kit printed?
Send us your colours, your crest and a rough squad list and we will come back with a quote and a design mock-up. If you are not sure whether sublimation, print or embroidery is right for your order, tell us what the garment is and what it needs to survive — we will point you at the method that lasts.
Request a quote — CentralCustom, dye sublimation printing in the UK.
