DYE SUBLIMATION
The dye sublimation process is actually a versatile way of printing. It can be used on a wide variety of printing media, such as paper, fabrics, plastics and cardboard. This process of printing is known for yielding smooth, high quality and photographic printouts.The Dye Sublimation Printing Process
The dye sublimation printing process works almost like the way thermal printing does. The dye ink used in this printing process is initially in a solid state, contained on a cellophane ribbon. Heat is an important component in this printing process; it is used to "melt" the dye off the ribbon. Unlike in thermal printing, where the ink is actually melted to a liquid state before it is allowed to bind with the printing medium, the dye ink sublimates and completely bypasses the liquid state when heat generated by the thermal printer head is applied to it. From its solid state, it transforms to gas and disperses on the printing medium. Printing using dye sublimation is done in layers of color. The primary colors cyan, magenta and yellow are spread upon the printing medium one layer after another. The gas inks then dry and solidify upon the medium. Once these layers of color are put on the medium, a layer of laminate is coated upon the printout. What this layer of laminate does is to protect the integrity of the printout, as well as to shield it from discoloration caused by the air and by ultraviolet exposure. Dye Sublimation as Compared with Inkjet Printing The dye sublimation process holds certain advantages over inkjet printing, which is another common printing technology used with wide-format printers. Dye sublimation works great with photographic printing because it creates natural-looking images, which inkjet printing is sometimes unable to produce. Dye sublimation is also a much cleaner printing process than inkjet printing. Because the dye does not enter the liquid state, there is less likelihood of the printer head getting clogged with dried printer ink. On the other hand, inkjet printing can produce sharper and clearer images. Even with the protective coating, images created with sublimated dye can appear blurry compared to those made with inkjet printing. The gaseous state by which the dye needs to be in order to bind with the medium makes it difficult for dye sublimation to work with uncoated paper. It is clear that dye sublimation printing with wide-format printers have their advantages and disadvantages. Whatever these are, this printing technology nonetheless provides a nice alternative in creating printouts.
© Copyright
Picture Perfect Products 2010
Picture Perfect Products 2010
The basic dye sublimation process uses special heat-sensitive dyes to print graphics and text onto special transfer paper. The paper is then placed on a "sublimatable" item and both are placed into a heat press.
When the heating cycle is completed, the image on the paper has been transferred to the item and has actually reformed into or underneath the coated surface. Run your finger across the surface of a sublimated plate, mug,or any coated product and you will feel nothing.
The reason for this is that sublimation is always done on a polyester, polymer, or polymer-coated item. At high temperatures, the solid dye converts into a gas without ever becoming a liquid. The same high temperature opens the pores of the polymer and allows the gas to enter. When the temperature drops, the pores close and the gas reverts to a solid state. It has now become a part of the polymer.
This is why dye sublimation can’t be done on natural materials, such as 100% cotton. Natural fibers and non-coated materials which have no "pores" to open. Unless a polymer coated paper is used see: (Picture Perfect Heat Transfer Paper) the smart answer is revealed.
A dye impregnates color into a material and, many times, this color change is permanent. Sublimation refers to changes from the solid, to the gaseous state without becoming liquid. A polymer consists of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple molecules.
Dye sublimation refers to solid dye particles that are changed into gas using heat and pressure, which then bond with any polymers present and change back into a solid.
One print technology used for dye sublimation transfer uses inkjet printers. There is some confusion because we do not use "ink," per se. The fluid stored in the inkjet cartridge is just the carrier of the dye. The carrier stays on the paper; only the dye migrates from paper to the substrate. The dye has little or no color until heated, so what you see on the paper usually looks nothing like the final transferred image.
Other forms of dye sublimation transfers are done with thermal printers, offset printers and laser printers.
Dark materials can not be used with the sublimation process.
Garments decorated with a dye sublimation transfer cannot be removed like images on shirts decorated with screen printing. Again, this is not ink that sits on top of the fabric; it is a dye that penetrates the fiber of the fabric. If spots appear after transferring the image to the garment, chances are they cannot be removed if the garment is between 50% to 100% polyester. If you can, you are probably not transferring the images correctly … or there is something else wrong.
You can try bleach, but it shouldn’t work: if done correctly on polyester, dyes are permanent … as they have become part of the fabric.
One of the most frequent questions regarding dye sublimation is:
"If dye sublimation only works with polyester, how does it work on ceramics, glass and metal?" All of these products need a coating, which is a special layer of polymer which when heated allow the dyes to go thru as a gas.
