DYE-SUBLIMATION
Full-Colour Designs Bonded Into the Fabric, Not Layered On Top
Dye sublimation uses heat to turn sublimation ink into a gas that bonds with polyester fibres. The design becomes part of the fabric instead of sitting on the surface, so there is no added texture, no weight and nothing to crack or peel. That is what allows all-over prints across sleeves, panels and seams on a single garment.
Esping produces sublimation shirts at its Petaling Jaya factory and inspects each piece before packing. Production timing from the current service page:
Sampling: 2 to 3 days
Mass production: 5 to 7 working days, based on order volume
Colour sublimation printing in Malaysia is most often ordered for sports jerseys, cycling and running wear, event T-shirts, team apparel, lanyards and printed hijabs. Esping has produced a sublimation jersey project with individual player names and numbers, which is documented as a case study.
COMPATIBILITY FIRST
Which Fabrics and Garment Colours Sublimation Works On
This is the single most important thing to confirm before choosing sublimation, and it is the reason a design sometimes has to move to another method.
Sublimation needs polyester, and it needs a light-coloured garment. Cotton or a dark shirt means DTF instead.
100% polyester, white or light
Full colour, sharp detail, and nothing added to the fabric surface.
Polyester–rich blends, light colours
Works well, with colour strength easing as the polyester share drops.
100% cotton
Cotton fibres do not hold sublimation dye, so results fade or look patchy.
Dark or black garments
Sublimation dye is transparent, so it cannot print light colours over a dark base.
Cotton–rich blends
Colour looks washed out, because only the polyester share of the fabric takes the dye.
If the garment is cotton or the base colour is dark, DFT shirt printing handles the same artwork on both light and dark fabric. For solid-colour bulk work on cotton, silkscreen printing is usually the more economical route.
MOQ AND PRICE GUIDE
Dye Sublimation Minimum Order and Price by Print Size
Dye sublimation printing has no minimum order quantity, and the price per piece follows the print size. The rates below are starting prices, subject to design, size, colour and quantity.
Minimum Order Quantity
Dye sublimation
No minimum
Good for
Small team orders and single pieces on light polyester garments
| Print size | Price per piece (starting from) |
|---|---|
|
A5 |
RM4 per piece |
|
A4 |
RM8 per piece |
|
A3 |
RM12 per piece |
|
A2 |
RM15 per piece |
|
Colour printing |
RM18 per piece |
Prices are per piece and start from the rates shown. The final quotation is subject to design, size, colour and quantity.
Advantages of Dye Sublimation Printing
Full-Colour Range
Photographic images, gradients and unlimited colour counts print without separating the artwork into flat layers.
Wash Durability
The dye bonds inside the fibre, so the design does not crack, peel or lift the way a surface layer eventually can.
Fine Detail
Large-format printing holds fine linework and subtle gradients, which suits sponsor panels and detailed team artwork.
No Added Weight
Nothing sits on top of the fabric, so a sublimation t-shirt keeps its breathability and stretch during active use.
Portfolio
Showcase of Our Work
Explore our curated showcase of completed projects, highlighting the quality and creativity we bring to every design.
FABRIC LIBRARY
Fabrics Available for Sublimation at Esping
Microfiber and woven polyester fabrics currently listed on the service page:
- Microfiber Pin Dot
- Eyelet and Reverse Eyelet
- Hexagon and Diamond
- Interlock
- Lycra 280gsm
- Polysoft
- Polyester
Garment Cuts Available
Sublimation shirts can be produced in these cuts:
- Round Neck
- Collared
- Mandarin collar
- Mock Neck
- Muslimah
- Long Sleeve
- Raglan
- NFL cut
Because sublimation prints onto flat fabric, a full sublimation shirt is printed on the panels before the garment is sewn together. That cut-and-sew route is what allows a pattern to run continuously across a seam, and it is also why an all-over order carries a longer lead time than printing onto a ready-made garment
HOW IT WORKS
The Dye Sublimation Process at Esping
-
Printing
Your artwork is printed onto sublimation transfer paper using a large-format printer.1 -
Cutting
Fabric is cut to your size and quantity breakdown, ready for transfer and sewing.2 -
Heat Transfer
Paper and fabric pass over a heater, turning the dye into a gas that bonds into the fibres.3
PICK THE METHOD BY USE CASE
Sublimation Compared With DTF and Silkscreen
Read across a row to compare the three methods on the same point. The highlighted column is dye-sublimation, the method this page covers.
