Custom Pricing
Custom Printed Patches
Rich color. Fine detail. Made for artwork that needs more visual complexity.
Dye-sublimation carries gradients, illustrations, and highly detailed artwork onto a soft, flat patch with no need to simplify the color.
Starting at $90 for 10 patches (minimum order, before size, backing and rush options)
Instant Price Calculator
Price Your Custom Printed / Sublimated Patch
Mockup Within 24 Hours
No setup fees. Clear pricing.
Free Size & Placement Help
Find the Right Size for Your Printed / Sublimated Patch
Upload your artwork and pick a placement. We'll recommend a proportional size.
Printed / Sublimated Patch is already selected.
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Upload up to 2 files, 10MB each (20MB total). Accepted formats: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP, PDF, PSD.
Features
- ✓ Rich colors and smooth gradients
- ✓ Great for detailed, illustrated and photo-style artwork
- ✓ Fine-line and small-text friendly
- ✓ Soft, flexible feel
- ✓ Custom shapes and backing options
Recommended Uses
- ★ Detailed artwork
- ★ Events and festivals
- ★ Illustrated designs
- ★ Streetwear graphics
- ★ Creator merchandise
What Are Printed / Sublimated Patches?
On a printed patch, the artwork is printed into the patch material instead of being built out of stitched thread. You will see the same product called sublimated, dye-sublimated or printed depending on who is selling it. They all describe this construction, which is why the product is listed under both names here.
Because the design does not have to be translated into thread paths, artwork that would normally get simplified for embroidery can stay closer to the original file. That is the main reason people end up on this page.
The finished patch is flat and soft to the touch, cut to your shape, and available with the same backing choices as our stitched patches.
Printed at a glance
- Artwork printed rather than stitched
- Flat, soft, lightweight face
- Suits illustrated and color-blended designs
- Custom shapes and sizes
- Sew-on, iron-on / heat seal or hook-and-loop backing
- Minimum order: 10 pieces
When a Printed Patch Is the Right Answer
Look at your file, not at the patch type. If any of these describe your artwork, printing is worth considering.
Illustrated artwork
Character art, hand-drawn work and detailed scenes that thread would have to flatten into shapes.
Blended color transitions
Fades and gradients live in the print instead of being approximated with solid thread colors.
Photo-based designs
Artwork built from a photograph rather than a vector logo.
Lots of small elements
Designs where several small pieces have to coexist inside one patch.
Complex color counts
Files with more color breaks than a stitched patch would comfortably carry.
A flat, soft finish
When you want the patch to sit smooth against the garment rather than stand off it.
Printed vs Embroidered
This is the decision most customers are actually making, and it comes down to two things: texture and detail.
Printed gives you
- Detail reproduced through printing, not thread
- Color transitions kept as transitions
- A flat, smooth, lightweight face
- Artwork that stays close to your original file
Embroidery gives you
- Raised stitch texture you can feel
- The traditional, expected patch look
- Bold logos and lettering with real weight
- Solid color separation between elements
If your design is a clean, bold logo and you want it to feel like a classic patch, embroidered patches are the stronger choice. We would rather send you there than print something that would have looked better stitched.
Printed vs Woven
Both handle finer detail than embroidery, so this one gets asked a lot. Woven builds the design from very fine threads, which keeps the textile character and works well on small, type-heavy marks like crests and compact logos.
Printing is the better fit when the artwork is graphic rather than typographic: shading, blended color and illustration that thread would have to reinterpret no matter how fine it is.
Have a detailed crest with small lettering and flat colors? Woven patches are probably it. Have an illustrated sticker-style design you want on fabric? Stay here. Our guide to choosing a patch type lays out the full comparison.
Common Uses
Creator and artist merch
Illustrated designs that were drawn to be looked at closely, kept close to the original.
Events and festivals
Dated artwork, lineups and commemorative designs with a lot going on.
Streetwear graphics
Graphic-led designs where the color work is the point.
Hats and apparel
A flat, soft patch that sits smooth on caps, tees and light jackets.
Bags and accessories
Detailed marks on canvas and nylon where a raised patch would catch.
Detailed logos
Marks with gradients or fine graphic elements that thread would simplify.
