Welcome to the world of dye sublimation printing! Home décor, soft signage and sports apparel markets have been experiencing steady growth, and dye sublimation printing is a great way for business owners to take advantage of this opportunity.
With competitive price and timely delivery, Million Ton sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Below, we outline what dye sublimation printing is and share five takeaways you need to know before getting started.
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It&#;s the chemistry behind dye sublimation that makes it the correct technique for printing on polyester and polyester resin coated products. Using a wide-format inkjet printer, dye-sub inks are printed on a special transfer paper. From there, the ink is heat transferred from the paper onto a fabric by using a heat press. The ink changes from a solid to a gas (hence the term &#;sublimation&#;) and enters the polyester fibers.
The polymers in the polyester bond when heated, which allows the graphics to quickly become permanently embedded into your materials. As a heated gas, the ink becomes fully infused into the fabric instead of just printed on the surface, resulting in long-lasting, high-quality products.
Compared to inkjet printing on other materials like paper or vinyl, dye sublimation is a more involved process since it involves multiple steps. But don&#;t worry. With the right knowledge, dye sublimation can be an enjoyable and profitable business. Here&#;s what you need to know to get started:
As we mentioned, polyester and polyester resin coated materials are the perfect substrates for dye sublimation printing. Since these printers are available in various styles and sizes, you can print on an assortment of products including:
When you&#;re transferring your graphics from paper to fabric, the ink needs to convert from a solid state to a gas. Since the chemical process is very specific for dye sublimation, you&#;ll need to use a specific type of ink known as disperse dyes (commonly referred to as &#;dye-sub inks&#;).
These dyes are able to go from a solid state to a gaseous state in high temperatures and will easily bond to polyester fabrics.
The color gamut of disperse dyes is incredibly vibrant. And, some brands like Mimaki have introduced fluorescent inks that can be used to push the color gamut even further!
Since disperse dyes are permanently bonded to your finished products, the result is long-lasting graphics that are fully washable.
While similar to other wide format printers, dye sublimation printers are specific to the dye-sub application. They use disperse dyes which are dedicated to print on transfer paper only.
Dye-sublimation is experiencing tremendous growth and there is a great selection of dye sublimation printers available from the best brands in the industry. Here are a few that the ITNH team highly recommend:
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The wide selection of dye-sublimation printers available allows you to choose the perfect fit for your application and budget. Printers are available from 44&#; wide up to 10&#; wide. Some are designed for the occasional job and others are capable of impressive factory production.
The dye sublimation process involves multiple steps, but they are simple and straight forward as long as you have the following items:
Heat Press
Your heat press is just as important as your dye sublimation printer. And just like your printer, heat presses are available in a variety of sizes, styles and price points. Here are a few of the most common types to give you an idea of what&#;s out there:
Cutting & Sewing
Depending on your particular desired application, you may consider cutting and sewing options. Like the printer, these items range from simple and relatively inexpensive to large factory equipment. It&#;s best to talk with an expert to learn more about the equipment that will be your best fit.
With the assortment of equipment needed and the multi-step process, dye sublimation printing was once expensive and intimidating. The printers alone could run as high as $20,000, and that&#;s not even including the cost of a heat press.
Now, the market has expanded to give people more options to choose from and the cost of the equipment has been dramatically reduced. The technology has also improved, making the sublimation process much easier with even higher quality printing.
Some of the best names in dye sublimation printing, like Mimaki, Epson and Mutoh, now offer printers at $10,000 or less. And if you consider the potential that dye sublimation printing has for your revenue stream, this investment will be well worth it.
Q: How much does a dye sublimation printer cost?
A: You can find dye sublimation printers from the top brands (Epson, Mimaki, Mutoh, etc.) starting under $10,000. They&#;ll get more expensive as they get bigger and faster. Also, keep in mind that you will also need additional equipment &#; like a heat press or a cutting machine &#; so your total package investment will be more than the cost of the printer.
Q: How long will a dye sublimation printer last?
A: As with anything, the higher the quality of your printer the longer it will last. A high-quality dye sublimation printer should have a lifespan of 10 years.
Q: How long with my dye sublimated item last?
A: Since the sublimation process involves the inks being chemically bonded to a material, decorated items permanent and washable. Fade resistance can vary from ink to ink and this should be discussed with a professional in the context of your application.
Q: How will I know how long an item should be sublimated for? And what temperature should the printer be?
A: This may take some trial and error since it will depend on the product you&#;re customizing. Typically, the following times and temperatures are recommended:
When in doubt, contact the printer manufacturer or your product supplier to get the right settings for your items.
Are you interested in learning more about a4 sublimation paper ODM? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!