If you&#;re wearing a T-shirt with a design on it, that design could have been produced in a variety of ways. If it is a custom design, such as your name and a number on it, it may have been printed with either sublimation printing or inkjet. However, if it is a concert shirt that was printed in sizable batches, then it was most likely screenprinted. Sublimation printing is particularly known for its vivid colors and complex designs.
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Sublimation printing is not to be confused with eitherSublimation printing is not to be confused with either inkjet printing or screenprinting , although it is a digital process. It is a dye-based process and is one of the most common approaches to producing apparel with designs on it. It uses its own type of printing, and while many leading inkjet printing manufacturers also produce sublimation printers ( like Epson in October, and January, ), there are significant differences in the processes.The process of sublimation printing begins with the artwork being printed onto sublimation paper using sublimation ink. It is not a direct printing process. Once the garment or other item is placed on a jig, the design is pressed on using a heat press, turning the ink into a gas and transferring it onto the item being printed, most often and article of clothing. The item either has to be polyester or have a polyester-based coating.Once the ink touches the fabric, it returns to a solid state. Essentially, the ink is permanently fused onto the clothing. That differs from heat transfer, in which the ink is transferred as a liquid onto the article of clothing, and thus can crack or peel over time.Sublimation printing can be used for more than clothing though. It can be used wherever fabrics are needed, including signs and home decorations, as well as non-textile items such as mouse pads, and can be printed on aluminum, glass, plastic and more. It is particularly good for transferring an image from a photo or a logo onto a gift item.There are significant differences between dye sublimation printing and screenprinting, beginning with the process of screenprinting itself, which requires individual stencils for each color and is thus limited to simpler designs and much fewer colors. Heat transfer is a screenprinting process which we discussed above.Screenprinting requires a flat surface, eliminating the possibility of rigid surfaces such as cups., though these have to be treated with a polyester coating first. Screenprinting is printed using one color at a time, which also impacts the designs being created, and is best for one- or two-color designs. Since screen uses pigments, the colors are stable on cotton and other fabrics.There are also differences with inkjet printing. Inkjet inks are printed in a liquid state, while sublimation inks start as a solid and then become a gas when heated.There are plenty of benefits to sublimation printing. Because the ink is now part of the material, it won&#;t peel off or crack like other processes. Unlike screenprinting, sublimation printing is customizable, as you are making the design whatever you want it to be, then transferring the design onto the clothing. That makes it ideal for small orders or even individual items. It is a more costly process though.Interestingly, sublimation printing is primarily limited to polyester-based materials. Cotton-based materials will absorb too much ink, and the results aren&#;t good. Heat damages other fabrics, such as silk. Another disadvantage is that sublimation printing can&#;t be used to produce textures, as sublimation is one layer fused into the product.Because of their unique composition, sublimation inks are pretty much in a category by themselves. There are two main types, aqueous-based dye sublimation inks and solvent-based dye sublimation inks, in which the ingredients are suspended in water and oil, respectively.There are major differences between sublimation inks, screen inks and inkjet inks, beginning with the basic composition of the inks themselves. Sublimation inks are dye-based, while inkjet inks can be either dye-based or pigmented and screen inks are pigmented. Sublimation inks are most likely not going to be compatible in an inkjet printer.Another huge difference is that sublimation inks are a solid when the printed process starts, and heated into a gas when applied, thus being fused onto the item. Fading isn&#;t a problem. Screen inks are printed in thick films using a mesh stencil, while inkjet inks are low viscosity as they have to be jetted through the nozzles on the printhead.One limitation to the sublimation ink process is that there are no white-based sublimation inks. White inks can help a design pop. However, sublimation printing only works on white or lighter colored items. Even with that, sublimation printing is considered the choice for complex, vivid designs.
Sublimation printing is a popular technique for printing designs on fabric. It is a digital printing process that uses heat and pressure to transfer designs with a special ink onto (recycled) polyester or other synthetic fabrics. This printing technique is widely used in the textile industry to create permanently customized designs on apparel, sportswear, and other fabric products.
We can hear you think: &#;How does sublimation printing work? And what are the pros and cons? In this article, we will give you all the answers to these questions.
At House of U our sublimation printing process involves four main steps:
In short, a sublimation printer is a machine that transfers digital design onto fabric items. It consists of two different machines: the printer and the heat press.
The printer makes sure that the digital design is printed onto paper to use in the heat press. When the printing process is done, the only thing that needs to be done is transferring the inks onto the fabric. The heat press uses heat to transfer the ink into the fibers of the fabric.
