Sublimation

 

Custom Sublimated products are the perfect way to have a High resolution product with unlimited colors on a variety of products.  T-Shirts, Team Wear, Tents, Flags and much more.

Sublimated items are made up of 100% polyester materials that will not fade or shrink in the wash.  

With over 10 years in the full Sublimation Industry we produce full hand sewn items with designs that will knock the socks off your competition.  

 

Contact us today for your next project and see what the buzz is all about.

 

 

What is Dye-Sublimation Printing?

Key Points

    Dye-sublimation printing embeds ink into fabric fibers rather than just pressing it on the surface, creating long-lasting graphics.

    The process involves printing onto transfer paper, heat-pressing it with fabric, and transforming the ink into gas that bonds with the material.

    Dye-sub graphics are vibrant, durable, fade-resistant, and flexible, with unlimited color options and machine-washable capability.

    Unlike heat press printing, which applies ink on top of fabric, dye-sublimation infuses the design into the fabric itself for a smoother, more professional finish.

What does dye-sublimation (dye-sub) printing mean in simple terms?

In a nutshell, dye-sublimation is a printing process that actually embeds ink into a substrate instead of just printing on the top layer. In the event industry, this usually refers to the fabric graphics commonly seen in trade show booths. While this is an oversimplification, it’s a quick summary most people are really interested in. Below are the actual steps to provide a better understanding of the dye-sublimation printing process. 
How the dye-sublimation printing process works step-by-step:

1. The artwork is printed, using liquid sublimation ink, onto a special transfer paper

2. The ink is allowed to dry on the paper

3. That transfer paper is then aligned on top of the desired substrate (poly-fabric)

4. Both the transfer paper and the fabric are put through a heat press together

5. While in the heat press, the sublimation ink on the transfer paper is vaporized into a gas

6. The gas then transfers from the paper, into the pores of the fabric and bonds with the material below

7. The graphic is removed from the heat and the transfer paper is discarded

8. Once cooled, the final product is a vibrant, dyed fabric that is resistant to fading, running, and cracking


Why use dye-sublimation printing?

As opposed to a standard heat pressed graphic, where the ink is just pressed onto the top of the material, dye-sublimation prints are fully embedded into the fabric. Here are several important benefits that would matter to you. 
Dye-Sublimation Benefits:

1. The art will stretch and move with the fabric than other processes 

2. The final graphic is nearly fade proof

3. Your graphic will have no feel as it is now part of the fabric

4. Unlimited colors can be used in the art

5. Ink will not rub or peel off - wash after wash (bleach can effect this process more than others.

6. Many dye-sub graphics are machine washable for the life of the garment

7. The graphics are both durable and vibrant

Sublimation printing cons

There are also some limitations to sublimation printing. Below we’ve highlighted 2 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 the 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.