SUBLIMATION 101
What is Sublimation Printing?
Sublimation printing allows
businesses to create customized and personalized full color products on demand.
Sublimation printing has been around for decades, but it wasn't until recently
that it became an economical and practical way to decorate a variety of
products.
Sublimation definition: when
a solid material turns into a gas without going through a liquid stage. This means that the artwork is
transferred to an object in a gas state by using a high temperature heat press
during the dye sublimation printing process. It differs from traditional
printing methods because it bypasses the liquid step. There are no inks drying
to the printed object.
How It Works:
The image is first infused onto the
source printing paper, leaving little mess and making the whole process quick
and easy for dye sublimation printing. Heat is then utilized to transfer the
image from the sublimation paper to an object.
Businesses use this style of
printing when creating graphics on clothing, as well as signage, home
decorations, company exhibits, and personal items such as coasters, coffee
mugs, and keyrings.
Advantages of Sublimation Printing:
Compared with other common printing
techniques, dye sublimation printing has a number of
advantages:
•Continuous tone – Each and every dot of ink
in sublimation printing can be a different color. For this reason,
sublimated graphics appear high-resolution and have amazing color fidelity,
even under a microscope.
•No dry time – Sublimation
printing on fabric means you can be fold or wear the garment immediately
after it leaves the press without having to worry about smearing the ink.
•Fewer moving parts – Presses are simple machines, and
the thermal print head doesn’t need to move back and forth over
the print media. This means sublimation printers are less likely to
break down.
•No mess – No liquid ink means no spills and
no clean up.
•Fade-free – Sublimated dye impregnates and
becomes part of the plastic. It
will not fade or degrade the plastic, and
the colors will not run if exposed to water.
•Seam-to-seam printing – Sublimation
printing can work for even the most intricate shapes, allowing you to
print the entire fabric of a garment.
