Custom fabric printing in Malaysia starts at RM18.73 per square metre (about RM1.74 per square foot) on 80gsm polyester flag fabric — a 3 × 5 ft printed flag is RM26.09. The process is dye-sublimation: the ink is turned into a gas by heat and bonds inside polyester fibres, so the print is part of the cloth rather than a layer on top of it. It does not crack, peel or feel stiff, which is why flags, soft banners, table throws and stretch-fabric displays are all printed this way.
How dye-sublimation fabric printing works
The design is printed with sublimation ink onto transfer paper, then pressed against the fabric under heat. The heat turns the ink into a gas that enters the opened-up polyester fibres; as they cool, the colour is locked inside. Three things follow from that, and they decide what fabric printing can and cannot do:
- It only works on polyester. Cotton has nothing for the dye to bond to, so the colour washes out. Everything in the range below is polyester.
- There is no white ink. White areas of a design are simply unprinted fabric, and the dye is translucent, so it prints onto white or light fabric only.
- The print moves with the cloth. Fold it, crease it, wash it — nothing sits on the surface to crack.
The five fabrics and what each is for
All five are cut to your exact size and priced by area, up to 3 × 5 m a piece. Every price is the live rate from the fabric printing configurator on 12 September 2026.
| Fabric | Per m² | Per sq ft | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flag fabric 80gsm | RM18.73 | ≈RM1.74 | Flags and light hanging banners. The print shows through the back in mirror image |
| Mesh fabric 110gsm | RM21.96 | ≈RM2.04 | Open knit that lets wind through — outdoor flags, sports-field fence banners |
| Satin fabric 110gsm | RM25.19 | ≈RM2.34 | Smooth face with a soft sheen — table throws, stage backdrops, indoor displays |
| Mesh-hole fabric 120gsm | RM26.80 | ≈RM2.49 | Regular perforated holes, the least wind load of the range |
| Double-sided blockout 280gsm | RM41.98 | ≈RM3.90 | Two printed faces with an opaque core — two-sided flags and hanging signs |
For a 3 × 5 ft piece that works out to RM26.09 on flag fabric, RM30.59 on mesh fabric and RM58.48 on double-sided blockout. Banner-sized pieces are priced size by size in the fabric banner guide.
What you can make with printed fabric
| Product | How it is made | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Flags | Flag fabric, mesh or blockout, cut to size — or a wind flag kit with pole and base | 3 × 5 ft from RM26.09; wind flag kits from RM110 — see flag printing |
| Soft hanging banners | Flag fabric or satin, heat-cut edges | 3 × 6 ft from RM31.31 |
| Table throws | Satin panel over a table | A 1.8 × 1.2 m satin panel is RM54.41 |
| Tension fabric displays | Stretch fabric skin zipped over an aluminium frame, frame included | Barricade 90 × 150 cm RM197, door bunting display 80 × 205 cm RM241, tower RM315, promotion table RM337, U-shape backdrop RM1,189 |
| Jerseys and polyester T-shirts | Sublimation transfer sheets you heat-press yourself | A4 RM7.00, A3 RM9.35, A2 RM14.00 |
The tension fabric displays are the premium end: the skin is washable and crease-free, the frame packs into a bag, and the whole thing sets up without tools — which is why exhibitors choose them over PVC for anything that travels.
Sublimation transfers for jerseys and T-shirts
If you have a heat press, you do not need a finished garment printed. A sublimation transfer is the printed sheet on its own: you place it on the garment and press it, and the design transfers into the fabric.
| Sheet | Size | One sheet | 100 sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | RM7.00 | — |
| A3 | 297 × 420 mm | RM9.35 | RM888.25 (5% off) |
| A2 | 420 × 594 mm | RM14.00 | — |
Gang as many small designs onto one sheet as will fit — a sheet of name tags or sleeve logos costs the same as one large print. Order them on the sublimation transfer page. The same rules apply as for any sublimation: polyester or a high-polyester blend, white or light colours only.
Fabric or PVC: which to print on
| Fabric (sublimated polyester) | PVC flex | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Matte, no glare under lights | Slight sheen |
| Handling | Folds into a bag, creases hang out | Must be rolled; creases are permanent |
| Outdoors | Fine for flags and events; soaks through in heavy rain | The long-term outdoor default; wipes clean |
| Fixing | Hang from a bar, tension in a frame, or sew | Eyelets, pole pockets, fold-back edges |
Choose fabric for anything indoors, under lights, photographed, or carried from event to event. Choose PVC for a shopfront, a fence or a site hoarding — see banner printing prices.
Designing artwork for fabric
- Plan for no white. If a design needs a white area on a coloured garment, sublimation cannot print it — the white will be the fabric.
- Expect softer colour than glossy PVC, especially deep blacks on light flag fabric. Satin and blockout hold dark colours better. Design in CMYK and judge colour against a print, not a screen — see the colour guide for printing.
- Remember the mirror. On single-layer flag fabric the back shows the front reversed, which is fine for a logo and unreadable for text. Two readable sides need blockout.
- Build at full size at 100–150 dpi with 3 mm bleed — the same as any large-format job. See how to prepare artwork.
How long fabric printing takes
Fabric is dye-sublimated by Tandaku's production partner rather than on the in-house UV line, so allow 5–7 working days before dispatch, counted from artwork approval. Fabric folds, so it ships by courier anywhere in Malaysia (1–3 working days), goes by Lalamove within the Klang Valley once ready, or can be collected free in Seri Kembangan, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm. If you have a fixed event date, order with that week in hand.
FAQ
How much does fabric printing cost in Malaysia?
From RM18.73 per square metre on 80gsm flag fabric at Tandaku, so a 3 × 5 ft piece is RM26.09. Mesh fabric is RM21.96 per m², satin RM25.19, mesh-hole RM26.80 and double-sided blockout RM41.98. Every piece is cut to size with no setup fee and no minimum order.
What is dye-sublimation printing?
A process where heat turns sublimation ink into a gas that bonds inside polyester fibres. The colour becomes part of the fabric instead of sitting on top, so it does not crack or peel, the cloth stays soft, and the print survives folding and washing.
Can you print on cotton fabric?
Not by sublimation. The dye needs polyester to bond to, and on cotton it washes out. Every fabric Tandaku prints is polyester, and sublimation transfers are for polyester or high-polyester garments in white or light colours.
Can I order printed fabric by the metre?
Fabric is priced per square metre and cut to the exact size you enter, up to 3 × 5 m a piece. It is polyester display fabric — flag, mesh, satin and blockout — rather than dressmaking cloth, so it suits flags, banners, table throws and backdrops.
Is sublimation printing washable?
Yes. Because the dye is inside the polyester fibres rather than on the surface, the print does not wash off, crack or peel. Tension fabric display skins are designed to be washed and reused.
What is the difference between flag fabric and blockout fabric?
Flag fabric is a light 80gsm single layer: the design shows through the back as a mirror image. Double-sided blockout is 280gsm with an opaque core between two printed faces, so each side can carry its own readable artwork. Blockout costs RM41.98 per m² against RM18.73.
How long does fabric printing take?
Allow 5–7 working days before dispatch, counted from artwork approval, because fabric is dye-sublimated by Tandaku's production partner. Delivery is then 1–3 working days by courier, same-day Lalamove in the Klang Valley, or free pickup in Seri Kembangan.
Price your fabric
Choose the fabric and enter the size on the fabric printing configurator. Related reading: fabric banner printing · flag printing · backdrop printing