Maximize your profitability through numerous opportunities of Dye Sublimation Printing. Sports apparel, home décor, and soft signage markets are growing exponentially. The demand for these products is at an all-time high. Dye Sublimation Printing provides business owners with the best option to turn this time towards their advantage.
The science behind dye sublimation makes it the perfect technique to print on polyester and other similar products. Dye sublimation inks are printed on special transfer paper using wide-format inkjet printers or industrial sublimation printing machines. Through the printed paper, we can then transfer the print directly on fabric roll or garment. The ink transforms from solid to gas, hence the term sublimation printing, and bonds with the polyester fibers
When heated, the polymers bond, thus allowing the design or graphic or text to get permanently embedded into the garment. The ink, in the form of a heated gas, gets fully infused instead of just being printed on the fabric. This produces a long-last and high-quality output.
Dye sublimation printing involves multiple processes as compared to inkjet printing on other materials. In contrast to other methods of printing, the Digital Dye Sublimation Printing is a more sustainable option as the process of transfer printing is completely waterless. One of the advantages of Digital Textile Printing is waterless technology, which makes it an eco-friendly method of textile printing.
With the correct knowledge, dye sublimation printing can be a profitable business. Keep mind the below pointers to get started:
Polyester resin coated materials and polyester are perfect for dye sublimation printing. You can print on a wide variety of substrates and multiple applications that include:
Sports Apparel
- Jerseys
- Other sports related gear
Home decor
- Pillows and pillow covers
- Tapestries
- Upholstery
- Window treatments
Fashion apparel including accessories
- Handbags
- Dress
- Bathing suits
- Scarves
- Ties
Gifting and Keepsake items
- Clipboards
- Mouse pads
- Luggage tags
Retail and trade show graphics
- Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG)
- Polyester Banners
- Backlit Graphics
Transferring of design or text or graphic onto the fabric requires the ink to be converted into the gaseous form. The chemical process for dye sublimation is very specific, and hence you will need to use a particular type of ink called disperse ink or dye. It is also known as dye-sub ink.
The reasons that disperse dyes are used because at high temperature i.e. during the heat-pressing procedure, these dyes bond well and easily with the polyester fabric.
Disperse dyes have a vibrant color gamut and some manufacturers have introduced fluorescent inks in order to further push the color gamut towards more vibrancy.
Disperse dyes upon heat-pressing will permanently bond with the fibers of the fabric, resulting in a high-quality finished product with vibrant and photo-real graphics, which is washable.
Dye Sublimation Printers are similar to other wide format inkjet printers; however, they are specifically used for dye sublimation applications. The ink that is used is disperse, which is specifically used to print on transfer paper.
When heated, the polymers bond, thus allowing the design or graphic or text to get permanently embedded into the garment. The ink, in the form of a heated gas, gets fully infused instead of just being printed on the fabric. This produces a long-last and high-quality output.
Dye sublimation printing is growing and hence, there is a wide variety of dye sublimation printers available in the market. Global brands like ColorJet, Mimaki, Epson, Mutoh, etc. are constantly pushing the ceiling of technology and innovation to launch state-of-the-art dye sublimation printers that offer increased output while maintain the high-quality. Since there are various options, you can choose the printer as per your budget and application. Some printers are for low output and some are specially designed for high industrial output.
As mentioned earlier, dye sublimation printing involves multiple steps and they are quite simple if you have the following equipment:
Heat Press
It is as important as the printer itself. Similar to the dye sublimation printer, heat presses are available in different styles, sizes, and prices. The most common types are:
The most common types are:
Flatbed Press
When transferring on to a solid substrate, flatbed press is the ideal option. These are perfect for t-shirt printing, especially the ones that require the design, graphic, or text to be printed on a large area or the whole t-shirt.
Calender Press
They use drums that are electrically heated or oil for the process of heat transfer. Mostly used for home décor, soft signage, and apparel, they are the best solution for high-volume dye sublimation printing.
Cutting and Sewing
The option of cutting and sewing may be considered depending upon the desired application. Similar to the dye sublimation printer, these items vary from simple and cost-effective to large and costly equipment.
With the need of having multiple equipment, dye sublimation printing was once an expensive business option. The cost of printer itself was very high, that didn’t even include the heat press.
he market expansion, increase in competition, and more options to choose from, the cost of the dye sublimation printer has reduced significantly opening doors to numerous business opportunities with limited investment. With the advancement in technology, the dye sublimation printing process is easy and yields high-quality output. One of the best names in dye sublimation printing is ColorJet, which has recently launched SubliXpress Plus, a 1.8 m industrial sublimation printer that offers a production capacity of 9000 square meters per day at an affordable cost (supports low GSM paper) with various financing options.
If you leverage the potential of dye sublimation printing, then any investment will be worth it.
For any help that you need in getting started with dye sublimation printing, you can write to us at info@colorjetgroup.com and we’ll help you choose the best option as per your business and investment.