How To Remove Sublimation Print From Shirt? 97 Most Correct Answers

Sublimation printing is a fairly new method that creates super vibrant and durable designs on fabric. This process uses heat to bond a special dye to synthetic fibers. But you can also learn how to sublimate on cotton fabrics with a few special tricks!

One of the best ways to sublimate onto cotton is to use heat transfer vinyl between the cotton and the dye. Attaching special sublimation fabric sheets also provides a good workaround for sublimating onto cotton. Printers also use synthetic spray coatings on cotton to help bond the natural fibers with sublimation dyes.

In this article you will learn why sublimation dyes work. You will learn seven techniques for sublimation printing on cotton. Finally, find tips on making your own spray coating to sublimate onto cotton!

Can you sublimate onto 100% cotton fabric?

You cannot sublimate 100% cotton yourself, but you can get around this by applying special treatments to the cotton to make the sublimation process work. These workarounds include using different types of heat transfer vinyl or applying a special coating to the surface of the cotton before using a heat press to start the sublimation process.

Why doesn’t sublimation work on cotton? During the sublimation process, heat causes the sublimation dye to become gaseous. At the same time, the heat also causes the synthetic fibers in the polyester to open up, allowing the gas to slip inside.

As the synthetic fabric cools, the dye reverts to a solid form and the polyester fibers truly close, keeping the dye and fabric chemically bonded at the molecular level.

This process – the actual chemical sublimation – is only possible between sublimation dyes and plastic.

If you try this on pure cotton the design will look great at first. Cotton has a high natural absorbency, so the color absorbs a little and looks nice. But the sublimation ink will wash out of the cotton as soon as it touches water because the chemical bonding process hasn’t taken place.

For a long time, printers and home artists had no choice but to do without cotton T-shirts and hoodies. But recent innovations in printing technology have resulted in several simple methods for successfully sublimating cotton shirts.

This is great news because cotton fabrics often feel much softer and more breathable than synthetics like polyester. For this reason, many t-shirt printers and small business owners prefer to print on cotton.

Sublimation temperature for cotton

Sublimation on cotton requires quite hot temperatures from 360℉ to 400℉. The pressing time varies. You can usually find recommended times and settings for heat pressing on the packaging of your sublimation transfer paper.

Sublimating requires a heat press. You can use a small press like the Cricut EasyPress, but an iron and ironing board don’t apply enough heat and pressure to create a chemical bond.

How to sublimate onto cotton: 7 methods

You can successfully sublimate cotton using several different methods, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that you need some sort of intermediary between the dye and the cotton.

Many home artists like to use vinyl for this. You can also make or buy a special synthetic spray coating for cotton fabrics that works very well.

1. With vinyl

Create your digital design with a graphic design program of your choice. Place a sheet of Siser EasySubli in your sublimation printer and print the image directly onto the vinyl. Siser recommends using a Sawgrass printer and EasySubli ink for best results. Next, place the printed design in a Cricut or other cutting machine to cut out the outline of the design. Remove the excess vinyl. Mask the vinyl by carefully applying a clear masking film with a squeegee. This way you can lift the vinyl design and wear it with your shirt or cotton garment. Line up the vinyl design on your shirt. Place a teflon sheet over the design to protect it during hot pressing. Set your heat press to 311℉. The lower temperature than usual works best on the vinyl surface. Just press the design for 15 seconds.

Special types of thermal transfer vinyl such as Siser EasySubli make a great substitute surface for sublimating onto cotton. Note, however, that you can’t just sublimate to just any old HTV! With sublimation you always need to find the right surface that contains polyester for the dye binding process to take place.

You will find some advantages and disadvantages of this method. The vinyl has a slightly stiff, raised feel on the fabric surface, just like any other HTV application on cotton. But the sublimation process works, and you can safely wash the shirt after using your heat press to seal the Easy Subli onto it!

2. With glitter HTV

Start by creating, editing or downloading an SVG design of your choice. Flip the design so it doesn’t end backwards. Send the design to your electronic cutting machine, cut out and remove the excess vinyl. Apply the glitter vinyl to your cotton surface according to the instructions on the vinyl packaging. Typically you use a heat press to seal the vinyl to the cotton at a temperature of 400ºC for about 60 seconds. Once the cotton has cooled you can proceed to the sublimation part of this method. If you haven’t already done so, print your design onto sublimation transfer paper. You will need a sublimation printer for this. Place the transfer paper printed side down so it lines up perfectly with the vinyl cutout on the cotton. You can use heat resistant tape to keep the design aligned. Set your heat press again to 400C for about 60 seconds. You should now have a colourful, glittery design on your shirt!