Sizing Detailed Artwork
Detail needs room. A design with several elements, a block of type and some shading has more competing for space than a single bold mark, so shrinking it too far costs you the exact detail you chose printing for.
We size to your artwork's own proportions rather than cropping or stretching it, and the final Width by Height is confirmed with you on the mockup. If the size you picked is going to cost you legibility, you will hear about it first.
Backing Options
Sew-on
Best for garments that get washed often and for anything you want permanently attached.
Iron-on / heat seal
Quick heat-activated attachment for suitable fabrics.
Hook-and-loop
Swap the patch between jackets, packs and gear without committing it to one item.
The backing comparison covers each one in detail. Tell us the garment and we will suggest one with your mockup.
Printed Work From Customer Artwork
More finished pieces are in the work gallery, and customer reviews cover what the process was like.
From File to Finished Patch
1. Upload your design
Send the highest quality version of the file you have.
2. Pick your options
Size, quantity and backing, with pricing updating as you go.
3. Get your mockup
A full-color digital mockup within 24 hours.
4. Approve or adjust
Change anything you want. Nothing is produced or charged until you approve.
5. Production
Standard production runs 10 to 14 business days once approved.
6. Tracked delivery
Shipping with tracking you can follow from your account.
Is Your Artwork a Printing Job or a Stitching Job?
Upload the file and the Patch Advisor reads its proportions and detail, then recommends a patch type and a proportional size. Free, no account required, and everything stays editable before you request a mockup.
Check My ArtworkPrinted and Sublimated Patch FAQs
Are printed patches and sublimated patches the same thing?
In practice, yes. Customers search for both, and both describe a patch where the artwork is printed onto the fabric rather than formed out of stitched thread. We list the product as printed / sublimated so you can find it either way.
When is a printed patch the better choice?
When the design depends on detail that thread would have to simplify. Illustrations, blended color transitions, layered artwork and small graphic elements usually come through more faithfully printed than stitched.
Can you print a photo on a patch?
Photo-style artwork is one of the reasons customers choose this construction. Send the file and we will show you on the mockup how it looks at your chosen size before anything is made.
Does a printed patch feel different from an embroidered one?
Yes. The face is flat and soft rather than raised, because the color is in the material rather than stitched on top of it. If you specifically want the texture of thread, embroidery is the one you want.
Can printed patches have a stitched border?
Patches are finished with a clean edge and cut to your shape. Tell us the outline you have in mind and the finish shows on your mockup for approval.
How small can the text be?
Small type generally holds better printed than stitched, but there is still a floor, and it depends on your artwork and the finished size. We review your file and flag anything at risk before production instead of guessing.
Should I choose printed or woven?
Both handle finer detail than embroidery. Woven builds the design out of very fine threads, so it keeps a textile look. Printed reproduces color transitions and illustration work that thread of any weight would have to reinterpret. If your file is graphic and colorful, printed usually gets closer to the original.
What backing options are available?
Sew-on, iron-on / heat seal, and hook-and-loop. Pick based on the garment and whether the patch needs to be removable.
What size should my printed patch be?
Detail-heavy artwork often needs a little more room than a simple logo, because everything in the file is competing for the same space. The Patch Advisor recommends a proportional Width by Height from your design, and the size chart shows typical dimensions by placement.
Will the colors match my file exactly?
We work from your file and show you a full-color digital mockup before production so you can see what you are getting. If something looks off from what you expected, tell us at that stage and we will adjust before anything is made.
What is the minimum order?
Embroidered and Printed / Sublimated patches start at 10 pieces. Woven, PVC, Glow-in-the-Dark PVC, Chenille, and Leather patches start at 25 pieces. Your recommended patch type will show its correct minimum.
How long does it take?
Your mockup comes back within 24 hours. After approval, standard production runs 10 to 14 business days, with rush options available on request.
Still deciding? Take a look at printed vs woven detail, compare custom patch types, and custom patch size chart.
Other Custom Patch Types
Compare the Other Patch Types.
Embroidered Patches
PVC Patches
Glow in the Dark PVC Patches
Woven Patches
Chenille Patches
Leather Patches
Pair the Patch With the Rest