Customized Jersey Printing

Posted by Jason Norman on December 18th, 2020

When you are on the hunt for a customized sporting jersey or another type like an egaming jersey there are two popular options most printing services will offer you. You can create your customized jersey using screen printing, also known as silk printing, or you can choose sublimation printing. Here is a look at what those two forms of printing look like and what each one brings to the table!

Screen printing

Also called silk printing because of its earlier form, this method of printing is an oldy but goldy still popular today. Ink passes through a mesh screen onto your jersey to create the design and then the other design goes through the same for the back. A roller presses the ink through the screen's openings that create the design.

Sublimation printing

A form of digital printing, and a more modern option, sublimation printing is the process where the design is created using software on a computer and then using a printer that applies heat to the jersey that presses onto it transferring the image. The ink changes from a liquid to a gas by the heating process, permeating the fabric of the fishing jersey or whatever kind you are getting. The alteration is permanent as it is ingrained now. They repeat that with the other design for the back.

Advantages to either option

While different requirements suit different printing methods there are a few reasons why when you need a customized jersey it makes sense to choose sublimation over screen printing. But screen printing has some of its own bonuses. Here is a look at the main ones.

• In sublimation printing, the ink will actually permeate your egaming jersey making it a part of the jersey. That is compared to screen, where the ink is just pressed on. This means the customization becomes a permanent thing, and will not peel away or fade. With screen printing, there is a point where those things do start to happen.
• The cost of designing and making a jersey using sublimation printing is probably going to be more than a screen printed jersey. Right now it is a more expensive printing process and so when you have a large number of jerseys you want to print, for example, a team uniform, you might want to stick to screen printed jerseys which is cheaper. However, it is predicted that sublimation printing will drop in price in the future so then at that point it makes sense to swap.
• When you wear a sublimated fishing jersey and screen printed jersey, they have a different feel. You can feel the thickness of the screen-printed ink on that jersey, whereas the sublimated one will have no ridging.

Summary

The kind of printing process you choose for your jersey needs depends on what kind of jersey you need, how many you need, how permanent you need the design to be and how much you have in your budget. Sublimated jerseys feel better and do not have the fading issues but they do cost more. Talk to your printing service about your needs and with their expert advice, you can make the best decision for you.