A client orders twelve matching shirts and approves the logo on a phone. You still do not know whether the print will sit too low on an XL or whether the smallest letters will read on fabric. A sublimation shirt sample gives both of you a physical reference before you print the remaining transfers.

For this example, use the JoyClub five-pack of white XL sublimation T-shirts. The listed blend is 95% polyester and 5% spandex. A scrap from another fabric can help you explore a design, but it cannot establish the fit, placement, or final appearance on these shirts.

Count the sample before you order the blanks

Twelve finished XL shirts plus one sample that stays in the shop means thirteen blanks. Three five-packs supply fifteen: twelve for delivery, one reference shirt, and two unassigned. This calculation works only if every shirt needs to be XL. Count other sizes separately. Do not promise the reference shirt to a customer if you plan to wash-test and retain it.

Measure placement so another maker can repeat it

Lay the shirt flat without pulling it wider. Put a full-size paper proof on the front. Measure from the center front neckline seam to the top of the printed design; record the design width and whether it is centered. A note saying “large chest logo” is much harder to reproduce.

Try the longest name in the order on your proof. If it only fits by shrinking the letters noticeably, show the buyer a two-line version at the original type size. Resolve that choice on paper rather than discovering it halfway through a personalized batch.

Get four decisions from the finished sample

• Position: Show the whole shirt, not just a close-up. Confirm that the height looks right when worn.
• Legibility: Read the smallest text at normal viewing distance. Look at the thin strokes and spaces inside letters on the fabric.
• Color: Compare the print with an agreed physical reference under consistent light. A phone photo can show placement but is a poor sole reference for an exact color match.
• Cleanliness: Check around the print for stray marks and look at the back before packing.

Change one thing at a time

Follow the shirt, transfer-material, and equipment instructions for your test. Record the file version, transfer paper, and settings actually used. If the image is crisp but too low, adjust placement, not heat. If the edges look doubled, check for movement. Changing several variables together makes the next sample harder to interpret.

When laundering is part of the approval, photograph the sample before and after washing it according to the garment's care instructions. Compare the print and garment dimensions in similar conditions. One wash is a useful project check, not evidence for a lifetime durability claim.

Keep the sample beside the first production shirt

Label the reference with the date and artwork version. Compare it with the first production shirt before committing the rest of the pack. For a reorder, check the selected blank and size again: approval applies to a specific garment and graphic, not the whole catalog. For pack sizes and fabric selection, see our guide to buying sublimation T-shirts in bulk.