Custom Printed Patches in San Diego
If you need a gradient, a photograph, or a logo with unlimited colors, stop looking at embroidery. Thread has limitations. Ink does not.
San Diego Industries We Serve
San Diego has specific industries that demand high-fidelity patches. Embroidery works for uniforms, but it fails for these sectors:
Comic-Con & Cosplay
Every July, the Convention Center gets flooded with demands for high-detail art. If you are selling art prints, you can’t have a patch that distorts your line work. Embroidery cannot handle the shading in anime eyes or the subtle gradients in armor designs. Sublimation captures every pixel.
Biotech & Tech Startups
Firms in UTC and Sorrento Valley often use “app-style” logos. These modern logos rely heavily on drop shadows, transparency effects, and color fades. You cannot stitch a fade; you have to print it. We replicate complex corporate branding with 100% accuracy.
Memorial & Tribute
When you are honoring a loved one or a pet, you want a photo, not a caricature. We take actual photographs and print them directly onto the patch. The result is a photo-realistic tribute that preserves the likeness exactly.
Local Artists & Illustrators
San Diego is an art hub. Sublimation preserves the texture of your medium. If your original art has watercolor bleeds, pencil sketch lines, or ink splatters, our process captures those imperfections perfectly. Stitching would simply cover them up.
Printed Patch Styles
Full Color Photo
Edge-to-edge printing with unlimited colors. We print literal photographs that look like high-quality matte prints on fabric.
Hybrid Patches
The best of both worlds. We sublimate detailed backgrounds and embroider text on top to combine high resolution with tactical texture.
Gradient Logos
Perfect for sunsets or smoke effects. Unlike thread which forces color blocking, print allows for smooth, seamless color transitions.
Printed Name Tapes
We print specific camo patterns (MultiCam, Kryptek) with bold text, allowing for custom fonts that are too small for embroidery.
Color Count = Free
Pay attention to this: Unlike embroidery, we do not charge per color. Whether your design has 1 color or 1 million colors, the price is exactly the same. We print ink. We don’t change thread spools. Go crazy with the colors; it won’t cost you a dime extra.
Event & Trade Show Bulk
San Diego hosts massive events. If you are ordering 1,000+ units for a swag bag drop, ask us about our bulk tiers.
Factory Insight The “Pixel Warning”
I’ll be brutally honest: Garbage in, garbage out.
Sublimation is a photographic process. We print exactly what you send us. If you send a low-resolution screenshot from a phone, your patch will look pixelated and blurry. We cannot “enhance” a bad image.
Backing Options
The print is permanent, but the patch is only as good as how it attaches to your gear. Here are the backing options we install on the production line.
Sew-On (Standard)
Iron-On (Heat Seal)
Velcro® (Hook & Loop)
Adhesive (Peel & Stick)
How We Calculate Price For Printed Patches
We don’t hide costs. Here is exactly how we calculate the bill.
The Factors
Size
Bigger patches use more material and ink. A 3-inch patch costs less than a 10-inch back patch.
Quantity
Volume drives the price down. Setting up the heat press and calibrating the printer takes time. Doing that for 50 patches costs more per unit than doing it for 5,000.
Backing Type
Sew-on is standard. Iron-on adds a small cost for the adhesive layer. Velcro® is the most expensive option because it requires an extra sewing step.
Volume = Savings
Doing that setup for 50 patches costs more per unit than doing it for 5,000.
The Logic: At 50 pieces, the price-per-unit drops hard because you’re spreading that setup cost out.
Why Choose Us?
True 300 DPI Clarity
We don’t print blurry transfers. Our printers are calibrated for high-resolution output.
Pantone Matching
We verify colors. If your brand guide requires a specific Pantone Blue, we adjust our CMYK profiles to hit that target.
Wash-Fast Ink
The ink is fused into the molecular structure of the plastic fibers. It will not bleed in the wash.
Ordering Steps
-
01
Upload High-Res Art
300 DPI or Vector (AI/PDF) is required. Do not send a screenshot.
-
02
Approve Layout
Review the digital proof we email you. Check the spelling and the border color.
-
03
Heat Press Production
We manufacture the run. Quality control checks every patch.
-
04
Delivery
We box them up and send you a tracking number.
Get Your Free Quote for Printed Patches
Stop guessing at the price. Send us your high-res file and the size you need. We will give you an exact cost and tell you if your art is good enough to print.
Request Quote NowHow We Build Sublimated Patches
We don’t just run these through a desktop printer. This is a chemical bonding process that requires industrial heat and pressure.
The Transfer Source
We start by printing a mirror image of your design onto specialized high-release transfer paper. We use high-fidelity sublimation inks designed to hold sharpness. If your file is sharp, the transfer is sharp.
Heat Press Fusion
This is where the manufacturing happens. We place the transfer against the polyester mesh and clamp it under a heavy-duty heat press at 400°F.
The heat turns the solid ink directly into a gas (sublimation). That gas penetrates the polyester fibers and solidifies inside them. It is not a sticker sitting on top that will peel off in the San Diego sun. It becomes part of the fabric structure.
The Twill Canvas
We use a smooth, optical-white poly-twill. We need a perfectly smooth surface to catch the detail. If we used a textured background, you’d lose the fine lines. The white base ensures your colors hit the correct Pantone targets without interference.
The Merrowed Frame
A raw fabric edge looks cheap and frays immediately. We finish every printed patch with a traditional Merrowed border. This is a heavy, overlocked stitch that frames the image and seals the edges. We usually match the border color to the main background or use standard black for contrast.
Production Flow
Digital Mockup
We check your file resolution first. If it’s blurry, we stop. We send you a digital proof showing the cut line and border.
Sublimation Transfer
Once approved, we print the transfers and run them through the heat press.
San Diego Delivery
We ship via standard carriers to residential and commercial docks. Whether you are in North County or Downtown, we get it to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the image fade in the San Diego sun?
No. Sublimation ink is UV resistant. It is designed to withstand exposure to sunlight and salt air without rapid fading.
Can you print gradients and shadows?
Yes. That is the main benefit of this style. We can print smoke, fog, shadows, and smooth color fades that embroidery cannot do.
What is the difference between Woven and Printed?
Woven patches use thread woven together to make the image. Printed patches use ink dyed into a flat piece of fabric. Printed patches have higher resolution than woven patches.
What file format do you need?
We prefer Vector art (.AI, .EPS, .PDF). If you have a raster image (photo), it must be .JPG or .PNG at 300 DPI or higher.
Is the border printed or stitched?
It is a real thread border. We use a Merrow machine to stitch a heavy overlock border around the printed fabric. This makes it look like a high-quality patch, not a sticker.
Can I wash these patches?
Yes. Standard machine washing is fine. Avoid bleach, but standard detergent is safe.
How small can the text be?
We can print legible text down to about 4pt. If you have fine print or disclaimers, print is the only way to go.
Can you combine print with embroidery?
Yes, that is called a “Hybrid Patch.” We print the background and stitch the foreground. Ask for a custom quote for this.
Minimum order quantity?
50 pieces. It is not cost-effective to set up the press for less than that.
Do you deliver to the Convention Center?
Yes. If you are in a rush for a show, we can coordinate logistics to get your patches to your hotel or the venue area.