Dye-sublimation Printing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia....
Dye-sublimation printing is a digital printing technology using full color artwork that works with polyester and polymer-coated substrates. Also referred to as digital sublimation, the process is commonly used for decorating apparel, signs and banners, as well as novelty items such as cell phone covers, plaques, coffee mugs, and other items with sublimation-friendly surfaces. The process uses the science of sublimation, in which heat and pressure are applied to a solid, turning it into a gas through an endothermic reaction without passing through the liquid phase.
In sublimation printing, unique sublimation dyes are transferred to sheets of “transfer” paper via liquid gel ink through a piezoelectric print head. The ink is deposited on these high-release inkjet papers, which are used for the next step of the sublimation printing process. After the digital design is printed onto sublimation transfer sheets, it is placed on a heat press along with the substrate to be sublimated.
In order to transfer the image from the paper to the substrate, it requires a heat press process that is a combination of time, temperature and pressure. The heat press applies this special combination, which can change depending on the substrate, to “transfer” the sublimation dyes at the molecular level into the substrate. The most common dyes used for sublimation activate at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. However, a range of 380 to 420 degrees Fahrenheit is normally recommended for optimal color.
The end result of the sublimation process is a nearly permanent, high resolution, full color print. Because the dyes are infused into the substrate at the molecular level, rather than applied at a topical level (such as with screen printing and direct to garment printing), the prints will not crack, fade or peel from the substrate under normal conditions.
NB: Manufacturers void printer warranties when Sublimation Ink is used. The Sublimation ink supplied with the printer below, is non Epson ink, sourced from a Specialist 3rd Party Sublimation Ink Manufacturer. Neither Epson nor Discspeed, will honour the warranty on a printer when sublimation ink is used.
NB: Manufacturers void printer warranties when Sublimation Ink is used. The Sublimation ink supplied with the printer below, is non Epson ink, sourced from a Specialist 3rd Party Sublimation Ink Manufacturer. Neither Epson nor Discspeed, will honour the warranty on a printer when sublimation ink is used.
NB: Manufacturers void printer warranties when Sublimation Ink is used. The Sublimation ink supplied with the printer below, is non Epson ink, sourced from a Specialist 3rd Party Sublimation Ink Manufacturer. Neither Epson nor Discspeed, will honour the warranty on a printer when sublimation ink is used.
Mug Press for Sublimation
Flat Surface Heat Presses
Sublimation Ink
Black 100ml = R165
Cyan 100ml = R165
Magenta 100ml = R165
Yellow 100ml = R165
Colour correction .icc file
is supplied with our inks
Sublimation Papers, & Heat Transfer Papers
Dye Sublimation Papers A4, 100 pack 100gsm = R165
Dye Sublimation Papers A3, 100 pack 100gsm = R199
High Resolution 120gsm Dye Sublimation Paper, A4, 100 Pack = R199
High Resolution 120gsm Dye Sublimation Paper, A3, 100 Pack = R259
High Resolution 120gsm Dye Sublimation Paper, A3+, 100 Pack = R459
A4 Transfer Paper for Inkjet LIGHT Fabrics 10 pack = R119
A3 Transfer Paper for Inkjet LIGHT Fabrics 10 pack = R249
A4 Transfer Paper for Inkjet DARK Fabrics 10 pack = R199
Sublimation MUGS 11oz
36 mugs per box.
R17.25 ea Vat incl
Heat Transfer Paper vs. Sublimation Printing
So, you’re entering the wonderful world of T-shirt making and personalized garments—that’s exciting!
You may be asking yourself which garment decoration method is better: Heat Transfer paper or Sublimation Printing? The answer is that both are great! However, the method you go with depends on your needs and what you’re looking to do. Plus, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s dig into the details to help you decide which is the right fit for you and your business.
The Basics of Heat Transfer Paper - A very Thin vinyl film is transferred to the garment
So, what is heat transfer paper exactly?
