Sublimation printing is a heat based process that turns solid dye into gas and embeds it into a specially coated surface, producing vivid, full colour, photographic quality imagery that becomes part of the surface rather than a layer sitting on top of it. When an award calls for rich colour, gradients or a full photographic image, sublimation is often the most elegant answer. At Fabit, sublimation printing lets us reproduce brand colours, artwork and even photographs with a depth and durability that surface inks cannot match.
How sublimation printing works
The image is first printed in reverse onto a transfer medium using special sublimation dyes. That transfer is placed against a receptive surface, most often a polymer coated metal panel, and both are subjected to precise heat and pressure. Under those conditions the solid dye skips the liquid stage and becomes a gas, a transition called sublimation, and the coating opens at a microscopic level to receive it. When everything cools, the dye is locked inside the coating. The image is no longer a film on the surface but is integrated into it, which is why sublimation prints feel perfectly smooth and resist scratching and fading so well.
Because the process is essentially a full colour print, it handles gradients, fine tonal transitions and photographic detail with ease, something that spot colour methods like screen and pad printing cannot do in a single pass.
Materials and surfaces
Sublimation requires a receptive coating, so it works on specially prepared substrates rather than bare material. These coated panels sit alongside the wider range on our materials overview.
- Coated aluminium: the most common award substrate, giving bright, durable results.
- Polymer coated hardboard: economical for plaque style awards.
- Coated ceramics: suited to certain commemorative pieces.
- Specially prepared acrylics: for a contemporary, colourful look.
- Fabric elements: where textile components form part of a presentation.
Why sublimation suits premium awards
Colour is where sublimation earns its place. Some brands and events are defined by rich, specific colour or by photographic imagery, and no engraving method can reproduce that. Sublimation delivers full colour with a smoothness and vibrancy that makes an award feel modern and expressive. Crucially, because the dye is embedded, the result is far more durable than a surface print. The image will not peel, crack or wear off with handling, and its colours resist fading. For awards that must combine visual impact with longevity, sublimation offers both.
Design considerations
Sublimation is a photographic process, so it welcomes complex, full colour artwork that other methods reject. High resolution images give the best results, since the process will faithfully reproduce whatever detail the file contains. Colour management matters, as accurate brand colour reproduction depends on well prepared files, and we handle profiling on our side. One thing to note is that sublimation works by adding dye into a light coating, so the base surface is usually white or light to let colours read true. Clients preparing colourful artwork can shape and preview it in our design studio before production.
Sublimation versus other printing methods
Against UV printing, sublimation offers a smoother, fully embedded result with no surface texture, though UV can print on a wider range of uncoated materials and build a tactile layer. Against screen and pad printing, which apply solid spot colours, sublimation handles gradients and photographs that those methods cannot reproduce. Against engraving, it brings colour that no beam or tool can add. Many awards combine a sublimation printed colour panel with engraved or etched metal elements, an approach we manage within our custom trophies service.
Durability and finishing
Because the dye is sealed inside the coating, sublimation prints are notably resistant to abrasion, moisture and ultraviolet fading, especially on quality coated aluminium. There is no separate protective layer to scratch off because the image and the surface are effectively one. Each finished panel is inspected for colour accuracy against the approved artwork, for even coverage and for any transfer defects such as ghosting, which occurs if the transfer shifts during pressing.
Practical notes for buyers
Sublimation is efficient across both single pieces and runs, since each panel is printed from the same digital file with no plates or screens to prepare. This makes it flexible for personalised awards where each piece carries different names or images. Our in-house production and 24-hour response mean colourful, individually printed awards can be turned around quickly even close to an event.
Frequently asked questions
Can sublimation print onto bare metal? No. It needs a receptive polymer coating. For bare or uncoated materials, UV printing is the better route.
Will the colours fade over time? On quality coated substrates, sublimation is highly fade resistant because the dye is embedded and protected within the coating.
Can I print a photograph on an award? Yes. Photographic reproduction is one of sublimation’s greatest strengths, provided the source image is high resolution.
Is each award in a run identical? They can be identical, or each can be personalised, since every piece prints from its own digital file at no plate cost.
Sublimation printing brings full colour, photographic richness to awards while embedding that colour permanently into the surface, making it the natural choice when vivid imagery and lasting durability matter equally.
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