Before commercial products like EasySubli came along, home printers had already figured out a way to sublimate cotton with white glitter HTV. You have to like glitter to try this method, but the cool thing is that the tiny glitter particles on the surface of this heat transfer vinyl contain polyester, which allows for the sublimation process!

The downside to sublimating onto HTV is that you have to do that extra step of cutting and weeding the vinyl before applying the design to the cotton. But the big advantage is that you can use this method on any shirt color. Actual sublimation only works on white or light-colored fabric, but you can also apply Glitter HT to black or dark-colored fabric!

Also, if you wanted to make an intricate design out of HTV only, you would have to cut out many pieces for each color of vinyl. This way you can simply ink on white glitter vinyl to create a multicolored design!

3. With spray coating

The most popular professional method of sublimating cotton is to apply a synthetic coating to the surface of the cotton and then proceed with the sublimation process. Popular coating sprays like Poly T get good reviews, although you might find them a little pricey.

With this method you use two sprays. The first removes the sizing from the cotton shirt and the second creates a synthetic surface for the sublimation transfer.

Start by spraying the shirt thoroughly until it feels damp. Set your heat press to 330℉ and place a cotton cloth over the bottom platen if you have a clamshell press. If you have a small press, place a cotton cloth on your flat pressing surface. Spread a piece of parchment paper over the top of the damp shirt. Hold the press for 30 seconds. Steam comes out as the spray removes the size from the cotton shirt. Next, apply a second coat of the spray to the shirt. Apply again the 330° heat press for 30 seconds to fix the coating. After cooling, you should feel a plastic surface on the fabric. Place a piece of parchment or butcher paper under the cotton shirt. Line up your sublimation transfer on top of the cotton fabric, then place another piece of parchment or butcher paper on top for protection. Set your heat press to 385℉ and apply pressure for 70 seconds to allow the sublimation process to take place.

One of the challenges you face when using a spray coating like PolyT is that the coating tends to attract dust. Even a small speck of dust or dirt will leave a mark on your design, so try to work in a dust-free environment!

4. With sublimation fabric sheets

Sublimation fabric sheets like Forever Subli Light allow you to most closely mimic the appearance of actual sublimation on polyester fabric. These lightweight sheets don’t form a thick barrier like HTV, making it appear as if the dye has actually penetrated the cotton fabric.

Additionally, using these special panels of fabric does not require the complex cutting process used at HTV!

Create or download a colorful vector design. Make sure you mirror the design before printing. Place the blank side of the fabric sheet, printed side down, in your sublimation printer and print the design onto the sheet. Prepare your shirt by pre-ironing it for 15 or 20 seconds. This creates a smooth, wrinkle-free surface for your design. Align the printed fabric sheet where you want it on the shirt. Cover it with a piece of parchment paper or a silicone press mat. Press for 30 seconds at a temperature of 365℉. Peel off the transfer paper while it is still hot. Immediately apply finish paper and press again for 30 seconds. You can get either matte or gloss finishing paper that will help seal the design in permanently.

The only catch with using these fabric sheets is that you have to use very bright vector designs. They must have a CMYK color value of at least 150%, which you can check on your printer. You need bold, vibrant colors for this method to show off well.

5. On dark cotton

You can use HTV white glitter and Siser EasySubli to create bright, vibrant sublimation designs on dark cotton. For step-by-step instructions on how to use these two methods, read the sections above!

The cool thing about using a medium between the sublimation and the cotton is that you can use it to add a white background. This allows you to apply colorful designs to dark or black fabrics, which you cannot do when sublimating directly onto polyester fabric.

6. With Cricut

The best way to use a Cricut as part of the sublimation process is to cut out a white glitter HTV shape and then apply sublimation transfer paper over the glitter.

If you want a bright, multicolored design, you probably don’t want to create it out of vinyl. You would have to cut out many tiny pieces of different colors from vinyl and then put them together like a puzzle! For this reason, most printers will use one, two, or three color HTV designs when they want to use vinyl on a shirt.

But if you add the step of applying a sublimation transfer to the vinyl, you can use whatever colors you want!

