Embroidery vs Screen Printing vs Sublimation: Which Decoration Method to Choose
Quick answer: choose embroidery for a premium, hard-wearing logo on uniforms, polos, jackets and caps; screen printing for bold, vivid designs on larger runs of tees, hoodies and hi-vis; and sublimation for fully custom sports and team kit where an unlimited-colour design is dyed into the fabric itself. All three are done in-house at Max Global Products in Wodonga and shipped Australia-wide.
Embroidery vs screen printing vs sublimation at a glance
| Embroidery | Screen printing | Sublimation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Raised, stitched, premium texture | Flat, bold ink laid on the fabric | Ink dyed into the fabric — zero added texture |
| Durability | Excellent — will not crack, peel or fade in the wash; typically outlasts the garment | Very good — thick ink holds up wash after wash | Excellent — the design is part of the fabric, so it cannot crack or peel |
| Colour count | Suits logos with a limited thread palette; fine gradients are hard to stitch | Priced per colour — best for one to a handful of solid colours | Unlimited — gradients, photos and all-over patterns at no extra cost |
| Detail | Great for text and solid logo marks; very fine detail is limited by stitch size | Sharp edges and solid fills; fine detail depends on mesh and design | Full photographic detail, edge to edge |
| Fabric suitability | All apparel we stock — polos, shirts, jackets, vests, hoodies, fleeces, softshells, hi-vis, plus caps | All apparel and headwear we stock | Polyester sportswear made to order — the process only bonds with polyester |
| Run size | Small runs upwards — no restrictive minimums | Per-unit price improves with quantity — strongest on larger runs | Quoted per kit — built for teams, schools, clubs and events |
| Cost drivers | Digitising your logo once, then stitch count and placements | Screen set-up per colour, then quantity and placements | Design work and garment count |
| Typical uses | Corporate uniforms, workwear, caps | Event tees, team hoodies, hi-vis with logos | Football, netball, cricket and basketball kit; event shirts with names and numbers |
Bottom line: uniforms and workwear that need to look professional for years → embroidery. A lot of garments with a bold design at the best per-unit price → screen printing. Full-colour, personalised team kit → sublimation.
When embroidery wins
Embroidery stitches your logo directly into the garment with coloured thread, giving a raised, premium finish that will not crack, peel or fade in the wash. It reads as "established business" in a way print does not, which is why it dominates corporate wear, front-of-house uniforms and manager-level workwear. It is available on all apparel we stock — polos, business shirts, jackets, vests, hoodies, fleeces, softshells and hi-vis — and on caps and hats, and it suits small runs because there are no screens to set up: your logo is digitised once, and reordering later — even one garment for a new starter — is straightforward.
Its limits: very fine detail, tiny text and photographic gradients do not translate to thread, and large full-back designs are usually better printed. Start with our corporate shirts and polos or workwear range.
When screen printing wins
Screen printing forces thick, vivid ink through a stencilled mesh screen onto the garment. Each colour in the design gets its own screen, which is exactly why it behaves the way it does: there is a set-up cost per colour, and once the screens exist, every additional garment is fast and cheap. That makes it the most cost-effective method for larger runs — team hoodies, event tees, uniform tees and logo'd hi-vis — and the per-unit price keeps improving as quantity rises.
It prints on all apparel and headwear we stock, handles front, back, sleeve and pocket placements, and produces the boldest solid colour of the three methods. Its limits: many-colour artwork multiplies set-up, and one-off garments are rarely economical. Browse tees and casual tops, hoodies and fleece or AS Colour blanks to print on.
When sublimation wins
Sublimation turns ink into gas under heat and pressure so it dyes into polyester fabric permanently. Because the design is in the fabric rather than on it, there is nothing to crack or peel, no added weight, and — the key difference — no extra cost for more colours. Gradients, sponsor logos, all-over patterns, and individual player names and numbers all print in one pass.
That is why sublimation owns custom sportswear and teamwear: football, netball, cricket, basketball and touch kits for clubs, schools and events, made to order as a complete kit. Its limit is fabric: the process only bonds with polyester, so it is not the method for cotton workwear or an existing garment off the shelf. See our sportswear range for the style of garments involved.
Minimums, turnaround and cost — how the numbers actually work
We quote decoration per job rather than off a flat price list, because three things move the price: the method's set-up (digitising for embroidery, screens per colour for printing, design work for sublimation), the quantity, and the number of placements. In practice:
- Minimums: embroidery has no restrictive minimum and suits small runs; screen printing is priced on quantity, so larger runs get a meaningfully better per-unit price; sublimated kit is made to order per team.
- Turnaround: confirmed when you approve your artwork — decorated orders are dispatched once decoration is complete, so you know the timeframe before production starts.
- Reorders: once your logo is digitised or your screens and designs exist, repeat orders are simpler and faster to quote.
How to order decorated gear
- Pick your garments — browse workwear, hi-vis, corporate wear or headwear, or ask us to recommend blanks for your budget.
- Send your artwork — vector files (AI, EPS, PDF, SVG) or high-resolution images work best; email sales@maxglobalproducts.com.au with rough quantities.
- Approve your quote and proof — we confirm price, colours, size and placement before anything is produced.
- We produce and ship — decorated in-house in Wodonga and dispatched Australia-wide, with free shipping on orders over $150.
Frequently asked questions
Which decoration method lasts longest?
Embroidery and sublimation are effectively permanent — stitched thread and dyed-in ink both typically outlast the garment. Quality screen printing is also highly durable and withstands repeated washing, though a printed design on a heavily worn garment will eventually show wear before stitching would.
Can you decorate hi-vis without affecting compliance?
Yes. Logos must not cover the garment's required high-visibility material or reflective tape, and we position decoration so certified garments stay compliant. See our hi-vis compliance guide for how the classes work.
Can I mix methods in one order?
Yes — a common combination is embroidered polos and jackets for daily uniforms plus screen-printed tees for events, quoted together. Tell us what the gear is for and we will recommend the split.
Still not sure which method fits? Email sales@maxglobalproducts.com.au or call (02) 6056 6685 with your logo and a rough quantity — we will recommend the method, the garments and a price.