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.