Sublimation Transfer Printing VS Digital Inkjet Printing, Do you Know Their Relation?

Dye sublimation printing of fabric banners and displays as compared to the items, or substrates, printed using an inkjet digital printer.
Do you know features of sublimation transfer printing?

Inkjet Printers
Large Format inkjet printer in our business is typically at least 30 inches wide, but go up over sixteen feet in width, and these can be used as dye sublimation printers as well, although not generally interchangeably without flushing feed lines and some other technical “fixes” that need to be done before being able to convert from one type of ink to a dye ink set.

For one thing, CMYK or four color process printing done with ink on an inkjet printer actually uses the 4CP ink set CMYK (short version of cyan-magenta-yellow-black), in contrast to the dye set used when printing in preparation for dye sub printing. The dye set is termed CMYO, which is short for cyan-magenta-yellow-overprint clear, where the dye is printed to a treated transfer paper, and in the heat transfer process becomes the black color.

Dye Sublimation Printers
Unsuitable Substrates or Unprintable Items

So, first, let me tell you what dye sublimation printers are NOT used for. They are not used for natural fiber fabrics such as cotton, linen, or bamboo. They are also not used for direct to fabric printing or what is erroneously called direct sublimation printing, which is really inkjet to fabric printing, or DTF (direct-to-fabric) printing (another term is DTS, or direct-to-substrate).
Dye sublimation is typically not used for materials like PVC (vinyl) decal stock or banner materials, as inkjet printing works fine as a surface print for these materials. Dye sublimation is generally not used for rigid plastics like styrene or polyethylene as flatbed digital UV printing is mostly used for this type of printing. Other rigids such as MDO plywood or heavier plastics are also printed on the flatbed UV inkjet digital printers.

Suitable Substrates or Printable Items
Large Format Dye Sublimation PrintingWhat dye sublimation is used for. With a special polymeric coating, there are many items that can be printed with the dye sub print process such as cups, metal or even wood plaques and awards, or anything else that can be inserted into a flatbed heated press.
And, of course, fabric. Polymer-based fabrics such as nylon or polyester can be printed using dye sublimation heat transfer from the treated transfer paper by printing a mirror image on the paper, matching it to the fabric, and sending it through heated pressure rollers.

The Printing Process
This process, like the flat press described above, converts the dye into a gaseous state and impregnates the heat-opened polymer cells with color, which, after the heat and pressure are gone, close in around the dye, leaving the color permanently as part of the fabric. This not only creates durable color, it also creates almost photographic quality continuous tones that are brighter and more colorful than an inkjet printer can normally achieve.


Okay, this is the differences the I told to you! Our characteristic is “one-stop sublimation printing solution”, as far as possible to make customers more convenient and save worry.

Nanjing Feiyue paper Industrial Co.,ltd
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Knowing the definition of Dye Sublimation Printing

THE DEFINITION OF DYE SUBLIMATION
Looking at the literal meaning – as it is defined in the science world – sublimation is the phase transition of a substance from a solid directly to a gas without going through a liquid phase occurring under specific temperature and pressure conditions.

OK. But how does this fit in to decorating thousands of products with a photo quality image? It helps if you approach this technology by looking first at the word dye. This technology involves a dye process. Hundreds of thousands of everyday products are decorated using colored dyes. Manufacturers of apparel, consumer packaging, consumer goods, electronics, etc., et al add dyes to color their products whether they're made of plastics, fabrics or woods. The dye process is often done at early stages before the individually decorated product components are assembled or sewn together.

As we are describing dye sublimation, the "solid" part of the equation denotes the microscopic particles of solid ink dyes which rest on the surface of your printed, ready-to-transfer sublimation page which you printed directly from CorelDRAW, Adobe PhotoShop or a rip program like Wasatch to a supported Epson, Ricoh, Mutoh or Mimaki sublimation printer. When introduced to heat, these solid ink particles turn directly to a gas which then permanently dye the decorated surface and sub-surface of your product, depending on whether it’s a textile or hard substrate.

THE SUBLIMATION DECORATION PROCESS
The first steps of sublimation decoration often involve the same tools used with other technologies like engraving, screen printing and embroidery. It is only after the final image is printed to paper when sublimation sets itself apart from all other technologies.

Here's the step-by-step process required to produce a sublimated product:
1. Design and customize a graphic specific to the final product using professional graphics software. Sublimation products showcase millions of colors utilizing high resolution, true photo quality images and any vector-based graphics and text.

2. Print the image to a supported inkjet printer using specialty sublimation inks on sublimation-friendly paper.

3. Face the printed image on the sheet to a sublimation-ready surface (e.g. polyester-based only). Some hard products like plaques and name badges will need to be taped using heat resistant tape. For soft substrates like t-shirts or mouse pads, the transfer can be "tacked" to the product using a light, repositionable adhesive spray available at any hardware, craft or super store, or by using a tacky sublimation paper, currently only available for wide format printers.