Sublimation ink is a specialized type of ink that is typically used for printing onto materials that can be sublimated. Sublimation ink is not intended for use in regular printing applications, such as printing on paper. This is because sublimation ink is designed to bond specifically with the special coatings found on sublimation-compatible materials.
The benefits of sublimation printing on fabric:
There are also some disadvantages of sublimation printing like the limited fabric selection. This technique only works on synthetic materials or materials that have been treated with a special coating. This means that it&#;s not suitable for natural uncoated fabrics such as cotton, silk or fabric containing TENCEL&#; Lyocell fibers. This limits the range of fabrics that can be used for sublimation printing.
A different disadvantage is white creasing. During the printing process it can happen that the fabric or sublimation paper is folded. When a design is then printed onto an unprinted sublimation fabric, it can cause white creasing on the fabric because the design can&#;t be reached on the fabric, disrupting the design.
Overall, sublimation printing is a versatile and effective method for producing high-quality prints on synthetic fabrics. However, it may not be the best choice for every project when you are searching for fabric containing TENCEL&#; Lyocell fibers or cotton fabric.
When it comes to printing on dark fabric, sublimation printing can be a challenge. The reason is that the dye used in the process is transparent, which means that it cannot produce opaque colors.
At House of U, we only offer sublimation printing on fabrics with a white/creamy base color.
At House of U we offer sublimation printing services and more than 35% of the fabrics that are used by our customers, are printed on recycled polyesters. And because of that, the sublimation printers are used every day to make sure that the orders will meet their deadline.
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That&#;s good to see because the fabrics become sustainable end products, and that will reduce the environmental impact. Not only are the recycled fabrics sustainable, but the inks we use in this sublimation process are also sustainable. Besides this, the sublimation printing process uses almost no water, which helps House of U reduce their carbon footprint.
Recycled polyester is a durable and high-quality fabric that is ideal for sublimation printing. The fabric has the same properties as conventional polyester fabric, such as moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and wrinkle-resistant, but with the added benefit of being environmentally friendly.
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Sublimation printing on recycled polyester involves the same three steps as sublimation printing on traditional polyester fabric. First, the design is created using graphic design software or by hand. Second, the design is printed onto transfer paper using sublimation ink. Finally, the design is transferred onto the fabric using a heat press.
By using sublimation printing on recycled polyester, businesses and individuals can reduce their environmental impact and create sustainable products. Recycled polyester is a great alternative to traditional polyester, which is derived from non-renewable resources and can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills.
In addition to being eco-friendly, sublimation printing on recycled polyester offers all the benefits of traditional sublimation printing. The colors are vibrant, long-lasting, and can be fully customized, making it ideal for creating unique and personalized designs on clothing, accessories, and home decor.
Sublimation printing can be used on a variety of fabric products like:
The sublimation printing process needs several key items:
Screen printing and sublimation printing are two popular methods used for printing designs onto various surfaces. While both methods produce high-quality prints, there are significant differences between the two like; materials used, the printing process, and the final result.
Screen printing, also known as silk screening, is a popular printing technique that involves transferring ink onto a surface through a stencil, or mesh screen. The mesh screen is stretched over a frame, and a stencil is created on the screen by blocking out areas that are not meant to be printed. Ink is then applied to the screen and pressed through the stencil using a squeegee. This process is repeated until the desired image is printed onto the surface.
Screen printing is a versatile printing method that can be used to print on a variety of surfaces, including fabric, paper, glass, and plastic. It is also a cost-effective method for printing large quantities of designs. However, screen printing is not suitable for printing fine details or intricate designs, as the stencil can only block out large areas.
The differences between Screen Printing and Sublimation Printing are:
Both screen printing and sublimation printing have their strengths and weaknesses. Screen printing is a versatile and cost-effective method for printing large quantities of designs on a variety of surfaces, while sublimation printing is best suited for printing on polyester-based materials and producing high-quality, detailed prints. The choice between the two methods ultimately depends on the specific needs of the project and the desired outcome.
This was a lot! We hope you now know what full sublimation printing is. If you&#;ve decided to buy one of the sublimation fabrics for your projects, then House of U is your sublimation printing company! Take a look at our complete range of U-circular fabrics &#; you can even order sublimation printed scarves, if you&#;re interested.
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If you&#;d like a more hands-on demonstration, order our Eco Fabric Kit. Feel, smell, and try some of our most popular sustainable fabrics using these samples and figure out which sustainable fabric is the right one for you.
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If you&#;re still on the fence regarding our sustainable fabrics or want some more advice, feel free to contact us. We&#;re always happy to help!
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For more information, please visit a4 sublimation paper solution.