Sublimation printing is a common digital printing process in the personalized customization industry. It can be widely used in many industries such as clothing, decoration, home furnishing, and advertising. As the market demand for personalized customization and on-demand production has further increased in recent years, sublimation printing is gradually becoming more and more popular. According to Google Trends, global searches have grown by approximately 115% since .
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Sublimation transfer uses professional paper - sublimation paper - and then prints the design by heating. Because polyester fibers open their pores to absorb dye, it is recommended to use this technique on fabrics containing 85% polyester or higher. While operators can also use lower-content fabrics, the color will be affected and you may end up with a pattern that has a more "vintage faded" effect. In addition, sublimation printing can also be applied to hard surfaces with polyester coatings, such as keychains, puzzles, mugs, and more.
Can sublimation paper be transferred to dark fabrics?
Sublimation printing works best on white or light fabric backgrounds. While you can also use it on dark fabrics, this will affect your color results. Sublimation printing does not use white ink, and the white portions of the design remain unprinted, revealing the undertone of the fabric.
The advantage of sublimation printing over heat transfer printing (such as heat transfer vinyl) is a wider range of color options. It means you can print the background color directly onto the fabric without having to use a different color of fabric, and since it is a dye-printing method, the fabric will feel as soft as the original after being printed.
Is sublimation paper sensitive to air humidity?
Sublimation paper has a strong ability to absorb moisture, and exposure to humid air will cause the sublimation paper to absorb moisture like a sponge. That will result in undesirable image blur, uneven transfer, and color shifts.
Which side is the correct printing side of sublimation paper?
The correct printing surface is usually indicated on the packaging of sublimation paper or in the instructions for use.
In addition, you can use the following methods to identify the correct printing side of sublimation paper:
(1) Observe the gloss. The coating of sublimation paper is generally smooth and will have some gloss under the light, while the other side will be relatively dark or lackluster.
(2) Touch texture. The correct printed side may feel smooth, while the other side may be relatively rough.
(3) Water drop test. Put a drop of water on the surface of the paper. If the water droplet penetrates quickly instead of staying on the surface, the side of the dripping water may be the printing side.
Can sublimation paper be reused?
No matter which type of heat transfer paper you use, you cannot reuse it. Although some ink may remain on the sublimation paper, the amount of ink remaining is not sufficient to produce a high-quality print. Therefore, the paper cannot be used again for printing.
How to solve the wrinkle problem of sublimation paper transfer?
Wrinkling sublimation paper transfer issues can be caused by a variety of factors, including paper quality, environmental conditions, equipment settings, and more. Here are some possible solutions:
(1) Paper handling. Make sure the sublimation paper you use is of good quality and avoid using paper with a moisture content that is too low or too high, as this can cause the paper to curl or be too soft, causing wrinkling. At the same time, keep the paper flat and avoid curling the edges.
(2) Environmental control. Control the ambient temperature and humidity during transfer. The room temperature should be controlled at 18~22&#;, and the relative humidity should be controlled at 60%~70%. This helps maintain the moisture content of the paper and reduces wrinkling caused by environmental changes.
(3) Operation skills. During the transfer process, a few heat presses should be applied periodically to evaporate the moisture from the cotton lining. Replace dry padding material promptly to reduce wrinkling caused by moisture.
(4) Avoid ghosting. Take steps to reduce ghosting, such as reducing the rise speed, using special sticky transfer paper, or adding tape to the corners of the transfer paper to increase stickiness.
(5) Machine maintenance. Regularly maintain and inspect equipment to maintain lubrication of important parts and reduce printing wrinkles caused by loose machine parts.
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Choosing the Right Sublimation Paper
When selecting the appropriate sublimation transfer paper, several key factors should be considered to ensure optimal printing results.
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Ink Capacity and Limits:
The paper's ability to handle ink is crucial. The higher the ink limit (wet), the heavier the paper should be to absorb moisture from the ink without issues like curling or warping.