4. Place the product and sublimation print under a heat press. Each product type has its own formula for time, temperature and pressure for optimal decorating. The proper temperature usually hovers between 385° F to 400° F, time varies from 50 seconds for a Vapor Apparel t-shirt to over seven minutes for a glossy, ceramic tile. 

5. The required pressure is usually "medium" or around 30-40 psi on a pneumatic press. You're looking for a solid marriage between the heated platen and the face of your sublimation transfer (where the solid ink dyes rest).

6. After the time expires, remove the product (using protective heat gloves is recommended when handling many sublimation products), tear away the transfer and admire the finished image.

Okay, our specialty is to offer “one-stop sublimation printing solution”.

In the process of dye sublimation transfer printing and transferring, the printer, paper, ink, transfer machine, cutting machine and even the software which can deal with pictures are all sold in our company.

Please believe that our professional degree. Engaged in sublimation transfer printing industry for many years, we can provide the best advice for you.

Nanjing Feiyue paper Industrial Co.,ltd
www.feiyuepaper.com
Email: sales@feiyuepaper.com 
jenny@feiyuepaper.com
Whatsapp: +8618755150383

Can We Print Plastics Using Dye Sublimation Printing?

As, we know, dye sublimation technology with wide application. Pretty much anything that has the correct chemical composition – i.e. is made from polymers (is polymeric in its chemical structure), it can be printed. Or, if not, if your substrate, whether it be leather, wood, glass, or non-polymeric plastic, will retain a clear or white base coat spray throughout the sublimation printing process. So the question can be solve--- you can print plastic with dye sub printing.

But, with a big caveat.
The dye sub print process uses heat. Lots of heat. About 400º F of heat, give or take a few degrees. Heat and plastic can be a bad combination, as plastic has a tendency to melt at that temperature.

So, there are some plastics that can be printed, but they need to be reinforced with fiberglass. As of this writing, I am unaware of any formed plastics that can be printed. Just flat FR reinforced plastics. They can be cut to shape, of course.
There are also some questions about dye sublimation printing, are you interesting?

What Can Be Printed through Dye Sublimation?

1. Any substrate or surface treated with polymer-based spray.
As stated in the first paragraph of this article, any product that has a polymeric base should be printable using dye sublimation. This would exclude nylon, cotton, wool, leather, wood, etc. As also stated in the 2nd paragraph, these polymeric items must also withstand high heat, which will exclude a lot of plastics with the exception of reinforced plastics, such as fiberglass reinforced plastics.

The last exclusion would be anything of dark coloration, such as pre-colored fabrics or other viable polymeric substrates. Bright or “true” white substrates work best for sublimation printing. Light colors are not forbidden, but you will lose 15-25% of your color gamut, depending on the color (light tans or grays or the like).

Having said that, I also alluded to the fact that there are white and/or clear polymer base coat products that can be sprayed or printed onto various substrates such as wood, leather, glass, and much more that will allow you to transfer a dye sublimated print to one or more of these items. Items that are now being dye sublimated after being treated with polymer base coatings include snowboards, skate boards , skis, mugs, mouse pads, glass, leather, wood products, metal, badges, awards using some of the above materials, signs, photographic plaques, and more.

2. Printable Fabrics suitable for dye sublimation printing.
Outdoor Banners with stands There are also many printable fabrics that can be printed using dye sublimation printing, but they don’t require the base coat spray as they’re already polymer-based, can withstand high heat, and are normally white in color.

3. Microfiber style fabrics.
Sublimation printing is also used for microfiber style fabrics that can wick moisture away from the body, and the printing will not inhibit moisture wicking like all other printing will do on athletic or exercise clothing products.

Dye Sublimated Display as an Advertising Tool
As stated above, the promotional products industry has embraced the high quality photographic processes that dye sublimation affords.

Also, because of the photographic continuous tone printing that dye sublimation can create on polymer based fabrics, the graphics industry is turning more and more to dye sublimation for trade show graphics, retail banners and posters and other marketing related items because of the beautiful prints created using dye sub printing.

Okay, if you want know more about sublimation transfer printing, please welcome to www.feiyuepaper.com contact us at any time. Our characteristic is “one-stop sublimation printing solution”, as far as possible to make customers more convenient and save worry.

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Nanjing Feiyue paper Industrial Co.,ltd
www.feiyuepaper.com
Email: sales@feiyuepaper.com 
jenny@feiyuepaper.com
Whatsapp: +8618755150383

Does Fabric Need to Be 100% Polyester for Dye Sublimation Printing?

Hi~ Nice to see again, my dear friends! Have you learn about sublimation printing? Which kind of fabric suitable for print? And does fabric need to be 100% polyester for dye sublimation printing? For these a series of questions. If you don't know the answer chearly, my this artical could help you!

