COLOR TECHNOLOGIES
Create vibrant, eye-catching designs with our industry-leading dye sublimation and screen printing technologies.
Vibrant Colors for Every Sport
At HAMCO International, we offer premium color reproduction through advanced dye sublimation and screen printing technologies. Our processes ensure your team colors remain vibrant, consistent, and long-lasting, even under the harshest playing conditions.
Dye Sublimation
Permanent, full-color designs that become part of the fabric through heat-activated ink infusion. Ideal for complex designs, photographic elements, and gradient patterns.
- Unlimited color options
- Breathable designs that won't crack or peel
- Perfect for moisture-wicking fabrics
- Detailed, photorealistic graphics
Screen Printing
Classic ink application that creates bold, vibrant designs with a subtle texture. Perfect for solid colors, typography, and traditional team logos that stand out.
- Bold, durable colors
- Cost-effective for large orders
- Works on virtually any fabric
- Traditional athletic look and feel
Dye Sublimation Color Swatches
Browse our extensive selection of dye sublimation colors, specially calibrated to maintain vibrancy and consistency across all our performance fabrics.
Ruby Red
P-101Blaze Orange
P-102Athletic Gold
P-103Team Green
P-104Royal Blue
P-105Deep Purple
P-106Soft Pink
S-201Hot Pink
S-202Orchid Purple
S-203Aqua Blue
S-204Mint Green
S-205Lemon Chiffon
S-206Pure White
N-301White Smoke
N-302Light Gray
N-303Medium Gray
N-304Charcoal Gray
N-305Jet Black
N-306Metallic Gold
M-401Metallic Silver
M-402Metallic Bronze
M-403Metallic Blue
M-404Metallic Red
M-405Metallic Green
M-406Note: Colors may appear differently depending on your screen settings. For accurate color matching, we recommend requesting physical swatches.
Our Color Technology Process
Explore the detailed process behind our two primary printing technologies, each offering distinct advantages for different design needs.
Digital Design Creation
Our designers create high-resolution digital artwork with unlimited colors, gradients, and photorealistic elements using specialized sublimation software.
Specialized Ink Printing
The design is printed onto special transfer paper using sublimation inks that transform from solid to gas when heated.
Heat Infusion Process
Transfer paper is placed on polyester fabric and pressed at 400°F (204°C), causing the ink to become gas and permanently bond with fabric fibers.
Cooling and Finishing
After the transfer process, the fabric cools to reveal vibrant, permanent colors that won't fade or crack, becoming part of the fabric itself.
Dye Sublimation Advantages
- Unlimited Colors: No restrictions on color quantity or complexity
- Breathability: Design becomes part of the fabric, maintaining moisture-wicking properties
- Durability: Colors won't crack, peel, or fade after multiple washes
- Detail: Supports photorealistic images, gradients, and fine text
- Lightweight: No added weight or thickness to the garment
Design Preparation
Artwork is separated into individual colors and converted to film positives for each color layer in the design.
Screen Creation
Each color requires a separate screen. Screens are coated with light-sensitive emulsion, exposed with film positives, and developed to create stencils.
Color Application
Specialized athletic inks are pressed through screens onto the fabric using precise pressure. Each color is applied separately and flash-dried between applications.
Curing Process
After all colors are applied, garments pass through a high-temperature dryer that cures the ink, creating a durable bond with the fabric.
Screen Printing Advantages
- Vibrant Solids: Excellent opacity and color vibrancy, especially on dark fabrics
- Versatility: Works effectively on cotton, polyester, blends, and non-standard materials
- Special Effects: Supports specialty inks like metallic, glow-in-the-dark, and raised textures
- Cost-Effective: Economical for large production runs and simple designs
- Durability: Stands up to heavy wear and repeated washings
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare our printing technologies to determine which best suits your team's unique needs and design goals.
| Feature | Dye Sublimation | Screen Printing |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Complex designs, photorealistic images, all-over patterns | Bold graphics, text, solid colors, traditional looks |
| Color Range | Unlimited colors within a single design | Limited by number of screens (typically 1-6 colors) |
| Fabric Options | Polyester and poly-blend fabrics (min. 60% polyester) | Almost any fabric type including cotton, polyester, blends |
| Durability | Excellent - becomes part of the fabric, won't crack or peel | Very good - may show some wear after extensive washing |
| Detail Level | High - supports fine details, gradients, shading | Medium - best for clean, bold designs |
| Production Time | Medium - requires specific preparation and processing | Fast - efficient for large production runs |
| Feel on Fabric | No feel - design is part of the fabric | Slight texture - ink sits on top of fabric |
| Cost Factors | Complexity doesn't affect price, setup costs are fixed | Price increases with number of colors, setup per color |
Design Guidelines
Maximize the impact of your custom apparel with these technology-specific design recommendations from our expert team.
