The Status of Dye Sublimation
At its core, dye sublimation uses a heat-generated printing process in which heat is used to transfer dye onto paper or fabric. The dye is transferred from a solid to a gas onto the intended medium. The dyes used are intended to bond most effectively with polymers, so the higher the polyester content in the substrates used, the more the dye will bond to the material. The result? A crisp, well-defined and brighter image that keeps consumers coming back for more. Dye sublimation requires a heat cycle to set the image onto the fabric. Uncoated polyesterfabrics are processed with a transfer print from a printed paper print to the fabric through a calendar or heat press. The image goes from a solid to a gas and is deposited into the fabric so it is colorfast and can be washed. Coated polyester fabrics can be printed directly to the fabric and then heated to set the dyes into the fabric. Dye sublimation is becoming increasingly popular in the United States thanks to its existing popularity in Canada and Europe.Dye sublimation printing can be used for making sports uniforms, soft signage and even gaming table covers. There are three primary types of inks used to produce sublimation graphics: water, solvent and oil-based.Water-based sublimation inks that are using disperse dyes produce good color with relatively high resistance to ultraviolet. Direct sublimation printing with these inks calls for a two-step workflow of printing and heating either using a heat press or inline. Water-based inks that are used for sublimation transfer printing require heat-transferring the images to the final substrate. This method tends to result in graphics with sharper detail than direct printing. For more information, click here: http://www.sublihouse.com/












