Sublimation FAQ – Your Quick Guide to Sublimation Printing
What is Sublimation Printing?
Sublimation printing is a process where you can print high-quality digital images onto any material that is treated or polymer-coated, like polyester garments. The process involves using a printer, special transfer inks, paper, and a heat press.
What do I need to start sublimation printing? To start sublimation printing, you’ll need:
- A sublimation ink compatible printer (we recommend reliable sublimation printers)
- Sublimation paper (we recommend Easty Premium sublimation paper)
- Sublimation ink available in cartridges, bulk bags, and bottles (we recommend Sawgrass SubliJet-R Inks)
- Heat-resistant tape (if you’re printing on mugs, tiles, or caps to prevent the image from moving during the transfer process)
- Sublimatable items (products that are compatible with sublimation, note: not all items are sublimation compatible)
- A heat press for bonding the image to the item (if you’re printing on mugs or caps, you need a mug or cap press, or attachments that can be bought for compatible presses)
- An ICC Profile compatible program, such as Photoshop or CorelDraw
- ICC Color Correction Profile to ensure that your colors come out perfect
What type of printer do I need for sublimation printing?
You are limited to using specific printers that are compatible with sublimation ink. We recommend using a sublimation ink compatible printer.
What kind of inks do I need for sublimation printing?
Sublimation ink is a special mixture of water and heat-reactive dyes that are required for sublimation printing.
What type of heat transfer press do I need for sublimation printing?
A heat press is a machine that presses a transfer onto an imprintable substrate. For sublimation printing, we recommend using a heat press that can reach temperatures of 375° to 425° F and demands serious force in pressing often from 40-80 psi. We have a full line of heat presses available for you to choose from.
What can and can’t sublimation printing do?
Sublimation printing works best on 100% polyester items. You should avoid sublimating on cotton shirts or colored backgrounds as this will alter the imprint colors. Also, sublimation printing is only possible on items that have a polymer coating, not on items without a coating. Gold/silver metal used by award companies are also not suitable for sublimation printing.
In conclusion, sublimation printing is a great way to print high-quality digital images on a variety of items made of any material that is treated or polymer-coated, and we hope this FAQ has provided you with the information you need to get started with sublimation printing.
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