Sublimation

Sublimation printing is one of the best and highest quality printing methods used in the production of sports jerseys, T-shirts, as well as table flags, beach flags, banners, scarves or other fabrics. It can be used wherever polyester fibre is the base of textiles. The higher the polyester component content of the printed fabric, the more sublimation technology is suitable for printing. Sublimation can only be printed on a fabric that contains 100 % or at least 70 - 80 % polyester. Not every fabric is suitable for sublimation. In general, the lower the proportion of polyester in the fabric, the worse the print results.

The process of sublimation printing contains several important steps, such as: preparing print data | printing a sublimation paper theme | sublimation alone = transfer of sublimation colour from paper to polyester fabric fibre at a given pressure and temperature. Due to the high temperature, the colour (at 200°C = gaseous state) can enter the fibres of the printed fabric. When the temperature decreases, the state changes again (gas vs. solid) and the colour becomes part of the fabric.

Advantages:
- printed fabric retains all the properties it had before printing (breathability, skin feel, comfort),
- high wash resistance,
- brilliant colours, printable raster (photos, images) + vector (curves),
- wide range of colours: Pantone + CMYK,
- possibility of production from 1 pc.

Disadvantages:
- works only on polyester,
- underlying colour must be white - white polyester,
- not suitable for printing on coloured polyester (consultation required). In general, the possibility of a dark print (e.g. dark blue, black) on a light coloured base (e.g. light yellow, light green etc.)

Further information:
- washing up to 40°C,
- maximum size of printed themes for sublimation reprinting (printing on functional polyester T-shirts) is generally A3 (larger format after consultation) or printing on cut parts (max. width 150 cm) and subsequent clothing (such as sports jerseys),
- necessary graphic materials in the following formats: ai, eps, pdf, cdr, for raster: pdf, tiff.

Screen printing

Screen printing is a classic and the best way to print. Screen printing guarantees a long life for and the washability of the theme and the best print results. The theme can be printed in up to 7 colours. Compared to flex/flock, with screen printing it is possible to print an image in any desired colour, which can be defined in Pantone or CMYK, as well as in silver and gold.

Direct printing of fabric occurs with screen printing. Maximum print size: 34 cm x 38 cm. Screen printing is possible on cotton material (T-shirts, polo shirts, aprons, bags, table cloths...), a blend of cotton and polyester, and nylon (e.g. umbrellas, bags,... - only 1 colour print). Screen printing is suitable for larger numbers (min. 50 pcs), as the preparation of screen printing screens is more expensive.

Screen printing technology is more complex and consists of several steps. The given theme must first be separated into individual colours and each colour is then printed separately on the film. Using these films, templates are prepared (an aluminium frame on which a certain density screen is glued). These screens must be coated with a special emulsion. The film, together with the template, is placed in the darkroom where the template is highlighted through this film. Where the template was enlightened, the emulsion hardens. In places where this light does not pass through the film, this emulsion does not harden and is washed out when the template is rinsed. It means that where the emulsion hardens, the screen becomes impermeable; where it does not harden and washes out, the screen remains permeable, and colour can pass through it. The templates are then placed on the machine (carousel) and, if it is a multicoloured print, the individual templates must be calibrated to print the desired image when the individual templates are printed. Mixed colours that are defined in either Pantone or CMYK are inserted into the templates. The printing itself takes place in such a way that the spreader pushes the colour in front of it. When it passes through a place on the template where the emulsion has washed out and the screen is permeable, colour passes through the place to form the theme. If the theme consists of more colours, then the first colour is printed first, then the fabric will go under the second template, where the second colour will be printed and then the third colour...... The entire theme must then be placed in the drying tunnel to harden the colour.

Price depends on print size and quantity ordered.

Advantages:
- screen printing is cost-effective in larger quantities (from approx.: 50 pcs) The price depends on the print size, amount and the number of colours,
- possibility to print any graphic but max. 7 colour theme. Vector printing: possible - no limit, min. line thickness approx. 0.5 mm.
- printable (raster) printing (consultation required),
- any colour printing + option with metallic colours (gold / silver),

Disadvantages:
- unfavourable price when small number of items (up to 20-50 pcs depending on the number of colours),
- the technology is limited for raster printing and very fine transitions (consider using digital DTG printing).

Further information:
- washing possible at 40°C - 60°C,
- maximum print size: 34 cm x 38 cm,
- printable materials: a) cotton, b) blend of cotton and polyester – quality of this blend?, c) nylon (1 colour print only).

Transfer printing

Transfer printing is a modification of screen printing, by means of which we can print texts and logos on various fabrics. Transfer printing is characterized by the fact that the colour is not printed directly onto the T-shirt, polo shirt or other fabric, but in the first step it is printed on the transfer foil. After printing the colours on the foil, it is dried at a high temperature in the drying tunnel. Finally, the printed theme is pressed onto the selected fabric. After pressing, the transfer foil is torn off and thus separated from the printed theme.

The transfer print guarantees high wash resistance and brilliant colours. It is cost-effective for larger orders, but in many cases it is slightly more expensive than screen printing. The benefits of transfer printing include its shelf life. It means you order more transfers than you need at the moment. If you want to re-order your fabric, everything is ready to print and, above all, it is cheaper, because the more transfers you order, the lower the price. Transfer printing can be used to print various materials: polyester, cotton, nylon fabric, or a blend of cotton and polyester. The transfer print quality is comparable to screen printing.

Transfer printing is used to print T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, caps, football and hockey jerseys, work wear or umbrellas. Maximum print size: 34 cm x 38 cm. For production we need graphics in these formats: eps, pdf, cdr, psd, ai, jpeg or tif. As with screen printing, in transfer printing, colours can be defined in Pantone or CMYK values. We recommend washing up to 40°C

The price depends on the print size, the number of colours and the quantity of items ordered.

Advantages:
- transfer printing is one of the cheapest fabric printing methods; it is especially advantageous when ordering many items,
- shelf life - i.e. to make more transfers than you need at this moment and later in case of your need just press transfers to fabrics,
- possibility to print any graphic but max. 7 colour theme. Vector printing: possible - no limit, min. line thickness approx. 0.5 mm.
- printable (raster) printing (consultation required),
- any colour printing + option with metallic colours (gold / silver).

Disadvantages:
- unfavourable price when small number of items (up to 20-50 ps depending on the number of colours),
- the technology is limited for raster printing and very fine transition printing (consider using digital DTG printing),
- a little more expensive than screen printing done directly on fabric (or transfer foil).

Further information:
- washing is possible at 40°C,
- maximum print size: 34 cm x 38 cm,
- printable materials: a) cotton, b) blend of cotton and polyester – the quality of this blend?, c) nylon (a test print must be made before printing).

Embroidery

Embroidery is another application we apply to fabrics. It is a textile technology where the underlying material (either fabric, leather, or the like) is decorated by stretching the thread. Embroidery has a long history that goes back to ancient Egypt. Modern embroidery is done using embroidery machines. Embroidery can be applied to all textiles such as T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, caps, work clothes, etc.

Like any technology, embroidery has its limits. Logos without colour transitions and of a sufficient size are especially suitable for embroidery. In principle, with embroidery: the simpler, the more beautiful. The logo must not be too small because it will become unreadable and max. logo size: 26 cm x 26 cm.

The price of embroidery depends on the size of the theme (number of stitches) and the number of items ordered.