What is Dye Sublimation Printing?
How to Choose Sublimation Printer?
Dye sublimation printers are transformative printing technique that uses thermal heat to transfer your image onto a polyester or polyester coated fabric. Because the ink is imbedded directly into the surface fabric, sublimation banner printing produces more durable products. Traditional methods print an image on a surface, which causes more wear and tear.
Because of its versatility, dye sublimation printers are becoming more popular. Because this method of printing produces more durable images, businesses can use these prints both inside and outside. This appeals to companies that print large outdoor banners and advertisements. Dye sublimation also allows for a greater variety of shapes, sizes, and textures to be printed. You can transfer it onto an object if your sublimation machine can print it.
How Do Dye Sublimation Printers Work?
The process of dye sublimation is distinctive in that it uses heat to change a particular kind of ink from a gas to a solid. The liquid phase is bypassed, allowing the gases to permeate the substance. Because a permanent color bond is being formed between the “ink” and the surface being printed on, this results in a product that is more durable. As previously mentioned, conventional screen printing techniques merely place the image on top of the product. reducing the fusion of the image and surface. resulting in increased exposure to the elements, which further damages the finished product.
The steps are listed below:
- The dye sublimation printers use disperse dies in gas form the ink to print the image you just created onto the transfer paper.
- The final step is to cover the finished product with the transfer paper.
- Using a heat press, you press the transfer paper with intense heat to transfer the image to the finished product.
- The gas skips the liquid phase and instead “drys” and transforms into a solid when the heat is removed.
- This enables the image to eventually permeate the polyester fabric, resulting in gorgeous and more robust finished goods.
- Even after numerous washings and uses, the fabric won’t fade or crack.
How Long Does Sublimation Printing last?
Quality and product care are the two most important factors in determining how long a dye sublimation print will last. From the start, the quality of the products used to print as well as the products printed on influences how long the print will last. Ink is important in this because fade resistance varies from ink to ink. Depending on the situation, the ink you use will have a direct impact on how long your print lasts. Paper also influences how long your image will last. Sublimation printing necessitates the use of sublimation paper. While this may seem obvious, it is worth noting because standard copy paper will not suffice. The right paper is required to create a high-quality, long-lasting image.
Aside from ink and paper, dye sublimation printers play an important role. There is a wide range of machines available for purchase, ranging in price. The need, similar to ink, determines machine quality. If you want to print small, indoor banners or posters, you can use a smaller and less expensive machine. On the other hand, if you want to make larger prints for outdoor use, a more expensive, higher-quality machine will be more suitable.
Following the quality of the supplies, the product’s care and usage will play a role in its lifespan. Keeping the images clean and properly handled will ensure that the print lasts a long time. One distinguishing feature of dye sublimation is the ability to wash or clean the product. Because the image is embedded in the fabric, washing the product will not image as quickly as it would with traditional prints.
FAQ Before Purchasing Dye Sublimation Printers
- Is it economical?
The other factor influencing our company’s growth is its cost-effectiveness. Maximizing opportunities will only benefit our business if we understand how much each customer costs and focus on lowering these costs while meeting market demands. We all know that in today’s economy, fashion and retail businesses are focused on cutting costs, with brands like H&M announcing detailed plans to cut costs.
Which aspects of the new machine may have an impact on the cost? One example is employee training. The longer we wait for profit, the longer we wait for current or new employees to be onboarded. When we examine the number of operators required to complete jobs, we see that workforce issues continue to have an impact on costs.
Another traditional factor is machine availability and maintenance. When machines fail, so does our output. It is critical to be able to detect and prevent malfunctions using advanced control panels and preventive maintenance.
Another area worth investigating is rework. We should look for automated procedures that eliminate human error and ensure precision. High-quality printing machines avoid costly rework, which also causes delays.
Determine whether and how the new machine will save time, space, and materials. Multiple fabrics printed on the same machine save space, on-demand production saves expensive materials, and energy-saving machines reduce our costs.
2. Is it friendly to the environment?
Unfortunately, not all printing companies would rank this as one of their top three questions. However, 76% of consumers are actively trying to buy more environmentally friendly products, so everyone should think about how a new machine might affect digital footprints. Brands with which we work frequently enquire about the various sustainability standards that companies adhere to. And we ought to respond if they ask. Flexibility is impacted by sustainability, which promotes growth.
We must once more determine whether the new device wastes natural resources, energy, or materials. Does it possess a specific certification proving its level of sustainability and ability to meet high standards internationally? If we don’t conduct proper sustainability-focused due diligence, entire markets could become unavailable.
