Meet Sublistar Sublimation Printer
The main idea of this article will be team and sportswear, and more particularly, a technique known as “Allover textile sublimation printer.” The way that consumers shop is beginning to change thanks to allover printing in clothing decorating. One fully customized decorated clothing can be created right away by choosing a white polyester blank garment style and adding a pattern or graphic.
Depending on the variety of garment types and graphics offered, this will almost always be a unique creation. Unlimited customer alternatives and a smaller, more manageable vendor inventory result from this.
The main component of dye-sublimation inks is a dispersion dye suspended in a liquid, usually water. As a reverse image of the finished design, the image is printed on coated heat-resistant, sticky transfer paper. The design is transferred from the paper using pressure and heat onto a white polyester fabric or a substrate that has undergone the proper preparation for polyester.
As with plastisol transfers, the word “sublimation transfer” implies that a print is bonded to the surface of a garment. However, due to a molecular bonding between the dye and the polyester, sublimation prints are irreversible. There will be no “hand” or feel to the finished print on the fabric. Additionally, sublimation-printed cloth maintains its color brilliantly even after numerous washings and wearings. The image won’t peel or crack.
The highest output size that may be produced clearly distinguishes desktop sublimation printing from large-format printing. The significant variation in ink prices is a less well-known distinction. On a desktop printer, the cost of ink for a single coffee mug would be measured in dollars, whereas on a large-format printer, the cost of ink for the identical coffee mug picture would be calculated in pennies. Just because your printer can print at 42 or 62 inches wide, keep in mind that the paper roll may be substantially smaller.
What's suitable for sublimation printing?
White polyester is the typical fabric for textile sublimation printer. The goods will get a polyester coating if they are awards or hard substrates. Yes, you may have seen colored clothing embellished with sublimation. Light colors can be printed, but because sublimation inks are translucent, the image will take on the color of the fabric. For instance, a blue ball will turn green when printed on a light-yellow polyester shirt. So, if a color shift is not crucial, you can print on 100% polyester textiles that are light or pastel in hue.
The allover-printing procedure starts in a shop’s art department, just like with any other type of garment decorating. Depending on the range of sizes you plan to print, a template of the complete shirt is made. The body, sleeves, and outer edge of the shirt will be covered by the all-over design, providing enough ink to completely cover the largest item you will be printing. The ability to customize each garment, including adding unique team numbers and names, is a major benefit of this decoration technique.
A large-format sublimation printer produces a sublimation transfer as a reverse image. Most of the time, the output is 44 inches wide and the file was exported at 720 x 720 dpi for allover printing on adult clothing.
On a prep table, the textile sublimation printer is spread out with the ink side up. A sticky paper is ideal for holding the material in place without movement, which would cause ghosting in the end print due to the non-rigid nature of the garment.
On the enlarged image on the transfer sheet, a completely built, long-sleeved ladies’ shirt made of 100% white polyester is placed. In every spot, the graphic is clear and extends beyond the clothing. The long sleeve shirt is carefully placed on top of a second transfer with the front picture so that both the front and back can be heated at the same time. The shirt’s collar and tail are then lined with craft paper to prevent the picture from bleeding inside the fabric.
After that, the heat press is loaded with the shirt. The user employed a dual-platen heat press for this sample. Testing is usually necessary before starting production because time, temperature, and pressure will vary across different types of clothing. For 29 seconds, the heat press was operated at 384 F and 50 PSI of pressure.
The shirt is finished entirely after being heated, and the front and back are fully decorated. Peel away the top transfer sheet first. The paper will be thrown away after printing because it is a single-use item. Following that, the shirt is removed from the bottom transfer sheet. The finished, completely customized volleyball jersey is prepared for use on game day.
