All-Over Print (Sublimation)
Edge-to-edge designs covering the entire garment
AOP (All-Over Print) is the only method that prints edge-to-edge on the entire garment surface. It uses sublimation on polyester fabrics to create vibrant, permanent, full-coverage designs that will never crack, peel, or fade.
- Full coverage: prints from seam to seam on the entire garment
- Fabric: requires 100% polyester or 65%+ poly blends
- The dye becomes part of the fabric — zero hand feel
- File requirement: full garment template at 150 DPI minimum
- Ideal for: fashion apparel, leggings, swimwear, activewear
What is All-Over Print (Sublimation)?
All-Over Print (AOP) uses dye-sublimation technology to print designs that cover the entire surface of a garment — from seam to seam. The design is printed on transfer paper and heat-pressed at high temperature, causing the dye to sublimate (turn to gas) and permanently bond with the polyester fibers.
Technical Specifications
- Coverage
- Full garment — seam to seam
- Print Resolution
- 150-300 DPI (on full template)
- Color System
- CMYK sublimation dyes
- Fabric Requirement
- 100% polyester or 65%+ poly blend
- Sublimation Temperature
- 380-400°F (193-204°C)
- Sublimation Time
- 45-60 seconds
- Durability
- Permanent — dye is part of the fabric
- Hand Feel
- Zero — the print IS the fabric
- Color Fastness
- Will not crack, peel, or fade
- Seam Alignment
- Cut-and-sew for perfect alignment
File Requirements
- File Format
- PNG, TIFF, PSD (with template)
- Resolution
- 150 DPI minimum, 300 DPI recommended
- Template
- Use Yoycol AOP garment template
- Color Mode
- RGB (auto-converted to CMYK)
- Bleed Area
- 1" bleed beyond seam lines
- Safe Zone
- 0.75" from seam lines for critical elements
- Pattern Repeat
- Must tile seamlessly if pattern-based
- Note
- Slight distortion at seams is normal for AOP
Best For
- Fashion apparel and streetwear
- Leggings, yoga pants, and activewear
- Swimwear and rash guards
- Hawaiian shirts and camp shirts
- Skateboard culture and artist collaborations
- Brand collections with bold, full-coverage aesthetics
Not Ideal For
- Cotton fabrics (sublimation requires polyester)
- Simple logo placements (DTG or DTF is more practical)
- Budget-conscious projects (AOP has higher per-unit cost)
- Garments requiring exact seam-matching (some distortion is inherent)
Advantages
- Full edge-to-edge coverage — no blank areas
- Zero hand feel — the print IS the fabric
- Permanent — will never crack, peel, or fade
- Vibrant colors with smooth gradients
- Excellent for fashion-forward designs
- Cut-and-sew construction for quality fit
Limitations
- Requires polyester or high-poly-blend fabric
- Higher per-unit cost than placement printing
- Slight misalignment at seams is inherent
- White/light areas may show slight base fabric texture
- Cannot reproduce on 100% cotton
Compatible Products
Production Details
- Lead Time
- 5-8 business days (cut-and-sew)
- Minimum Order
- 1 unit
- Maximum Print Area
- Full garment surface
- Cost Range
- $15-35 per unit (varies by garment)
Care Instructions
- Machine wash in cold water
- Hang dry recommended (tumble dry on low)
- Do not bleach
- Iron on low heat if needed (print is permanent)
- Will not fade or deteriorate with washing
AOP FAQ
Can AOP be done on cotton?
No. Sublimation dye requires polyester fibers to bond permanently. AOP uses 100% polyester or high-poly-blend fabrics (65%+ polyester). For cotton all-over prints, consider DTF with full-coverage placement.
Will the seams match perfectly?
AOP uses cut-and-sew construction for the best possible seam alignment, but slight misalignment at seams is inherent to the process. We recommend using patterns that minimize the visibility of seam transitions.
What is the minimum resolution for AOP?
150 DPI on the full garment template is the minimum. We recommend 300 DPI for photographic designs. Since AOP templates are large (covering the entire garment), file sizes can be 50-200 MB.
How does AOP pricing compare to DTG?
AOP is typically 2-3x more expensive per unit than standard DTG placement printing because it involves: full-coverage printing, cut-and-sew construction, and more material. However, the visual impact is dramatically different.
Do I need to use a template?
Yes. AOP requires a garment-specific template that maps the design to the flat fabric panels before cutting and sewing. Yoycol provides free templates for all AOP products in our AOP Template Builder.
Can I create repeating patterns?
Yes. Repeating/tiling patterns are one of the most popular AOP design approaches. Your pattern must tile seamlessly. Our AOP Template Builder has a built-in pattern repeat and seam-check tool.
Other Print Techniques
Ready to Start AOP Printing?
Choose a product, review its template, and prepare artwork for the selected production method.
