What polyester percentage do you need for sublimation?

Sublimation only bonds to polyester. The dye gasses out of the paper, hits the fabric, and locks into the polyester fibres at a molecular level. Anything that isn't polyester — cotton, bamboo, elastane — won't take the print at all. That's why the polyester percentage of your blank is the single biggest factor in how vivid the finished print looks.

Also known as: dog leash sleeve, personalized dog leash, custom dog leash, leash cover, lead wrap. Lead Sleeve ships worldwide — UK, US, EU, Canada, Australia, Asia, LATAM.

The minimums

• Below 50% polyester: don't bother. Colours come out washed, chalky, and fade after the first wash.
• 65% polyester: acceptable for soft, vintage-look prints. Colours sit muted on purpose.
• 85% polyester: the sweet spot for most apparel and accessory blanks. Vivid, repeatable colour.
• 100% polyester: maximum vibrancy. What you want for high-saturation graphics, photo prints, and small text that has to stay crisp.

Why this matters for dog products

Dog gear takes a beating — rain, mud, daily handling. A lower-polyester blank that looked fine in the studio will fade fast in real use. For maker-driven pet products you want at least 85% polyester, ideally higher, so the print holds up across seasons.

The Lead Sleeve is engineered with a high-polyester face precisely for this reason: vivid colour out of the press, and a print that survives months of walks and washes.

Quick checks before you press

• Read the spec sheet, not the marketing copy. "Sublimation-friendly" is not a polyester percentage.
• Test a single unit before running a batch.
• For mixed blends, expect colours to look a half-shade lighter than your design — adjust your artwork saturation accordingly.

Working with the Lead Sleeve specifically? See the press settings guide and the print instructions for full specs.