While you do need at least 60% polyester fabric to successfully dye sub print, it is better to use 100% polyester because you will attain a superior print if 100% of the fabric accepts the dye when it enters gas form and is inducted into the open polymer pores.

What you may not know is how this process works and why polyester fabric is the best product for dye sublimation, whereas cotton, wool, and even nylon will not work for this type of printing.

Starting with the dye, it is necessary to know that the dye is not the same type of sublimation ink as inkjet inks which use the CMYK (cyan-magenta-yellow-black) ink set, but instead, use a CMYO dye set (cyan-magenta-yellow-overprint clear) where the clear, when it is printed on the dye sublimation transfer paper, turns to black and transfers that way.

Once the paper is printed, it is joined, print side to whichever type of material you are using, then put through a set of heated rollers. The heat must be in excess of 370º F (190ºC) to cause the dye to be converted into a gaseous form, and also to cause the polymer’s cells to open as they expand to accept the now gaseous dye into the cells.

Once this process has taken place, the fabric cools, the cells close, and the color is permanently locked into the fabric in continuous tones of beautiful color, similar to a photograph’s tones.

Without the cellular construction of the polyester fabric and it’s polymeric qualities, it would not be possible to print using dye sublimation. So, the more polymers, the better. So the answer is, of course, yes and no. We recommend using 100% polyester, but it’s not an absolute requirement.


Okay, These all above are my share about what kind fabric suitable for subliamtion transfer printing. If you have any other needs or questions welcome to contact us at any time. We will provide you the best quality product and service. Hope my article can be useful to you. Thank you for your reading.

Nanjing Feiyue paper Industrial Co.,ltd
www.feiyuepaper.com
Email: sales@feiyuepaper.com 
jenny@feiyuepaper.com
Whatsapp: +8618755150383

Let's know The Three Tricks for Your Sublimation Printing Business!

Hi~ Good afternoon, my dear friends! Today I want to tell you some tricks for your sublimation printing business. Sublimation is a process that is enjoying immense popularity among end users, whether at retail or among wholesale clients. However, for decorators looking to make a foray into offering the process, there are some variables that can make the difference between success and failure.

Remember the following three tips about this in-demand decoration process:

1. Know your substrate.
Dye sublimation printing, must be applied to polyester-based goods. The process will work on blends, but remember that if the garment is a 50/50 blend, then 50% of the ink will not saturate 50% of that garment. This results in a lot less color.
Also, some polyester garments are not made specifically for sublimation. Choosing a supplier that offers sublimation-certified products is necessary for the best printing outcome. This means the goods aren’t finished at a high temperature and when you expose them to heat, the shirt’s dyes will react with those in the ink — ultimately affecting the final output.

2. Know your equipment.
 Investing in sublimation printing has an upfront equipment cost. Sublimation inks, paper, printer and heat press are the four main components. Some companies focus on supplying those key things for startup businesses. Inks, paper, and the printer all need to be in a temperature-controlled environment. There are many heat press types and sizes. Know your target market so you can work with someone to select the best equipment.

3. Know the pressing variables.
Tattoos don’t wash off. Have good quality-control standards in place to avoid mistakes because they can get costly. Time, temperature, and pressure are the three main heat-pressing variables.

Keep in mind that you are placing a garment under direct high heat and using pressure. There is a fine line of adjusting the three variables to avoid blow through — where the ink blows through to the opposite side of the garment — and shiny squares — where there is too much time, temperature or heat, resulting in a shiny square around the design. Back down on the variables. Try 375˚F degrees at 32 seconds as a rule of thumb as a starting point for pressing.

Okay, these all above are my share about the tips of sublimation transfer printing. If you have any other needs or questions welcome to contact us at any time. We will provide you the best quality product and service. Hope my article can be useful to you. Thank you for your reading.

Nanjing Feiyue paper Industrial Co.,ltd
www.feiyuepaper.com
Email: sales@feiyuepaper.com
jenny@feiyuepaper.com
Whatsapp: +8618755150383

Notice! Three Factors Pushing Dye Sublimation Printing Market

Hi~ Nice to see you again, my dear friends. Today's topic is about the factors of pushing dye sublimation printing market. The increase in dye sublimation printing is part of the broader rise of digital inkjet systems in the textile trade.In its new report, Fei Yue Paper tracks the increased use of this technology across key end-use segments – signage, technical, household, and garments. The data shows strong year-on-year growth in the amount of material printed – 18.4% – across the next five years.

As the dye sublimation market booms it will create numerous opportunities for ink and textile suppliers, press builders, and partners across the value chain. There are three factors pushing dye sublimation printing market!