The dye particles are designed to bond with polyester, and ignore everything else. It is like trying to mix oil and water with most natural materials. There are fabric enhancers, prep sheets, and sprays that can be added to non-polyester fabrics which add a layer of polyester to the shirt. This works better on 50/50 shirts, since the added polyester can bond with the polyester that is already part of the shirt.
What You Will Need !
Computer: PC or MAC with as much memory as you can afford and plenty of disk space.
Graphics software: Either Adobe Photoshop or CorelDraw. Other packages – like Macromedia Freehand, Adobe Illustrator, Print shop etc. – work well for color correcting. So you must have some knowledge of graphics.
Printer: There are a variety of printers from which to choose, depending on your needs. The printer you choose must be compatible with the inks/toners/ribbons that are available – and not all printers will work with dye sublimation. Epson Printers will be most common for sublimation. Laser printers can also be used (there are dye sublimation cartridges for laser printers). They are best used for GOLD & Silver metal ( engravers aluminum )
Heat: This refers to a heat press, of which there are several to choose – again, depending on your needs.
The clam shell style will work on shirts, mouse pads and other flat items and is much faster.
A swinger type of press is better if you are going to be working on thicker items such as tiles, cultured marble, glass, wood products and is excepecially good when working with rhinestone layouts .
A clam style press – usually are priced lower and the swingaway somewhat higher.
There are specialty presses, which accommodate such substrates as Mugs, Tiles, Hats, Caps and Ceramic plates.
Dye sublimation:
Depending on your printer, you will need INK, ribbons or toners for your dye sublimation printer. If you have a printer that uses ribbons, there is usually only one choice; but if you are using a printer that takes toners or inks, there are a variety of choices. Toners are available in cartridges for many different laser printers. The difference in toners is in the colors themselves and the ability of the toner/printer combination to put this toner on the paper. For example, some black toners give a darker, more opaque black or may have an over abundance of "overspray" (e.g,. spray paint that gets onto areas where you don’t want it).
In my opinion, the differences in inks are much more extensive than in toners.
Paper: Start by using the paper recommended by the ink/toner/ribbon supplier. When you have experience with the process, you can then venture out and try different methods.
Blank Products: Check to make sure that the products you purchase are right for the type of sublimation you are doing – especially ceramic products.
In deciding if the dye sublimation business is right for you:
First research to find companies which supply information first and offer products as a service. If the company you called or e-mailed has not asked several questions about you and how they can help you be profitable -OR- If the questions are directed at how much you need to spend, please stay away from this business … and whether you are willing to invest the time, money, and effort needed to make it work should be the only thing left for you to decide.
If you need help with that question, try talking to those who know you best not the sales person.
Remember: Our only goal, is to help you succeed, so we can.
When the heating cycle is completed, the image on the paper has been transferred to the item and has actually reformed into or underneath the coated surface. Run your finger across the surface of a sublimated plate, mug,or any coated product and you will feel nothing.
The reason for this is that sublimation is always done on a polyester, polymer, or polymer-coated item. At high temperatures, the solid dye converts into a gas without ever becoming a liquid. The same high temperature opens the pores of the polymer and allows the gas to enter. When the temperature drops, the pores close and the gas reverts to a solid state. It has now become a part of the polymer.
This is why dye sublimation can’t be done on natural materials, such as 100% cotton. Natural fibers and non-coated materials which have no "pores" to open. Unless a polymer coated paper is used see: (Picture Perfect Heat Transfer Paper) the smart answer is revealed.
A dye impregnates color into a material and, many times, this color change is permanent. Sublimation refers to changes from the solid, to the gaseous state without becoming liquid. A polymer consists of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple molecules.
Dye sublimation refers to solid dye particles that are changed into gas using heat and pressure, which then bond with any polymers present and change back into a solid.
One print technology used for dye sublimation transfer uses inkjet printers. There is some confusion because we do not use "ink," per se. The fluid stored in the inkjet cartridge is just the carrier of the dye. The carrier stays on the paper; only the dye migrates from paper to the substrate. The dye has little or no color until heated, so what you see on the paper usually looks nothing like the final transferred image.
Other forms of dye sublimation transfers are done with thermal printers, offset printers and laser printers.
Dark materials can not be used with the sublimation process.
Garments decorated with a dye sublimation transfer cannot be removed like images on shirts decorated with screen printing. Again, this is not ink that sits on top of the fabric; it is a dye that penetrates the fiber of the fabric. If spots appear after transferring the image to the garment, chances are they cannot be removed if the garment is between 50% to 100% polyester. If you can, you are probably not transferring the images correctly … or there is something else wrong.
