Printing House

This is a phenomenon in physics, the understanding of which is key to understanding how sublimation printing works. Sublimation is a transformation in which a substance changes from a solid state directly to a gaseous state, bypassing the liquid state. Under normal conditions, most materials do not undergo this type of transformation. However, with the right pressure and temperature, it is possible. These parameters must be adjusted so that the existence of a liquid state is not possible with them. By taking advantage of this phenomenon, so-called sublimation printing can be carried out with the use of dyes which, under certain thermodynamic conditions, assume a gaseous state and penetrate the base material. With sublimation, it is also worth mentioning screen printing technology, which is very often cited as an option for use with products.

See: advertising pens

How long does it last?

Items made with sublimation printing are very durable, thanks to the penetration of the dye inside the material. When it comes to items such as T-shirts, flags and banners, they can be washed without the risk of damage or fading of the design. This type of printing does not peel off or crumble and does not 'break' at the bends. In addition, it is resistant to all adverse weather conditions and UV radiation. In addition, the dyes used in this technology do not react with human skin, so they are completely safe and do not cause any side effects, for example in the case of sportswear. Articles made in this way, if properly maintained, can last for many years and still look like new.

See: printed lanyards

Which printers are used?

Depending on the scale on which the sublimation prints are made, a suitable printer can be selected. For companies and people specialising in this type of articles, the best will be specially adapted sublimation printers, which have cartridges with gel inks that do not dry out even when not used for a long time. An additional advantage when using such a printer is the high quality. However, this type of equipment is not suitable for doing ordinary office work on it at the same time.

See: pens with engraving

The good news for those who need a printer for both purposes is that this is possible when adapting ordinary inkjet and laser printers for sublimation printing. To do this, it is necessary to flood them with special sublimation inks and to purchase the paper on which the designs will be printed. The downside of this solution is that the inks dry up quickly if not used for more than about three days.

What is sublimation printing?

It is a technology that uses the phenomenon of sublimation to produce permanent and high-quality prints on various substrates. The desired design is printed on special transfer paper. It is then transferred onto a substrate, such as a polyester or polyester-coated T-shirt, using a transfer press. The sublimation phenomenon takes place thanks to the very high temperature and pressure generated by the press. Under these conditions, the sublimation inks penetrate deep into the polyester fibres, which open up in the heat. Then, when the material cools down, the fibres close and the ink that has penetrated them remains deep inside, which is what makes this method so durable.

See: promotional bags

How can you recognise a sublimation print?

Due to the manufacturing technology, the sublimation print looks as if it is part of the material, it does not stand out from it by its texture or appear to be glued on. In addition, it can be recognised by the base colour of the substrate. Colour sublimation printing can only be carried out on white material so that the fibres can absorb the relevant dyes. If you have a coloured substrate, the print can only be in black, as the others will not be absorbed properly or the colours may be mixed together and produce an unwanted effect.

Sublimation and products in our shop

Mugs, T-shirts and lanyards are the most common items produced using sublimation printing technology. This makes it very easy to produce all kinds of promotional or commemorative gadgets. It is worth remembering, however, that in order for the print to meet the customer's expectations, it must be made on a suitable substrate and the parameters must be adapted to it. Each material requires a different time, temperature and operating pressure of the transfer press. However, properly produced prints are a guarantee of durability and very good quality and clear colours for a long time. In addition to the previously mentioned products, we also use sublimation printing on products such as corporate sweatshirts or generally on most products in the advertising clothing section.

Check: Syringe pen

Will sublimation hold on cotton?

As mentioned earlier, the most optimal solution is to carry out sublimation printing on polyester materials, as this guarantees the greatest durability and quality of workmanship. However, more and more methods are now being developed to enable this type of printing to also be carried out on cotton materials. This can be done in two ways. The first is very similar to traditional sublimation, except that a special paper for cotton is required - Subli Light No Cut. With the second method, polyester powders must be used to transfer the design to the material. Both methods are as durable and good quality as traditional printing on polyester.