Photo-Quality Detail — Unlimited Colors & Gradients
Dye-sublimation printed patches with unlimited colors, photographic detail, and smooth gradients embroidery cannot reproduce. Perfect for logos with brand gradients, photo-realistic artwork, intricate illustrations, and any design with more than 9 colors.
Printed patches — also called sublimated or photo patches — represent the modern frontier of patch manufacturing, made possible by digital dye-sublimation printing technology that bonds full-color ink directly into a polyester fabric base at high heat and pressure. Unlike traditional embroidery, which is fundamentally limited by thread count and the geometry of stitched lines, sublimation can reproduce every color in the visible spectrum — over 1 million color values, smooth gradients, photo-realistic detail, and intricate fine lines that would be physically impossible to embroider at small scales. This is the right choice when your design has a gradient logo, photo-quality artwork, or simply more colors than embroidery's practical 9-color cap can handle. The patch itself feels smoother and lighter than an embroidered patch — the design is integrated into the fabric rather than stitched on top of it — but quality printed patches are remarkably durable, with the ink chemically bonded into the fabric fibers rather than sitting on the surface. They wash, fade-resist, and weather as well as the fabric itself. Printed patches come standard with a merrowed border (the same finished edge embroidered patches use) and iron-on backing, with diecut borders and alternative backings available as upgrades.
Custom Printed / Sublimated Patches Examples
A small slice of what custom printed / sublimated patches can look like — each one started as a free AI design.
Custom Printed / Sublimated Patches Pricing
Per-patch price drops with quantity. Minimum order: 25 patches. Digital dye-sublimation print — unlimited colors, photo-quality detail. Includes merrowed border and iron-on backing. Best for gradients, photos, and complex artwork.
| Size | 25 | 50 | 100 | 200 | 300 | 500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5" | $4.10 | $3.15 | $2.40 | $1.36 | $1.01 | $0.79 |
| 2" | $4.39 | $3.29 | $2.44 | $1.42 | $1.09 | $0.83 |
| 2.5" | $4.66 | $3.91 | $2.66 | $1.55 | $1.20 | $0.86 |
| 3" | $5.16 | $4.21 | $2.77 | $1.71 | $1.28 | $0.87 |
| 3.5" | $5.32 | $4.99 | $3.10 | $1.93 | $1.38 | $0.94 |
| 4" | $5.93 | $5.37 | $3.37 | $2.18 | $1.50 | $1.02 |
| 4.5" | $6.47 | $5.93 | $3.77 | $2.55 | $2.08 | $1.20 |
| 5" | $11.83 | $7.32 | $4.55 | $3.51 | $2.33 | $1.30 |
| 5.5" | $12.93 | $9.45 | $5.12 | $4.72 | $3.84 | $3.21 |
| 6" | $14.14 | $10.33 | $6.78 | $4.94 | $4.13 | $3.51 |
| 6.5" | $14.84 | $11.54 | $7.78 | $7.11 | $6.33 | $4.88 |
| 7" | $17.26 | $13.85 | $9.45 | $7.58 | $7.03 | $6.15 |
Prices are per-patch in USD. Quote confirmed within 2 business hours. Prices are estimates based on Stadri Emblems' published rates. Our team will confirm your exact quote within 2 hours to 24 hours of submission.
Optional add-ons
Advantages of Custom Printed / Sublimated Patches
What you get with this material that other patch types can't deliver.
Best For
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Care & Maintenance
Printed patches can be machine washed in cold water on a gentle cycle and generally hold up well through repeated laundering due to the chemical bond between the sublimation ink and the polyester base. Wash inside-out to protect the printed surface from abrasion and avoid fabric softeners which can dull the colors over time. Air dry or use low-heat tumble dry — high heat can stress the iron-on adhesive layer, particularly in the first several wash cycles. Do not bleach. Iron from the back of the garment only, and use a press cloth if direct ironing the patch is necessary.
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