You can try bleach, but it shouldn’t work: if done correctly on polyester, dyes are permanent … as they have become part of the fabric.
One of the most frequent questions regarding dye sublimation is:
"If dye sublimation only works with polyester, how does it work on ceramics, glass and metal?" All of these products need a coating, which is a special layer of polymer which when heated allow the dyes to go thru as a gas.
The dye particles are designed to bond with polyester, and ignore everything else. It is like trying to mix oil and water with most natural materials. There are fabric enhancers, prep sheets, and sprays that can be added to non-polyester fabrics which add a layer of polyester to the shirt. This works better on 50/50 shirts, since the added polyester can bond with the polyester that is already part of the shirt.
What You Will Need !
Computer: PC or MAC with as much memory as you can afford and plenty of disk space.
Graphics software: Either Adobe Photoshop or CorelDraw. Other packages – like Macromedia Freehand, Adobe Illustrator, Print shop etc. – work well for color correcting. So you must have some knowledge of graphics.
Printer: There are a variety of printers from which to choose, depending on your needs. The printer you choose must be compatible with the inks/toners/ribbons that are available – and not all printers will work with dye sublimation. Epson Printers will be most common for sublimation. Laser printers can also be used (there are dye sublimation cartridges for laser printers). They are best used for GOLD & Silver metal ( engravers aluminum )
Heat: This refers to a heat press, of which there are several to choose – again, depending on your needs.
The clam shell style will work on shirts, mouse pads and other flat items and is much faster.
A swinger type of press is better if you are going to be working on thicker items such as tiles, cultured marble, glass, wood products and is excepecially good when working with rhinestone layouts .
A clam style press – usually are priced lower and the swingaway somewhat higher.
There are specialty presses, which accommodate such substrates as Mugs, Tiles, Hats, Caps and Ceramic plates.
Dye sublimation:
Depending on your printer, you will need INK, ribbons or toners for your dye sublimation printer. If you have a printer that uses ribbons, there is usually only one choice; but if you are using a printer that takes toners or inks, there are a variety of choices. Toners are available in cartridges for many different laser printers. The difference in toners is in the colors themselves and the ability of the toner/printer combination to put this toner on the paper. For example, some black toners give a darker, more opaque black or may have an over abundance of "overspray" (e.g,. spray paint that gets onto areas where you don’t want it).
In my opinion, the differences in inks are much more extensive than in toners.
Paper: Start by using the paper recommended by the ink/toner/ribbon supplier. When you have experience with the process, you can then venture out and try different methods.
Blank Products: Check to make sure that the products you purchase are right for the type of sublimation you are doing – especially ceramic products.
In deciding if the dye sublimation business is right for you:
First research to find companies which supply information first and offer products as a service. If the company you called or e-mailed has not asked several questions about you and how they can help you be profitable -OR- If the questions are directed at how much you need to spend, please stay away from this business … and whether you are willing to invest the time, money, and effort needed to make it work should be the only thing left for you to decide.
If you need help with that question, try talking to those who know you best not the sales person.
Remember: Our only goal, is to help you succeed, so we can.
SUBLIMATION EXPLAINED
BUSINESS PACKAGES
HEAT TRANSFER PRESSES
HEAT TRANSFER PRINTERS
HEAT TRANSFER INKS
HEAT TRANSFER PAPERS
SUBLIMATION PRESSES
SUBLIMATION PRINTERS
SUBLIMATION INKS
SUBLIMATION PAPERS
SUBLIMATION BLANKS
SUBLIMATION MUGS
SUBLIMATION CERAMICS
BLANK PRODUCTS
BLANK COTTON T-SHIRTS
HOW TO VIDEOS
PHOTO GIFT SAMPLES
DEMO MODELS
FINANCE INFORMATION
HEAT TRANSFER PRESSES
HEAT TRANSFER PRINTERS
HEAT TRANSFER INKS
HEAT TRANSFER PAPERS
SUBLIMATION PRESSES
SUBLIMATION PRINTERS
SUBLIMATION INKS
SUBLIMATION PAPERS
SUBLIMATION BLANKS
SUBLIMATION MUGS
SUBLIMATION CERAMICS
BLANK PRODUCTS
BLANK COTTON T-SHIRTS
HOW TO VIDEOS
PHOTO GIFT SAMPLES
DEMO MODELS
FINANCE INFORMATION
