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Dye-Sublimation Printing is the process of transferring dye onto items using heat. This method of printing is a popular method when transferring high-quality vibrant images onto items or products without losing the original image resolution on polyester.
The actual technical process of dye-sublimation is a chemical process where a solid turns into a gas without going through a liquid stage. This allows full-color artwork to infuse with the polyester and polymer-coated substrates; also known as digital sublimation.
Dye-Sublimation Printing – How Does it Work?
The process starts by printing the desired image; preferably a high-resolution image; onto a special sublimation transfer paper using an inkjet printer with special ink.
Important Note – Images should be printed mirrored to the original before attempting to sublimate.
Once the image has been printed you want to pre-heat your press to 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the garment onto the plate of the heat press and align your image. Set your heat press timer to 30 seconds with medium pressure.
What can sublimation be used on?
This new process of image transfer has made it possible to sublimate high-resolution images onto a wide range of products. A whole industry has been created in manufacturing sublimation-ready blanks (generally 100% Polyester) that include t-shirts, onesies, mousepads, blank baby clothes, mugs, totes, tumblers, socks and so much more. These items are then used as promotional products for companies or for an individual to resell.
Here is a list of items that can be used for sublimation printing
- Baby Onesies
- Mousepads
- Can Wrapper/Insulator
- T-Shirts
- Mugs
- Glass Tile
- Tote Bags
- Baby Bibs
- Blankets
- iPhone Cases
- Pet Bowls
- Banners
What material can you sublimate on?
It is high-recommended that 100% Polyester garments or items coated with polyester are used for sublimation printing. For apparel, sublimation is best used on white or light color garments. 100% polyester is best for a vibrant design resulting in a no-loss image resolution.
Polyester blend fabrics; such as our 65% Polyester / 35% Cotton Blend; can also be used but will result in a retro/vintage look. Only the percent of polyester used in this synthetic material will capture the image being transferred.
The process may seem limited due to the required 100% polyester, but there are thousands of promotional items that have been coated with a polymer to allow 100% of an image to be transferred. These products include baby onesies, t-shirts, mugs, mousepads and more.
We hope this post was helpful in defining sublimation printing and how it is used. For all your sublimation-ready blanks, make sure to visit our large collection of The Laughing Giraffe ® brand baby, toddler & youth size clothing.
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