Garments – The dominant end-use
Using sublimation of dyes is a different process to printing with inks on either other digital or analogue presses. The process sublimates the dye at temperature into a gas that penetrates and permanently bonds inside the fibres of the textile. This gives a high-resolution, permanent coloration that will not peel or crack. For this reason haute couture, and the top end of high street fashion were among the first to exploit this technology.

Greater use of the technology will be aided by the fashion industry itself transforming with the arrival of internet shopping and fast-fashion.
Retailers and brands are increasingly running a greater number of collections in each calendar year; this is made much easier with digital textile printing as it allows quicker turnaround and response to orders, allowing a shift to repeated short runs that minimise stock holdings, and unsold leftovers. Dye sublimation and similar digital platforms allow the supply chain to be shortened and made more flexible, with some manufacturing moving close to the retailers.

New machines – Productivity demands
The increase demand for dye sublimation print is driving the development of larger presses, these will help transform the value proposition of dye sublimation prints from samples and short runs to let it challenge analogue processes, like screen and gravure, in longer bulk production runs of multiple thousands of linear metres. This is stimulating the building of a new generation of industrial high-end machines capable of single-pass printing.
For visual communications, the number of requested applications of dye sublimation products is growing, but the technology is not today developing fast enough to accommodate all client requirements.

Sublimation inks – a threat
Despite the overall positive outlook for dye sublimation, as a process it is limited to use with synthetic or synthetic-coated materials – overwhelmingly polyester – by the need to bind the dyes into the internal fibres.
In the future dye sublimation systems may face competition from pigment inks if their suppliers can resolve quality, reliability and other issues. Pigments have greater substrate flexibility, significantly this includes natural substrates, like cotton.
This combined with their simplicity of processing and the tactility of the printed textile will enable pigment inks to grow, if the print process can become reliable enough at production scale.

Okay, these all above are my share about the factors of pushing sublimation transfer printing market. If you have any other needs or questions welcome to contact us at any time. We will provide you the best quality product and service. Hope my article can be useful to you. Thank you for your reading.

Nanjing Feiyue paper Industrial Co.,ltd
www.feiyuepaper.com
Email: sales@feiyuepaper.com
jenny@feiyuepaper.com
Whatsapp: +8618755150383

How to Save Money & Time in Sublimation Printing Process？---The Three Tips Can Help You Achieve

Hello, good afternoon, my dear friends! Today I share you the topic is about tricks of sublimation transfer printing. This is some people care for. Then, How to save money & time in Sublimation printing process?----Read the following and I will share you more.

As we know, time is money in the sublimation industry. The more units you can make in an hour, the more profit you see. Being able to reduce your downtime is a critical step in optimizing production.

The following these three tips are easy steps you can take to optimize your production space.

Organize Your Workspace: 
Whether you have a commercial workshop or a home-based business, organization is essential for efficiency. Make sure you have a staging area stocked with heat tape, scissors and other essentials to reduce the time it takes to affix transfers to substrates. Create a designated cooling area where you can quickly remove your transfers and let your products cool properly. This will allow you to move to preparing the next press. Also set aside space for a packing area with room to work, stocked with pre-prepared boxes and a postage meter, and spend less time shipping and more time selling, printing and pressing.

Reduce Your Waste: 
Trial and error is a reality of sublimation production. But there are some simple things you can do that will help reduce waste. Don’t stack pressed substrates until they are completely cool, as they can still transfer their color to another substrate. When you remove transfer paper, do so quickly and evenly immediately after the substrate leaves the heat press to prevent ghosting. When working with fabric, use a lint roller to remove any dust, lint or stray fibers before putting on the transfer. This will help avoid having little blue speckles unexpectedly show up on the fabric. Always print images slightly larger than the size of your substrate, which allows a margin of error when aligning everything.

Beware of Hidden Moisture: 
Dye sublimation paper and substrates usually have some amount of moisture hiding in them, which doesn’t come out until the heat press is closed. Moisture can cause color shifting, image bleeding and the uneven transfer of solid-filled areas during pressing. To minimize these effects, keep your transfer paper in a sealed, plastic container or store in a cool, dry place to prevent the sheets from absorbing moisture from the air. Use unwaxed butcher paper or plain newsprint paper instead of Teflon sheets, as the paper will better absorb any moisture that is released during pressing. Also, pre-press garments, substrates made of medium density fiberboard (MDF) or neoprene to release hidden moisture before you affix your transfer paper.

Okay, these all above are my share about the tips of sublimation printing process. It can help you to save much money and time. If you have any other needs or questions welcome to contact us at any time. We will provide you the best quality product and service. Hope my article can be useful to you. Thank you for your reading.



Nanjing Feiyue paper Industrial Co.,ltd
www.feiyuepaper.com
Email: sales@feiyuepaper.com
jenny@feiyuepaper.com
Whatsapp: +8618755150383