Crownseam editorial guide · Reviewed 15 October 2026
AI-generated material study · approve actual fabric and decoration samples
In this guide
A good print begins with the garment: fibre, fabric colour, stretch, surface and intended use. Then choose the artwork, placement and finish. This guide separates printing processes from special effects so you can ask for the result you actually want.
Sublimation, screen printing and digital transfers describe how a design reaches the fabric. Puff, gel, glitter and many '3D' finishes describe how a selected print looks or feels. The references below explain options; the exact fabric, ink and production sample still decide suitability.
AI-generated illustrations, not Crownseam production samples. Texture and relief are illustrative. A photograph cannot prove a process, reflectivity or performance; approve a physical sample of your exact combination.
THE TECHNIQUE LIBRARY
Choose the effect. Understand the trade-offs.
Explore 24 techniques and options. Compare up to three, then include your shortlist in an email.
24 techniques shown
Digital process
Dye sublimation
Heat transfers dye into suitable polyester fibres, rather than adding a raised ink layer.
Suitable starting point
White or light-coloured polyester jerseys, shorts and coordinated sports panels.
Why choose it
Full-colour graphics, gradients and names can share the same smooth print.
Design, limitations & sample checks
Limitations:No white ink. Cotton and dark fabric do not behave like white polyester; blended fibres can produce a different result.
Design it well:Build artwork on the supplied panel templates and include bleed beyond cut lines.
Approve on the sample:Approve colour on the actual fabric, plus seam alignment and stretched appearance.
Use these as starting points for a discussion, rather than a universal ranking. A physical print sample is the right place to compare the options shortlisted for your fabric.
White or light-coloured polyester team kit with all-over artwork: begin with sublimation and a cut-panel layout.
A cotton graphic tee with a few bold colours: compare screen-print ink systems.
Detailed artwork on a suitable cotton garment: compare DTG with a transfer sample.
Names and numbers: compare suitable cut film, printed transfer or the garment's original print process.
Raised streetwear branding: compare puff, high-density and silicone by feel, edge shape and stretch.
Technical stretch fabric: assess a compatible stretch system, heat sensitivity and dye migration before choosing an effect.
Puff, high-density and '3D printing' are different requests
In apparel decoration, '3D print' often means raised ink, a silicone transfer or an embroidered effect. It does not identify one manufacturing process. Puff expands into softer relief; high-density ink can form defined edges; silicone describes an ink chemistry that can support several finishes.
Show a reference image and say whether you want rounded, sharp, rubber-like, glossy, velvety or stitched relief. If you mean an actual additively manufactured object attached to a garment, discuss that as a separate development project.
Ask for the process name and desired finish together.
Compare a real sample at normal viewing distance and close up.
Heat can encourage dye from polyester to enter an overprinted graphic. A pale logo can become discoloured even when it initially looks correct. Fabric coatings, stretch and print coverage also affect the choice.
The appropriate low-temperature, low-bleed or blocking system depends on the actual garment. A system that works on one polyester fabric is not proof that it works on every polyester or sublimated fabric.
Test the actual fabric colour and batch.
Inspect the finished result after cooling and again after an agreed interval.
Check extension and recovery in the direction the garment moves.
Keep a matched approved sample as the production reference.
Send the best original artwork, final dimensions and a placement view. Vector paths help with clean logos and cut-film shapes; high-resolution raster art can suit digital illustration. Converting a poor image to SVG does not recreate missing detail.
Show front, back and sleeve positions separately. State whether the decoration crosses a seam, pocket, zip, rib or mesh panel. For panel printing, work from the garment pattern rather than a generic flat T-shirt picture.
Include colour references and make transparent areas intentional.
Outline fonts or supply permitted font files.
Keep names and numbers readable at the smallest ordered size.
Mark separate layers for raised ink, gloss, foil or flock.
Confirm sample line widths and gaps rather than using one minimum for every technique.
Approve the finished sample before setting the care label
Review colour, touch, opacity, relief, placement and movement on the chosen garment. Large solid areas can feel different from a small logo even when the process name is identical.
The fabric, print, adhesive, wash treatment and trims must work together. Use the care route confirmed for that finished combination rather than applying one wash temperature or durability claim to every method.
Check the print on the actual production fabric.
Inspect alignment, edges and any intentional distressed effect.
Review the garment relaxed and in movement.
Confirm compatibility with any planned garment wash or dye process.
Start with fabric and use. Sublimation is a useful route for white or light-coloured polyester all-over kits. Stretch logos and names may need a compatible transfer or screen-print system. Test heat response, movement and dye migration on the actual garment.
Is puff print the same as high-density print or 3D embroidery?
No. Puff is a raised ink effect that expands. High-density printing builds more defined ink relief. 3D or puff embroidery uses thread and a supporting construction, commonly foam. A reference sample helps distinguish the finish you want.
Can you sublimate a black cotton hoodie?
Conventional dye sublimation is suited to white or light-coloured polyester and has no white ink. A black cotton hoodie usually needs another decoration route. A transfer marketed for cotton is a different surface system and should be assessed as such.
What is the difference between DTG and DTF?
DTG prints directly onto a suitable garment, with pretreatment where required. DTF prints onto film and transfers the artwork with adhesive and heat. Compare actual samples for fabric compatibility, detail, stretch and feel.
Are water-based prints always better or more sustainable?
The label alone is not enough. Water-based systems vary in opacity, feel, curing and composition. Choose a suitable product and review substantiated information for that exact system rather than assuming a broad environmental claim.
Does reflective printing make a garment safety certified?
No. A reflective decoration can provide a visual effect, but any safety claim needs the appropriate material and finished-garment assessment for the intended use. Tell us if certified visibility performance is part of your brief.
Can a design combine print, embroidery and a garment wash?
A combined finish may be possible, but the sequence and compatibility need a sample. Wash treatments can change print colour, adhesive, thread or fabric. Agree the final effect and production sequence before approving bulk work.
What should I send to get a printing recommendation?
Send the garment type, fabric composition and colour, artwork, approximate print size, placement and the look you want. Include stretch or visibility requirements and any planned wash effect. Email [email protected] if you are unsure which method to choose.
YOUR IDEA DOESN’T NEED A TECHNICAL NAME
Tell us the look. We’ll help plan the route.
Can’t find your fabric, print, embroidery or wash? Tell us what you are making and what you want it to feel like. Add reference pictures to your email.
Choose sportswear fabrics, plan panels and artwork, and approve fit, printing and construction for team kits, training wear and fitted performance garments.
References explain processes and material principles. Supplier specifications are not a claim that Crownseam uses a particular brand, machine or certified system.
