Where the dye sits
Sublimation dye turns to gas under heat and enters polyester. On white or very light synthetic the picture can have almost no layer you can feel. Cotton does not take that gas: the colour stays weak or does not hold. A dark shirt will not be lightened by sublimation either. The dye is transparent and has no white underbase.
What people mix up with sublimation
Any colour print "from a printer" gets this name. DTF is also digital and also full colour, but it is a film with adhesive and it sits on cotton. Vinyl heat transfer is cut film in one or two colours, not a photo. If the request says sublimation and the shirt in hand is cotton, we rename the job to DTF before the run, not after a failure.
When sublimation fits
Light polyester sports kit, flags, some mugs and plates are the classic. Choice Print does not run that process onto cotton tees. If you specifically need a light synthetic jersey with a photo across the chest, say so separately. We will look at the cloth and say honestly whether we take it or another shop is closer.
Cotton and a colour print
Full colour on cotton is DTF: film, a white underbase on a dark base, from one piece. The same flat mark on a run is screen printing. Neither promises a sublimation effect where dye sits inside synthetic fibre. The hand-feel is different, and that is normal.
How to order what you actually need
Send a photo of the shirt and the label plus the artwork. Say whether it is cotton or polyester. Telegram @dkretov, +998 90 349 03 64. If it is cotton, we quote DTF or screen printing. Pickup is in Sergeli.
Summary
Sublimation on t-shirts is about light polyester. A cotton shirt with a picture is printed by DTF. Calling every print sublimation only mixes up the file and the cloth.
