Contrast Printing

Process Principle

Sublimation Printing

Uses sublimation ink, which, under heat and pressure, turns the dye in the ink into a gaseous state and penetrates into the molecular structure of polyester fibers or polymer-coated materials.

The image becomes part of the material itself, with a smooth handfeel, no raised edges, and excellent wear resistance.

Suitable for full-width, borderless, high-resolution image output.

DTG (Direct-to-Garment)

Uses water-based pigment ink, directly sprayed onto fabric surfaces using a specialized DTG printer.

The ink adheres to the fabric surface and is fixed through heat pressing.

For high-quality results, pre-treatment liquid is often applied to enhance color vibrancy and wash durability.

Applicable Materials

Sublimation

Best match: White or light-colored polyester fabrics (sportswear, flags, tablecloths);

Can also be applied to coated hard-surface materials such as mugs, metal plates, phone cases, mouse pads, etc.

Not suitable for: Cotton or dark-colored fabrics (dyes cannot penetrate the fibers).

DTG

Best match: Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, or bamboo (T-shirts, sweaters, tote bags);

Suitable for light and dark fabrics (white ink base required for dark fabrics);

Not suitable for: Most chemically treated fabrics, as pigments bond weakly with synthetic fibers.

Color Performance & Durability

Sublimation

Bright and vivid colors, supports gradients and detailed images;

Image fuses with the fibers, resistant to stretching, abrasion, and tearing;

Maintains brightness after multiple washes, resistant to fading.

DTG

Strong color vibrancy and layering, especially suitable for complex photo prints;

Light-colored fabrics show vivid results, but deep fabrics may be slightly affected by the white ink base;

Lower durability than sublimation; repeated washing may cause slight fading.

Production Efficiency & Cost

Sublimation

Lower equipment cost, medium material price;

Suitable for high-volume, long-term continuous production;

Fast printing speed, no complicated pre-treatment needed.

DTG

Higher equipment investment, relatively higher material cost;

Printing speed is slower than sublimation, lower unit production efficiency;

Suitable for small batches, personalized orders, and no minimum order quantity.

Environmental Protection & Sustainability

Both inks are non-toxic and eco-friendly, with minimal environmental impact.

Sublimation consumes less water, making it better suited for large-scale, eco-friendly production.

DTG reduces inventory waste, supports on-demand printing, and minimizes overproduction.

Conclusion

Sublimation advantages: Sportswear, flags, polyester home textiles, coated gifts;

DTG advantages: Cotton garments, small-batch customization, complex graphics, multi-color dark fabrics.

Recommendation: If your business focuses on polyester fabrics or coated products and requires high durability with large-scale production efficiency, choose sublimation.

If your focus is on personalization, small batches, cotton apparel, and diverse markets, DTG is the better choice.

Image source: Internet