What is sublimation printing? Pros and cons of Sublimation printing. Sublimation printing in Dallas is becoming more and more popular. It is a form of digital printing that uses a specialized paper. There are many pros and cons of sublimation printing, but overall, it’s clear why it’s gaining so much traction. So, what is sublimation printing?

What is the sublimation process?

Sublimation is a chemical process. Simply put, it is where a solid turns into a gas instantly without going through a liquid phase in between. When asking the question of what sublimation printing is, it helps to realize that it refers to the dye itself. We also call this dye sublimation, because it is a state change dye.

So what is the opposite of sublimation? Deposition is when something changes from a gas to a solid, not to be confused with condensation where it changes to a liquid. The best example of deposition would be the formation of frost; Air turns directly to solid and bypasses water. 

How to do sublimation printing

So, what exactly is sublimation printing? We are here to explain the practical details, how it creates something colorful, the process.

First, your design is printed on specialized transfer paper. It is printed as a mirror image, using specialized dye-sub inks. These are water-based inks that have less environmental impact than harsher chemical inks. The transfer is then folded into the fabric, and a combination of heat and pressure is applied. This causes the ink to change from their current solid form directly into a gas.

The ink then penetrates the fibers of the material and is permanently bonded to the fibers. The end result is a high definition print with an incredibly intricate level of detail.

What is sublimation printing used for?

Okay, so we know there are a lot of questions that we’ve answered; What is sublimation printing? How is it done? What does it mean? So far there are very few downsides. However, a catch. Sublimation on cotton threads specifically does not work. Or silk, or most natural fabrics. It’s ideal for t-shirts, great for hoodies, ideal for socks, as long as they have a high polyester content.

Therefore, if you are a fan of 100% natural cotton, sublimation printing may not be for you. If you’re happy with poly-blend – we recommend around 85% poly – then this really is the future of fabric printing.

Another benefit of this type of printing is that you are not limited to fabrics. Sublimation printing is also great for hard media: mugs, pens, clocks, Christmas decorations, tins, the list could go on.

If you are looking for a highly effective fabric printing method or a garment printing company, please contact us