WHAT IS SUBLIMATION PRINTING?
Sublimation printing is one of the most advanced printing techniques used in the industry of apparel and promotional items.
Sublimation printing is a digital printing and popular method that uses heat and pressure to transfer dye onto materials such as fabrics, ceramics, and metals. Different from traditional printing methods, sublimation printing uses heat and pressure to transfer dye directly into the fabric or coated surface, resulting in vibrant, durable prints that will not peel, crack, or fade over time.
How Sublimation Printing Works?
To get started with sublimation printing, The first step in it is creating or selecting a design using graphic design software. The design can come from images, patterns, or text and is printed onto a special sublimation transfer paper using sublimation inks.
These inks are formulated to convert from a solid to a gas when exposed to heat and pressure. The material to be printed, such as polyester fabric or a coated substrate, is prepared by ensuring it is clean and free from any contaminants.
The best fabric for sublimation wholesale are polyester fabrics or materials with a high polyester content. Sublimation on cotton shirts is challenging because cotton fibers do not absorb sublimation ink well, requiring special sublimation coatings or hybrid printing techniques.
Some popular sublimation clothing includes bulk sublimation shirts, sublimation blank t-shirts, custom sublimated jerseys and custom sublimated polos.
Sublimation printing works best on materials with a high polyester content or a special coating designed for sublimation.
The printed transfer paper is placed on top of the material, with the design facing down. The material and transfer paper are then sandwiched together and placed in a heat press machine. The heat press machine applies heat and pressure to the material and transfer paper. The high temperature causes the sublimation inks on the transfer paper to convert into a gas.
The gas molecules from the sublimation inks penetrate the material’s surface and bond with its fibers. As the material cools, the gas reverts to a solid state, permanently embedding the design into the material.
Once the sublimation process is complete, the transfer paper is removed, revealing a vibrant, high-resolution image on the material. The printed material is now ready for use or further processing, such as cutting and sewing for apparel.
Guangzhou Loong Sportswear, a China based company for sublimation wholesale, is offering cheap sublimation service for sublimation t shirts blanks, sublimation jerseys and sublimated polos.
VIBRANTING YOUR APPAREL ITEMS WITH CUSTOM SUBLIMATION PRINTING SERVICE
It produces prints with vibrant colors, sharp details, and excellent color reproduction. The prints are resistant to fading, cracking, or peeling, resulting in long-lasting and high quality images.
Sublimation printing can be used on a wide range of materials, including fabrics, ceramics, metals, and more. It is commonly used for custom wholesale apparel, home decor items, promotional products, and personalized gifts. They are highly durable and can withstand repeated washing and wear without losing their quality.
The prints become a part of the material, rather than sitting on top, ensuring longevity. It allows for full coverage designs without any visible edges or seams, makes it ideal for all-over prints, intricate patterns, and designs that require seamless transitions, along with a relatively fast turnaround time making it feasible for efficient production and delivery of custom-printed items.
difference between sublimation and screen printing
Both sublimation printing and screen printing have their advantages, but they serve different needs and various in print quality, durability, fabric compatibility, and setup cost.
Sublimation printing feature high-definition full-color prints with permanent prints, no cracking or peeling, whilte screen printing feature solid colors bold prints that can crack or peel over time.
Sublimation printing is the best on polyester fabrics made apparel items such as custom sublimation shirts, sublimation jerseys and polos. Screen printing can work on most fabric types with bulk printing of simple designs.
If you are looking for vibrant, long-lasting designs with no texture on the fabric, sublimation is the better choice. However, for bulk printing with fewer colors, screen printing is more cost-effective.
Future Trends in Sublimation Printing
Eco-friendly sublimation printing will become more and more popular with the rise of sustainable sublimation inks. Automation and AI powered software for custom sublimation designs will bring us new innovations. Hybrid printing for sublimation on cotton shirts and innovative fabric blends can be widely used in future clothing trends.
SHOWCASING OUR SUBLIMATION PRINTING SERVICE EXAMPLES BELOW.
Loong Sportswear is aim to bring a perfect dye sublimation printing service. Here are some samples we have made.