Color Selection
Choose colors that provide adequate contrast for visibility both up close and at a distance. For team uniforms, consider how colors appear under different lighting conditions (indoor arenas vs. outdoor fields).
File Preparation
For optimal results, provide vector-based artwork (.ai, .eps, .pdf) at 300dpi or higher. For dye sublimation, we recommend using the CMYK color space rather than RGB for more accurate color matching.
Placement Considerations
Consider garment seams, zippers, and functional areas when designing. For dye sublimation, we can print across seams, but screen printing works best on flat, uninterrupted areas of the garment.
Typography Rules
For maximum legibility, maintain a minimum text size of 14pt for screen printing and 10pt for dye sublimation. Convert fonts to outlines/paths before submitting designs to ensure consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our printing technologies, color options, and design processes.
How do I choose between dye sublimation and screen printing?
Your choice depends on several factors:
- Design complexity: For photorealistic images, gradients, or unlimited colors, choose dye sublimation. For bold, simple designs with fewer colors, screen printing may be more cost-effective.
- Fabric type: Dye sublimation works best on polyester (minimum 60% polyester content), while screen printing works on virtually any material.
- Production volume: For large orders of the same design, screen printing becomes more economical as quantity increases.
- Design feel: If you want a design with zero texture that's part of the fabric, choose dye sublimation. If you prefer a slightly raised, textured feel, screen printing is ideal.
Our design team can provide specific recommendations based on your unique project requirements.
Can you match our specific team or brand colors?
Yes, we provide precise color matching services for both printing technologies:
- With dye sublimation, we can match any Pantone® color or custom color reference you provide.
- For screen printing, we use the Pantone® Matching System (PMS) to ensure precise color reproduction.
- We recommend providing Pantone® color codes or physical color samples for the most accurate matching.
- To ensure your satisfaction, we can provide a physical color proof before full production begins.
Our color matching specialists maintain strict quality control throughout the production process to ensure consistency across your entire order.
How durable are the colors after washing?
Both our printing technologies offer excellent wash durability, with some differences:
- Dye sublimation: Colors become part of the fabric and will not fade, crack, or peel, even after 100+ washes. The color longevity matches the lifetime of the garment itself.
- Screen printing: Our athletic-grade screen printing inks are formulated for durability and maintain excellent color retention through repeated washing. We recommend washing inside-out in cold water for maximum longevity.
All our apparel includes proper care instructions to help maintain color vibrancy and print quality throughout the life of the garment.
What file types do you accept for printing?
For optimal print quality, we recommend the following file types in order of preference:
- Vector formats: Adobe Illustrator (.ai), Encapsulated PostScript (.eps), or PDF files with vectors preserved are ideal as they can be scaled to any size without quality loss.
- High-resolution raster formats: For photographic elements, we accept Photoshop (.psd) or TIFF files at a minimum of 300dpi at actual print size.
- Other formats: While we can work with .jpg, .png, and other raster formats, these may limit the quality and scalability of your design.
Our design team can help convert lower-quality files when necessary, though this may incur additional preparation fees for extensive rework. For the best results, we recommend providing original source files whenever possible.
Can I see physical color samples before ordering?
Yes, we offer several options for viewing physical color samples before committing to a full production run:
- Request our swatch book containing all standard colors for both printing technologies.
- For custom colors, we can provide specific color swatches printed on your selected fabric type.
- For large orders, we offer pre-production samples (additional fees may apply).
- For teams with existing uniforms requiring color matching, we can create sample prints matched to your provided sample.
To request color samples, contact our customer service team or complete the sample request form at the bottom of this page.
Request Color Samples
Fill out the form below to request color swatches or schedule a consultation with our design team.
See Our Colors in Person
Digital screens cannot accurately represent the true vibrancy and quality of our printed colors. Request physical samples to:
- See actual color reproduction on your selected fabric
- Compare dye sublimation and screen printing results
- Evaluate color combinations for your team design
- Experience the quality of our printing techniques firsthand
Our color specialists are available for consultation to help you select the perfect colors and printing technique for your specific needs.