Firstly, what is sublimation printing? Sublimation printing is a popular method of printing which aims at transferring a design from sublimation paper onto a piece of fabric or material by using pressure and heat (between 350 – 400 degrees). Changing the solid particles of the ink into a gaseous state, it is an easy and cost-effective way of adding personalization to products that is used by both companies and people at home.
The high-quality end product of sublimation printing has resulted in its popularity increased over the past few years. However, like all forms of printing, it is essential that you know how to create the designs (by watching tutorials or reading guides like this one) before you try it for yourself. If you are wondering how does sublimation printing work, read the explanation below to help better understand what the process entails.
If the process is done incorrectly, it can create designs that have white creases on them or ghosting patterns. This can cause you to lose both time and money. You should always test out a few designs before doing it in bulk, to get more familiar with the machines and how the designs will work on the fabric. Try with a simple design to start with, rather than a design that covers all of the fabric. Once you have gotten used to it, you can start experimenting with more detailed creations.
The Process
So how does sublimation printing work? After you have chosen your design, you should use a sublimation printer to print it out onto the special paper. The design is then printed onto the fabric, by either using a heat press or (if you are doing it at home) by applying pressure and putting it into the oven.
You will have to use a transfer paper (usually sublimation paper) so that the design transfers onto the fabric. Bringing the ink and the fabric together, the ink is embedded and therefore will remain more vibrant for longer (in comparison to other printing processes). The heat in the press or the oven opens the fabric’s pores up, whilst the pressure that’s put onto the fabric cools the ink down – turning it into a solid form. The press can then be released and the paper gently taken off of the shirt or mug (or whatever object that you have used).
A simple process once mastered, it can be inexpensively be recreated at home with the help of a compact sublimation printer and a heat press. If you’ve ever wanted to create designs that stand out from the crowd, this is an efficient and creative way of doing so.
Dye sublimation supplies
There are a few things that you need in order to start printing designs onto your merchandise through the use of sublimation printing. The first, of course, will clearly be a printer that allows for sublimation printing and can take sublimation ink cartridges.
Secondly, you will need to invest in a heat press in order to print the designs onto the fabric. If you want to print the design onto a ceramic mug, you can purchase a mug clamp and press. It is important to think about the material that you want to use for your sublimation printing as not all materials are suitable. You will also need transfer paper (either sublimation or copy paper) and can also invest in RIP software that will help with color correction.
Sublimation printing fabric
If you are thinking of creating your own printing business and want to utilize sublimation printing or you want to start using the process at home, it is important to know what materials you can use. These are the following:
– Polycotton textile
– Polymer
– Polyester
– Ceramic
– PVC
– Polyester-coated aluminum
– Polymer-coated metal
– Polyester-made fabric
– Polymer- coated plastic
The best materials to use for sublimation printing out of the list above is polyester or ceramic. For fabric, you can use a variety of designs and logos, unlike traditional printing that could sometimes only produce one logo per garment.
There are, however, a few designs that don’t lend well to sublimation printing. An example of this is designs that have block colors with designs that need to be placed all over the garment. This is partly because of a chance of ‘ghosting’ and color mismatch (disadvantages of sublimation printing that are explored in more detail below), as well as causing white streaking.
Are there any materials that won’t work with sublimation? 100% cotton materials or other natural materials are not suitable for this method of printing. This is because they don’t have the pores that are required in order for the ink to be absorbed into it. If you are working with these types of materials, perhaps digital printing is more suitable.
Sublimation heat presses
There are a range of heat presses available on the market, from budget-friendly to heat presses that are more appropriate for commercial purposes. The size of the heat press you purchase will, of course, depends on what you are using it for. If you are looking for one that you can use for a range of functions, the Super Deal Pro 5 might be your best bet. If you want one simply for t-shirt designs, the Promo Heat Swing-Away Sublimation Heat Transfer Press might be just the ticket.
As with sublimation printers, it is important to read reviews online before you purchase it. If you are doing it at home, you probably don’t need one with all the bells and whistles that it is more expensive counterpart offers. Therefore, by investing in one that offers multifunctions as well as being lightweight is perhaps your best option. The sublimation heat press will, as mentioned, be the most expensive equipment that you invest in. But, without it, you won’t be able to correctly print the design onto your products – you require the pressure and heat that a heat press produces.
What are the best dye sublimation printers?
