Sublimation printing is a popular technique for printing designs on fabric. It is a digital printing process that uses heat and pressure to transfer designs with a special ink onto (recycled) polyester or other synthetic fabrics. This printing technique is widely used in the textile industry to create permanently customized designs on apparel, sportswear, and other fabric products.
We can hear you think: ‘How does sublimation printing work? And what are the pros and cons? In this article, we will give you all the answers to these questions.
At House of U our sublimation printing process involves four main steps:
In short, a sublimation printer is a machine that transfers digital design onto fabric items. It consists of two different machines: the printer and the heat press.
The printer makes sure that the digital design is printed onto paper to use in the heat press. When the printing process is done, the only thing that needs to be done is transferring the inks onto the fabric. The heat press uses heat to transfer the ink into the fibers of the fabric.
Sublimation ink is a specialized type of ink that is typically used for printing onto materials that can be sublimated. Sublimation ink is not intended for use in regular printing applications, such as printing on paper. This is because sublimation ink is designed to bond specifically with the special coatings found on sublimation-compatible materials.
The benefits of sublimation printing on fabric:
There are also some disadvantages of sublimation printing like the limited fabric selection. This technique only works on synthetic materials or materials that have been treated with a special coating. This means that it’s not suitable for natural uncoated fabrics such as cotton, silk or fabric containing Lyocell fibers. This limits the range of fabrics that can be used for sublimation printing.
A different disadvantage is white creasing. During the printing process it can happen that the fabric or sublimation paper is folded. When a design is then printed onto an unprinted sublimation fabric, it can cause white creasing on the fabric because the design can’t be reached on the fabric, disrupting the design.
Overall, sublimation printing is a versatile and effective method for producing high-quality prints on synthetic fabrics. However, it may not be the best choice for every project when you are searching for fabric containing Lyocell fibers or cotton fabric.
When it comes to printing on dark fabric, sublimation printing can be a challenge. The reason is that the dye used in the process is transparent, which means that it cannot produce opaque colors.
At House of U, we only offer sublimation printing on fabrics with a white/creamy base color.
At House of U we offer sublimation printing services and more than 35% of the fabrics that are used by our customers, are printed on recycled polyesters. And because of that, the sublimation printers are used every day to make sure that the orders will meet their deadline.
View our U-circular collection
That’s good to see because the fabrics become sustainable end products, and that will reduce the environmental impact. Not only are the recycled fabrics sustainable, but the inks we use in this sublimation process are also sustainable. Besides this, the sublimation printing process uses almost no water, which helps House of U reduce their carbon footprint.
Recycled polyester is a durable and high-quality fabric that is ideal for sublimation printing. The fabric has the same properties as conventional polyester fabric, such as moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and wrinkle-resistant, but with the added benefit of being environmentally friendly.
Sublimation printing on recycled polyester involves the same three steps as sublimation printing on traditional polyester fabric. First, the design is created using graphic design software or by hand. Second, the design is printed onto transfer paper using sublimation ink. Finally, the design is transferred onto the fabric using a heat press.
By using sublimation printing on recycled polyester, businesses and individuals can reduce their environmental impact and create sustainable products. Recycled polyester is a great alternative to traditional polyester, which is derived from non-renewable resources and can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills.
In addition to being eco-friendly, sublimation printing on recycled polyester offers all the benefits of traditional sublimation printing. The colors are vibrant, long-lasting, and can be fully customized, making it ideal for creating unique and personalized designs on clothing, accessories, and home decor.
Sublimation printing can be used on a variety of fabric products like:
The sublimation printing process needs several key items:
Screen printing and sublimation printing are two popular methods used for printing designs onto various surfaces. While both methods produce high-quality prints, there are significant differences between the two like; materials used, the printing process, and the final result.
Screen printing, also known as silk screening, is a popular printing technique that involves transferring ink onto a surface through a stencil, or mesh screen. The mesh screen is stretched over a frame, and a stencil is created on the screen by blocking out areas that are not meant to be printed. Ink is then applied to the screen and pressed through the stencil using a squeegee. This process is repeated until the desired image is printed onto the surface.
Screen printing is a versatile printing method that can be used to print on a variety of surfaces, including fabric, paper, glass, and plastic. It is also a cost-effective method for printing large quantities of designs. However, screen printing is not suitable for printing fine details or intricate designs, as the stencil can only block out large areas.
The differences between Screen Printing and Sublimation Printing are:
Both screen printing and sublimation printing have their strengths and weaknesses. Screen printing is a versatile and cost-effective method for printing large quantities of designs on a variety of surfaces, while sublimation printing is best suited for printing on polyester-based materials and producing high-quality, detailed prints. The choice between the two methods ultimately depends on the specific needs of the project and the desired outcome.
This was a lot! We hope you now know what full sublimation printing is. If you’ve decided to buy one of the sublimation fabrics for your projects, then House of U is your sublimation printing company! Take a look at our complete range of U-circular fabrics – you can even order sublimation printed scarves, if you’re interested.
View our U-circular collection
If you’d like a more hands-on demonstration, order our Eco Fabric Kit. Feel, smell, and try some of our most popular sustainable fabrics using these samples and figure out which sustainable fabric is the right one for you.
Order our Eco Fabric Kit
If you’re still on the fence regarding our sustainable fabrics or want some more advice, feel free to contact us. We’re always happy to help!
If you have any questions on Sublimation Digital Printer, Small Format Dye Sublimation Printers, Textile Sublimation Printer. We will give the professional answers to your questions.