Sublimation Printing is a popular method of printing which aims at transferring a design from sublimation paper onto a piece of fabric or material by using pressure and heat (between 350 – 400 degrees). Changing the solid particles of the ink into a gaseous state, it is an easy and cost-effective way of adding personalization to products that is used by both companies and people at home.
Here’s the full process:
- You print a design onto special transfer paper using sublimation inks
- Then, you place the paper onto a product and heat it with a heat press
- The heat turns the inks into a gas, and the material absorbs them
- As a result, you get a permanent, vibrant print that won’t fade or crack over time
Sublimation printing fabric
If you are thinking of creating your own printing business and want to utilize sublimation printing or you want to start using the process at home, it is important to know what materials you can use. These are the following:
– Polycotton textile
– Polymer
– Polyester
– Ceramic
– PVC
– Polyester-coated aluminum
– Polymer-coated metal
– Polyester-made fabric
– Polymer- coated plastic
The best materials to use for sublimation printing out of the list above is polyester or ceramic. For fabric, you can use a variety of designs and logos, unlike traditional printing that could sometimes only produce one logo per garment.
There are, however, a few designs that don’t lend well to sublimation printing. An example of this is designs that have block colors with designs that need to be placed all over the garment. This is partly because of a chance of ‘ghosting’ and color mismatch (disadvantages of sublimation printing that are explored in more detail below), as well as causing white streaking.
Are there any materials that won’t work with sublimation?
100% cotton materials or other natural materials are not suitable for this method of printing. This is because they don’t have the pores that are required in order for the ink to be absorbed into it. If you are working with these types of materials, perhaps digital printing is more suitable.
Sublimation printing pros
Now that you know how sublimation printing works, let’s go through the pros and cons of this printing technique, starting with the benefits.
1. Vibrant and detailed printing results
What’s most exciting about sublimation printing is the ability to produce vibrant and detailed prints. Thanks to the high temperatures used in the process, the lines appear very sharp and the colors aren’t faded.
2. Print durability
An important thing to note about dye sublimation is that the ink isn’t just applied on top of the material. Instead, it’s absorbed right into the material, becoming an integral part of it. That’s why a sublimation print won’t fade or wash off, lasting much longer than a screen print or a DTG print.
3. Quick turnaround time
Another pro of sublimation printing is its quick turnaround time. Because the printing process is digital and doesn’t require creating a physical screen or plate, sublimation printers can quickly produce high-quality prints and require less manual labor than, for example, screen printing.
4. Variety of products
When it comes to the choice of materials, sublimation is versatile and gives you lots of room for creativity. You can make custom clothing, bags, mugs, mousepads, and more.
5. No order minimums
If you choose a print-on-demand service like lulucustom, you can order one-off sublimated products without worrying about meeting a minimum order requirement. This also gives room for experiments—you can test products to find the ones your customers like without investing too much into inventory.
6. Eco-friendliness
The final benefit of sublimation printing is that it’s a relatively eco-friendly printing process. Unlike traditional printing methods that use water-based inks and solvents, sublimation printing uses dry inks. The dry inks are infused into the material while being printed, resulting in minimal waste and reduced environmental impact. In addition, it reduces the amount of wasted ink by only applying it to the areas needed.
Sublimation printing cons
There are also some limitations to sublimation printing. Below we’ve highlighted 3 main disadvantages you should consider before committing to this printing method.
1. Material limitations
Note that sublimation only works on 100% polyester or fabric blends that contain a high percentage of polyester. The less polyester in your fabric, the more faded the prints. This is because the chemical properties of sublimation dyes require synthetic fibers to properly stick and create long-lasting results.If you’re interested in cotton, silk, or leather garment printing, sublimation won’t be the right choice. Sublimation dyes simply won’t adhere to natural fibers or will quickly wash off.
2. Base color limitations
Sublimation’s only available for white or very light blank products. That’s because there’s no white ink in sublimation printing, and the sublimation inks can’t lighten the base color.If you sublimate on a black fabric, the dye will technically transfer but you won’t be able to see the results. For example, printing a vivid magenta color on a black shirt will result in a black print with a reddish undertone.
3. White creasing
Another issue that sublimation printing can cause is white creasing. If there are any areas that the design has not reached, it creates white creases. This can occur if there is any moisture on the transfer paper or if any areas of the garment are folded. The most common places that are affected by the white marks are under the arms and along seams. This creates a piece of clothing that’s of less quality and will result in the t-shirt becoming unsellable.
Sublimation FAQs
Something’s still unclear? We’ve prepared bite-sized answers to the most common questions about sublimation.
What is sublimation?
Sublimation’s a process in which a solid substance is transformed directly into a gaseous state, without passing through the liquid phase. In the printing industry, it’s used to print designs on materials such as mugs, clothing, accessories, and other items.
What is a sublimation printer?
A sublimation printer is a special type of printer that uses heat to transfer dye onto various materials. The printer heats up sublimation ink cartridges to a high temperature (around 350–400 ºF or 176–205 ºC) to transfer the dye onto the material.
How long does sublimation last on shirts?
Sublimation printing is built to withstand the test of time. When done right, your designs will stay vibrant and in pristine condition, even after multiple washes and wears. The ink becomes a part of the garment, so you can be sure your prints will look just as good years down the line. No fading, peeling, or cracking to worry about.
Can you sublimate on dark colors?
You can’t sublimate on dark colors unless you apply a special coating before printing. The sublimation printing process requires a white or very light material color to achieve the best printing outcomes.
What’s the difference between sublimation and screen printing?
In a nutshell, sublimation embeds the dye right into the fabric’s fibers, while screen printing applies dye on top of the material. Another difference is that sublimation only works with polyester materials but screen printing is best suited for natural fibers.
What paper do you use for sublimation printing?
The sublimation process requires a specially coated heat transfer paper. It’s designed to withstand high temperatures without burning or smudging.