Heat transfer paper is a specialty paper that transfers printed designs to shirts and other garments when heat is applied.
The process involves printing a design onto a sheet of heat transfer paper using a Standard Inkjet Printer - Not a Sublimation Printer.
Then, you place the printed sheet on your T-shirt and press it using a heat press (in certain cases, a home iron will work, but heat presses provide the best results).
After you’ve pressed it, you peel away the paper, and your image adheres nicely onto the fabric. Great – you now have a custom T-shirt! That was easy, right?
Garment decoration via heat transfer paper is super easy. Many decorators get their start using nothing more than the printer they already have at home!
A few other important notes about heat transfer paper is that most papers work on both cotton and polyester fabrics - whereas sublimation only works on polyesters. In addition, heat transfer papers are designed to work for either dark or light-colored garments while sublimation is exclusively for white or light-coloured garments.
Ok, How About Sublimation- Almost like die-ing the material. Sublimation Ink Adheres to the polyester fibres
The sublimation process is quite similar to that of heat transfer paper.
The process involves printing a design onto a sheet of sublimation paper, and pressing it onto a garment with a heat press.
Sublimation ink, when heated, turns from a solid to a gas, that embeds itself into the polyester fabric.
When it cools, it goes back to a solid and becomes a permanent part of the fabric. This means that your transferred design adds no additional layer on top, so there’s no difference in feeling between the printed image, and the rest of the fabric. This also means that the transfer is incredibly durable, and under normal conditions, the images you produce will last as long as the product itself.
Sublimation Printing can be Trial and Error
Sublimation Inks appears very different to normal Dye or Pigment inks.
For example Black Sublimation ink has a "brownish" appearance, and the yellow seems "mustardy"
Therefore the correct .icc Colour Profiles for your brand of Sublimation Ink must be be installed on your PC, to ensure that the CMYK is correctly transferred from screen to print.
It is worth bearing in mind that the avg. PC screen, displays in 16milj. Colours, and to correctly output that to a 4x Colour Printer, is not a simple task
ONLY once the printed sublimation page is heated, will you see the true colour of the Sublimation transfer.
The correct .icc profile, will ensure that your transfers will be close to colour correct, however, the type of media being used (Garments-Mugs-Mousepads) etc, will also have an impact on the final result.
Therefore a reasonlable knowledge of a graphics nature, will assist you in manipulating a problematic image to print correctly
Sublimation Only works on White to medium Light polyester fabrics, the Ink will not be visible on dark fabrics
It also works on a wide variety of hard surfaces with a polymer-coating.
This opens up an entirely new world of items you can customize - coasters, jewelery, mugs, puzzles and much more.
There are various products that claim, when cotton is treated with a "special spray, or powder", that the ink will adhere to the cotton fabric.
Don't waste your money....
Look, the chemical composition of Sublimation Ink is such, that it adheres to Polyester Fibre, and any polymer coated surface.
Polyster is an artificial fibre, Cotton is a natural fibre.
Durability and Feel
Sublimation uses a process where the ink becomes part of the fabric rather than adding a layer on top.
This results in a transfer that is unmatched in both durability and feel.
Heat transfer paper adds a layer on top of the garment. This additional layer can be physically felt and is less durable than sublimation and can become faded and cracked over time with numerous wash cycles.
It is important to note that heat transfer papers are not created equally, and you will find some that offer a softer feel and greater durability than other transfer papers.
Types of Garments You Can Decorate
With sublimation, you’re more limited in the types of fabrics you can decorate compared to heat transfer paper.
First, sublimation only works with polyester fabrics. Not cotton! This is because sublimation ink only binds to polyester material. You can get away with sublimating on some poly-cotton blends, but the transfer will not be as bright and vibrant as when you use 100% polyester.
Because sublimation adds no extra layer on top of the fabric, the material also needs to be white or very light-colored for your transfer to show.
On the other hand, with heat transfer paper, you can decorate on light and dark-colored cotton, polyester and cotton-poly blends.
