Dye Sublimation Printing_ 5 Things You Need to Know

1. Dye Sublimation Printing: 5 Things You Need to Know If your next promotional campaign involves the use of photographic images, you need to make sure that these pictures are reproduced vibrantly and correctly on your chosen type of media. Sublimation printing can be a great option. It uses dye sublimation ink—a dispersed dye suspended in liquid solvent similar to water. This type of printing can be used on fabrics or textiles and is popular for applications like T-shirts, banners, flags, sportswear, and table covers. Interested in dye sublimation printing? Here are all the basics you need to know about it: 1. Origins Dye sublimation printing was discovered in the 1950s by a Frenchman named Noel de Plasse. He figured that high temperatures can make specific dyes ‘sublimate’ or ‘become integrated’ in the medium where they are printed. The dye sublimation printers that we know today work based on his original process, except that they rely on an electrical charge to sublimate the ink. 2. How it works Dye sublimation printing applies inks on any polyester-coated or plain polyester surface with a heat press. With the combination of proper timing, pressure, and heat, the dye sublimation ink is transformed from solid to gaseous, then breaks through the sublimate to create full color and permanent image. Since the ink is injected into the medium, it makes the print less susceptible to fading and bleeding. Moreover, the resulting color is unlikely to fade. 3. Not just for photographic and graphic arts printing Sublimation printers typically have Piezo electric print heads with tiny crystals on them. The small electrical charges make the crystals pulsate to force ink droplets out on the paper without any heat. For years, sublimation printers were used mainly for photographic printing and graphic arts. However, the popularity of digital photography has made dye sublimation more mainstream. Photos that are printed with this printing method using high-quality compatible ink cartridges were more durable and did not have the common problems associated with inkjet

2. printing. As you might know, images printed by inkjet printers typically run when exposed to moisture or water. This is not an issue with dye sublimation. 4. Long-lasting and high-quality images Dye sublimation ink is more durable because there’s a clear layer that is added on the printed photograph to prevent it from running after the ink dries. Ink bonds chemically with the material, so it won’t scratch or scrape off, either. 5. Printer and ink quality matter It’s important to choose a high-quality sublimation printer and use the right inks to save money. Here at STS Inks, you’ll find a wide range of dye sublimation compatible ink cartridges for Mimaki, Roland, and Mutoh printers. Our high-viscosity, wide-gamut aqueous dye-sublimation transfer inks offer reduced vapor emissions and high color saturation to produce brilliant colors without clogging nozzles.