Ink Pattern:
Complex designs with mixed heavy and light ink inputs can cause problems with low-weight papers, leading to curling and shifting after pressing. To prevent this, it's recommended to use paper with a weight of 110gsm or more, which can accommodate both heavy and light inks.
Roll to Roll, or Roll to Sheet:
For calendar heat presses, low-gsm papers are preferred. However, when dealing with high ink limits and capacity, it's important to consider the potential for warping and curling, especially in high-capacity production settings.
Print Speed:
The thickness of the paper is influenced by the speed at which it is printed. Fast printing typically requires lightweight paper, while slow printing produces thicker paper.
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Sublimation Paper and the Humidity of Your Working Environment
Low Humidity: When humidity levels drop below 45%, it's advisable to use 80gsm paper. In low humidity, the paper tends to shrink, causing the print side to "hunch up" as it absorbs ink. Heavier papers like 100gsm and 120gsm are stiffer, which can exacerbate this hunching effect and potentially damage the print head. In contrast, 80gsm paper is softer and more flexible, reducing the hunch-up effect and helping to protect your print head from damage.
High humidity: In the humidity above 70%. It's better to choose 110-120 gsm. Since the paper is very easy to become damp with high humidity, it will become softer and stiffness is weak at the same time. If low weight paper is used, it will be hard to print smoothly because of the stiffness and hardness go down. At this time, 110-120 gsm is the best choice.
Uses of Sublimation Paper
Apparel: Sublimation paper is widely used in the production of sportswear and functional textiles, including Lycra materials, cycling gear, polyamide fabrics, swimwear, surfwear, 100% polyester garments (especially stretch fabrics), running apparel, and ice hockey wear.
Home Use: It's also ideal for creating custom home textiles such as curtains, blinds, cushions, table covers, and towels.
Advertising: Sublimation paper is commonly used for making flags, banners, felt materials, gaming tables, and other promotional items.
Sublimation Paper Application: Sublimation paper is designed for sublimation transfer processes. It allows for printing images with mirror reversal using inkjet, flat, screen, or gravure printing. The printed image is then transferred onto various media by applying heat and pressure, causing the ink to convert into a gas and bond with the material.
heat transfer Paper Application: Heat transfer paper, on the other hand, can be used with flat or gravure printing. The printed image is combined with media through heating and pressure to transfer the design.
Ink and Media Compatibility:
- Ink: Sublimation paper is specifically used with sublimation ink. Heat transfer paper, however, can be used with sublimation ink, pigment ink, solvent ink, or other types of ink.
- Media: Sublimation paper can be used on polyester fabrics, mouse pads, banners, and hard surfaces like mugs, ceramics, and aluminum plates. Heat transfer paper is typically used for transferring images onto cotton fabrics.
Successful Dye-Sublimation Process:
1. Print graphics onto special transfer paper using sublimation inks.
2. Use a heat press to transfer the ink from the paper to the item, resulting in a permanent, high-quality design.
Four Types of Heat Presses
Small Format Heat Press: Ideal for sublimating on t-shirts and smaller items such as caps, mugs, plates, and shoes, this device is perfect for small-scale projects.
Calendar Heat Press: Designed for large-format applications, this press is suited for creating flags, large exterior banners, and other large soft-signage items. It's also useful for day-to-day fabric sublimation. With an optional table attachment, the calendar unit can be adapted for cutting and sewing apparel pieces.
Flatbed Heat Press: While not as effective as a calendar heat press for handling large rolls and fabric sizes, the flatbed heat press is highly versatile. It can transfer designs onto fabric as well as aluminum, hardboard, floor mats, and other unique materials.
3D Vacuum Heat Press: This compact desktop machine is perfect for heat transferring onto materials with curved edges or shapes. It can be used to sublimate a variety of pre-treated items such as smartphone covers, mugs, picture frames, sporting goods, buttons, and more.
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