Have you ever been given a personalized mug with a photo of your grandchildren or a t-shirt with the phrase “The best father in the world”? Excellent, you should know that both the T-shirt and the mug were printed using the sublimation technique. Sublimation printing is a printing technique that allows you to personalize different products by printing a photographic image or phrase on them. Technically, sublimation occurs when ink printed on paper is transferred to another material and goes directly from a solid to a gaseous state. Wondering what the key is? The heat. Only through heat is it possible for a substance, in this case, ink, to pass directly from the solid state to the gaseous state without passing through the liquid state. So, in short, the heat causes the chosen design to be transferred to the surface of the object to be personalized. Thanks to its simplicity, the sublimation printing technique has become a real phenomenon in the world of fashion, in the world of accessories and in the world of “merchandising” in general, sectors that have found in sublimation a fantastic way to create unique, exclusive items and original. For Sublimation printing in Dallas you can consult us.
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But let’s get back to the point, what is sublimation and what is it for?
Well, imagine that you have started a takeaway business and you want to promote it by offering your customers free aprons with your logo with every order. The best way to personalize aprons is to use the sublimation technique. How do you do? The aim would be to print, effectively and permanently, the image of the logo saved on the computer, on the surface of the chosen object (aprons in this case). How is it possible to do this? Simple: the sublimation ink that is used to print the design is activated by heat and therefore passes from the solid state to the gaseous state without passing through the liquid state, and penetrates the material of the product to be personalized.
What do you need to print sublimation?
First, an inkjet printer that is to be used exclusively for sublimation printing. In other words, if the printer you plan to use for sublimation printing is used with regular ink, it will no longer be suitable for sublimation. When purchasing a sublimation printer you must also take into consideration the type of objects you want to personalize. If it concerns mugs, cases or mobile phone covers, etc., you can opt for a small A4 printer, such as the Epson F100 printer. If, however, you intend to personalize textile items such as T-shirts, t-shirts, hoodies, etc. you will need a larger printer, such as the F500 A1 printer.
Sublimation ink: this is a type of special ink which, at high temperatures, turns into gas and penetrates the surface of the sublimable product. In the sublimation printing technique, sublimation ink is the most important product to ensure an optimal final result, therefore, choosing a high quality type of ink is essential to avoid sharpness problems in the printed design, and to avoid the loss of definition with washing of the customized product. To print sublimation you only need four colors of ink: black, yellow, cyan and magenta. Please note that when you print your chosen image onto sublimation paper you will not see the same coloration as the original image. Don’t panic. If the ink you have chosen is a high quality ink, the color will be the right one, after the design has been transferred to the surface of the item you intend to personalize.
Sublimation paper : Sublimation paper acts as a carrier for the ink, which is transferred from the printer to the item it is applied to. If you use a good type of paper, the definition of the print will be maximized, and the ink transfer will take place more precisely. Please keep in mind that no matter what item you intend to sublimation print, and although there are different brands of sublimation paper, there is only one type, which means that the type of paper will be identical, which the object to be printed is a cup, a fabric, a porcelain object or any other object.
Thermal tape: the function of the thermal tape is mainly to fix the sublimation paper already printed on the item to be personalized, and to resist the temperature of the heat press.
Heat press: to choose the right heat press, once again, you must keep in mind the type and size of the item to be customized. There are heat presses specially designed for cups or plates, heat presses with a flat base for other types of objects, such as fabrics, photographic panels, handbags… and also “combo” heat presses with interchangeable elements that allow you to sublimation print different types of objects (this option is fantastic for companies dedicated to this activity).
What materials can be customized using the sublimation technique?
Fabrics: T-shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, backpacks, bibs, cloth bags… all types of garments can be customized by sublimation. Be careful though, the fabrics to be customized must be made of polyester or have at least a percentage of 50% polyester in their composition . This percentage is not random, it is the minimum percentage needed to ensure that the ink is permanently fixed. To get colors as close as possible to the original design, it is recommended to print on a white background, otherwise (if you choose, for example, a red t-shirt), the sublimation inks will combine with the color of the fabric (red, in the example) and the final colors of the design will be altered.
Ceramic: cups, plates, trays and any other ceramic product that has been treated for sublimation. On Webcartuccia we have a huge variety of cups specifically designed for this purpose. Please note that if the item you intend to personalize has not been treated for sublimation, you will need to use a special paint before subjecting it to this technique.
Key rings, bottle openers, cell phone cases and covers… In short, any polymerized object (that is, coated in polyester resin) that can withstand high temperatures.
Benefits from sublimation
- Sublimation is a relatively simple and quick technique to learn.
- It allows printing on rigid objects and surfaces that are not flat, such as cups.
- Using just four different inks (black, yellow, cyan and magenta) gives you an unlimited range of colors, so there are no limits when it comes to design nuances.
- You will be able to customize different items very easily.
- The result will be long-lasting and of the highest quality and, unlike what happens with other techniques, the result of this technique is not perceptible to the touch, it is not scratched and the colors do not fade.
- If you consider it as a business, it is a technique characterized by a low production cost and high profitability.
- With just a few tools (printer, ink, paper and heat press) you can customize as many items as you want.
- Nowadays, there are many products suitable for sublimation printing.
Disadvantages of sublimation
- The fabrics to be personalized through sublimation printing (T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags, bibs, etc.) must be made of polyester or have at least a 50% percentage of this material in their composition.
- In order for the final result to be identical to the chosen design, the background of the object to be personalized should be white. Otherwise, the final colors will be altered.
- To personalize ceramic objects and other non-textile items using the sublimation printing technique, they must be coated with polyester resin.
- As for the inkjet printer, remember that if it is used with normal ink, it will no longer be suitable for sublimation.
- Also remember that if the customized product is permanently exposed to sunlight, the colors may fade over time.
- And one more important thing, the resolution of the image you intend to print will determine the maximum size of the final result.
How to personalize objects with sublimation printing, step by step
- Choose a design and choose the product to personalize, but be careful, keep in mind that, even if there are no limits regarding the design, not all types of objects are suitable. As already mentioned, the object must be resistant to high temperatures and its background must preferably be white. If it is an item of clothing, it must be made of polyester or have at least a 50% percentage of this material in its composition, and if it is another type of material, it must always be taken into account that it must be suitable for the sublimation printing.
- Once you’ve made your choice, print the image on your inkjet printer. Keep in mind that the ink must be sublimation ink, just as the paper you use must be sublimation paper. Please also note that the image printed on the paper will not show the original coloration of the design. Don’t panic. The final result will show the right colors.
- Take into account the dimensions of the image to be printed and the dimensions of the object to be personalized, and cut the printed sheet to fit the image to the dimensions of the object. If the object is a cup or any other non-flat object, we recommend using adhesive thermal tape to securely hold the printed sheet to the surface of the object. If the paper is not fixed with the right pressure, the result will not be as desired.
- Place the object to be personalized inside the heat press, position it correctly and leave the press to act for the time indicated in the instructions.
- Please note, as soon as the sublimation process is finished, the item will be very hot. Wait for it to cool before taking it, or wear a protective glove to do so.