Dye-Sublimation
|
FABRIC
|
Polyester and polyester-rich only
|
|
DARK GARMENTS |
Not suitable
|
|
COLOUR RANGE |
Unlimited, photographic
|
|
FEEL ON THE SHIRT |
Nothing added to the surface |
|
ALL-OVER-PRINTING |
Yes, cut and sew |
|
STRONGEST AT |
Sports and performance wear |
DTF Printing
|
FABRIC |
Cotton, polyester and blends
|
|
DARK GARMENTS |
Suitable |
|
COLOUR RANGE |
Unlimited, photographic
|
|
FEEL ON THE SHIRT |
Thin layer on the surface |
|
ALL-OVER-PRINTING |
Limited to the transfer area |
|
STRONGEST AT |
Detailed graphics and small runs |
Silkscreen
|
FABRIC |
Cotton, polyester and blends
|
|
DARK GARMENTS |
Suitable |
|
COLOUR RANGE |
Best with solid spot colours
|
|
FEEL ON THE SHIRT |
Ink layer on the surface |
|
ALL-OVER-PRINTING |
Limited to the screen area |
|
STRONGEST AT |
Large solid-colour runs |
Caring for a Sublimated Shirt
Sublimation is the most wash-tolerant of the four methods because there is no surface layer, but the garment itself still benefits from sensible care.
Wash in cold water
Cold water protects the polyester fabric and keeps the garment colour even.
Skip the bleach
Bleach and harsh detergents break down the fabric itself, even though the dye sits inside the fibre.
Air dry the garment
Air drying is gentler than a high dryer heat setting on polyester sportswear.
Iron on low
Use a low setting and avoid pressing hard over printed panels.
Why Order Sublimation Printing From Esping
Testimonials
What People Are Saying
We provide support for more than 15K+ Businesses.
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Have a very good experience with Esping Corporation. Their T-shirt that I ordered recently is in good quality. Not only that, the printing was good too. They have a good knowledge and even advises me what are the things I can do and not to do in terms on printing and color wise.
retxxter
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Good place for customize printing. There is more variety choice for you with reasonable price. Even though I ordered in a small quantity, they still helpful and recommended me some ideas, especially Gan. All items (arpon, round neck T-shirt, cap, uniform & Polo- Tee) were good in quality. Will repeat order again and recommend to others. Thanks for all team good services.
Hui Xin Chong
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Good place for all your shirt printing needs. I ordered a small quantity and they are the only few vendors in the area that were willing to do the job with a fair price. Service was speedy and quality is good. Recommended local vendor. But the surrounding area is a little tight as there isn't enough parking for visitors.
Felix Mea
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Always the first one who came in my mind when ordering shirts! Fair price with a good quality, Ms. Phyllis always respond in second and efficient! Will continue order with them in the future and definitely will recommend them to friends & business partner =D
Denson Mok
Testimonials
What Customers Say About Esping
Reviews published on Esping’s Google Business Profile, attributed to the reviewer who wrote them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Dye Sublimation Printing in Malaysia
Fabric, cost and durability questions asked before ordering sublimation shirts in Malaysia, including the questions Google surfaces in People Also Ask.
Any questions
marketing@esping.com.my
+603-7803 8778
1. What is colour and dye sublimation printing?
Dye sublimation is a printing method where heat turns sublimation dye into a gas that bonds directly with polyester fibres. The design becomes part of the fabric rather than a layer on top, which gives vivid colour with no added texture and nothing that can crack or peel. A longer explanation sits in the guide to what sublimation T-shirt printing is.
2. Can dye sublimation be used on shirts?
Yes, on polyester and polyester-rich shirts in white or light colours. Sublimation is widely used for sports jerseys, event tees and performance wear because the print stays light and breathable. It is not suitable for cotton shirts or dark garments, where DTF printing is the better route.
3. How much does dye sublimation printing cost in Malaysia?
Dye sublimation is priced by print size, starting from RM4 per piece for A5, RM8 for A4, RM12 for A3 and RM15 for A2, with colour printing at RM18 per piece. The final quotation is subject to design, size, colour and quantity, along with the fabric, the garment cut and the print coverage. All-over cut-and-sew work costs more per piece than a partial print. Send the artwork, fabric and quantity for a current quotation.
4. What equipment is used for dye sublimation printing?
A large-format sublimation printer transfers the artwork onto sublimation paper, then a roll heat press applies heat and pressure to move the dye into the fabric. Esping runs both stages in-house at Petaling Jaya, along with the cutting stage for all-over designs.
5. Is sublimation printing suitable for cotton?
No. Cotton fibres do not hold sublimation dye, so the result looks faded or patchy. For cotton garments, DTF printing reproduces the same full-colour artwork and works on both light and dark fabric.
6. How durable is a sublimation print after washing?
Because the dye bonds inside the fibre rather than sitting on the surface, there is no layer to crack, peel or wash off. Colours stay consistent through repeated washing when the garment is washed cold and air dried.
7. What products can be made with sublimation printing?
Sports jerseys, cycling and running wear, event and team T-shirts, hijabs, lanyards, tote bags and other polyester-based items. Cut-and-sew production allows a design to run continuously across panels and seams.
8. Can I use my own design?
Yes. Esping accepts customer artwork and will advise on resolution, colour and layout before printing. High-resolution files at final print size give the best result on large all-over designs.
9. Is there a minimum order for dye sublimation printing?
No. Dye sublimation printing has no minimum order quantity, so small team orders and single pieces can be quoted. The garment still needs to be polyester or polyester-rich in a light colour for the print to hold its colour.
Planning a Full-Colour Jersey or Team Order?
Send the artwork, fabric preference and quantity. Esping will confirm whether sublimation suits the garment before quoting.