Whether you are looking to buy your first sublimation printer or looking to add another one to your collection, it is a good idea to research online before you buy. With a variety of options on the market in a range of prices, you should compare the different printers and look at their reviews. To help make your decision a little easier when choosing the best dye sublimation printer for your needs, here is a top five list that will narrow it down:
Sawgrass Virtuoso SG400
A clear favorite by many both within the industry and enthusiasts working with them within their home, this entry level sublimation printer has a function which allows you to alter the quality or speed of the printing, has a 1200 DPI (dots per inch) feature which allows for high-quality and detailed printing, is environmentally-friendly and allows for an easy transfer onto both merchandise and polyester clothing. Using sublimation paper, it can be used to create unique merchandise.
How much does it cost? The price of the SAWGRASS VIRTUOSO depends on where you buy it from, but generally, the price ranges from $500-$600. It can print on sublimation paper up to 8 ½” by 14”, making it a good choice for many. If you want to upgrade to a SAWGRASS SG800 (you might be starting a printing business or are looking for a great quality printer within the workplace), this will set you back around $1500 and can print onto fabrics up to 13” by 19”.
Perhaps the best dye sublimation printer out there, it is popular for the high-quality images that it produces and its fast speed (as mentioned above), it is a good investment that has positive reviews across the internet.
Mitsubishi CP-D70DW
One of the biggest sublimation printers out there (weighing approximately 26 pounds), the Mitsubishi CP-D70DW isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing printer available on the market. It is, however, one of the most functional and is known for how reliable it is. It is popular for those working in the commercial field, who want to use it for events (e.g. photobooths). One downfall to consider with this sublimation printer however, is that it does not have any memory card slots or physical controls. This means that you have to have the printer connected to your computer at all times. This might make it less appealing for those wanting a sublimation printer that has wireless connectivity.
This is an important consideration, but due to the quality of images it produces and the impressive speed at which it delivers them (8.4 seconds for 6” by 4” prints), is one that many people will compromise on. It can also print out A4 designs in 77 seconds and 6” by 9” prints in approximately 33. It is not built for design, it is built for functionality.
EPSON Stylus C88+
A medium-sized model, this makes it ideal for at home sublimation printing. It features a 140 sheet capacity, can print up to 19 pages per minute, is scratch and water resistant (unlike a number of other printers), has an automated printing function and it utilizes a heat transfer technology that can work alongside a variety of ink types. Many people opt for this sublimation printer due to the functions, the high-quality images that it produces and, of course, the fact that it comes from a trusted brand.
Using an individual tank system, it means that you can remove the specific ink that needs replacing, whilst using the rest. A more cost-effective and easier process than having to replace the entire ink cartridge each time, it means that you can print more designs in a shorter amount of time. One of the cheapest models on the market, it frequently inhabits ‘best dye sublimation printer’ lists.
The downsides of this printer, however, is that it doesn’t have wireless printing and can’t print on mugs or surfaces. It also might become slower if you are trying to print a huge amount of designs at one time. These are three things to consider when looking into this printer. However, the fact that it can’t print on mugs won’t come as a surprise by many, as you will often have to purchase a mug press separately.
EPSON Wireless Inkjet All-In-One WF-2630
This sublimation printer is usually considered one of the best dye sublimation printers for transferring designs onto mugs and t-shirts. An efficient printer, it has a printing resolution that can be easily adjusted, produces high-quality and sharp images, offers fast printing, ECO features (that requires 70% less power) and is more affordable than other options on this list. Suitable for both personal and business purposes, it also features remote wireless connectivity – a bonus which others don’t have.
It is high print resolution has a color depth of 48-bit, a maximum resolution of 5760 x 1440 and a 9600 dpi – impressive statistics for a printer that’s more budget-friendly. One thing to consider with this sublimation printer is that it only takes Epson cartridges. Although these are generally quite affordable, it means that you can’t use non-branded cartridges that are often cheaper.
EPSON Workforce WF-7710
A multifunctional sublimation printer, the EPSON Workforce WF-7710 allows you to work with a variety of printing fabric materials, has a 4.3-inch touchscreen control panel that you can use to adjust the quality/resolution of the images quickly and it requires less power than other sublimation printers available on the market.
Boasting an impressive 250-sheet tray, it is perfect for those wanting to print a large number of prints at one time. It also has the ability to print borderless prints, has wireless connectivity and can work on surfaces up to 11” by 17”.
One thing to consider with this printer, however, is that its printing speed is considered quite slow – especially when you are printing a large number of designs at a time. This should be expected with higher quality images but can be a downside for those wanting to use it for commercial purposes. If you do want to print them quicker, perhaps one of the other EPSON models is more appropriate for your needs.
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