Sublimation Printing

What exactly is sublimation?

In scientific terms, Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from a solid state to a gas state. It does not pass through the usual liquid state, and only occurs at specific temperatures and pressures.

It’s a general term that is used to describe the solid-to-gas transition and refers to the physical change in state only.

What is sublimation shirt printing?

Sublimation shirt printing is a specific process of printing that first involves printing onto a special sheet of paper, then transferring that image onto another material (usually polyester or a polyester mix).

The ink is then heated until it disintegrates into the fabric.

The process of sublimation shirt printing costs more than other methods, but it lasts longer, and will not crack or peel over time, like other shirt printing methods.

Are sublimation and heat transfer the same thing?

The foremost difference between heat transfer and sublimation is that with sublimation, it is only the ink that transfers onto the material.

With the heat transfer process, there is usually a transfer layer that will be transferred to the material as well.

Can you sublimate onto anything?

For the best sublimation results, it is best used with polyester materials.

It can be used with a range of materials that have a specialist polymer coating, such as those found on mugs, mouse pads, coasters, and more.

In some cases, it is also possible to use sublimation on glass, but it needs to be normal glass that has been treated and prepared correctly with a specialist spray.

What are the limitations of sublimation?

Aside from the materials that can be used for sublimation, one of the core limitations for sublimation is the colors of any materials. Because sublimation is essentially a dye process, you get the best results when the fabrics are either white or light-colored. If you want to print onto a black shirt or darker materials, then you could be better off using a digital print solution instead.