Check out these tips to get the best result when using your Cricut for sublimation:

For a glitter look, use types of white glitter HTV that contain polyester. You can read the product descriptions carefully or buy glitter HTV specially made for sublimation.

Alternatively, you can use Cricut’s dedicated line of Infusible Inks. You need to buy accessories from Cricut, but with them you can easily master sublimation on HTV.

Other vinyl products like Siser EasySubli work great with certain printers like the Sawgrass models, but deliver excellent results because they’re specifically designed for sublimation.

7. With silhouette

Once you have your design ready, leave an image in color for printing and create a transparent outline for cutting. You can easily do this using the tools in the Silhouette program. If your design includes lettering, make sure to mirror it. Cut out the outline of the shape on the white HTV with your silhouette. Follow the instructions on the HTV packaging to apply the vinyl to your shirt with your heat press. Print the color design onto a sublimation transfer paper using a Sawgrass sublimation printer. Set your heat press to 400℉. Carefully place the transfer paper, printed side down, onto the vinyl. Spread a protective Teflon sheet over the transfer paper. Apply the heat press for one minute.

Will sublimation wash out of cotton?

The Silhouette Cameo line works much like a Cricut machine, allowing you to cut out vinyl shapes for heat transfer to use as the base for your sublimation cotton print. Brother makes the Silhouette electronic cutting machines, which have an excellent reputation in the crafting world. Also, they come with a very nice design product called Silhouette Software that you can use to create your sublimation printing designs.

Sublimation will wash out of cotton when attempting to seal the sublimation transfers onto untreated fabric. This happens because the synthetic sublimation dye cannot chemically bond with the all-natural cotton fibers.

But you can sublimate onto cotton by creating a synthetic surface on the fabric. If you apply a coating spray to the cotton before sublimating or use HTV vinyl, sublimation will take place and the dye will not wash out of the cotton.

Why did my sublimation ink fade after washing?

Sublimation ink can fade after washing for a number of reasons including poor quality transfer paper or improper heat settings. One of the main reasons sublimation printing is used is that it creates permanent, vibrant designs on fabric. The sublimation process bonds deeply with the fabric and creates a more durable print than any other method on the market today.

But something can go wrong resulting in the ink fading rather than maintaining that vibrant and lasting hold on the fabric.

Leaving a print in the heat press for too long can cause fading. You may need to test temperatures and times on a few t-shirts to get the right settings.

Cheap transfer paper can also produce unprofessional or faded prints. Make sure you use authentic sublimation transfer paper for this process.

Finally, printing onto untreated cotton or a 50/50 blend of polycotton will also result in a faded design.

Can you sublimate to 50/50?

You can sublimate onto 50/50 fabric if you want a slightly worn, vintage style design. Using a cotton and polyester blend fabric is a popular way to get the best of both worlds in the printing industry. You get the sublimation ability of polyester while retaining the softness and breathability of cotton.

However, you should expect some fading to occur during the first few washes as any design that touches the cotton fibers in the blend will be washed away.

For this reason, it may be more practical to sublimate onto fabric blends that contain 65% polyester and only 35% cotton.

How to make poly t spray for sublimation?

You can make your own version of Poly T-Spray for sublimation with polyacrylic.

Poly T is a commercial product that is one of the most popular treatments used by anyone doing sublimation prints on cotton. It contains a polyester resin that encapsulates the cotton fibers, allowing the dye to sublimate and bind to a synthetic surface.

The downside to this spray is that it’s often quite expensive, so many enterprising home artists prefer to mix up a DIY spray coating.

If you want to try making your own coating, try this recipe:

Measure 8 ounces of room temperature water into a disposable bowl. Add two tablespoons of polyacrylic. You can find this at most hardware or craft stores. Don’t shake the can until you’ve scooped out the two tablespoons. Gently stir the water and polyacrylic together in your disposable bowl or cup. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle.

Best sublimation paper for cotton

Sourcing the best cotton sublimation paper will help you get quality results no matter which of the seven methods in this article you choose!

Siser EasySubli This extremely popular product allows you to print designs directly onto this special form of thermal transfer vinyl. It adheres to cotton, polycotton blends or polyester. You can use it to apply sublimation printing to cotton or sublimation designs to dark colored polyester. This product works best with the popular line of Sawgrass sublimation printers, but you can use it in other sublimation printers as long as you use sublimation dyes. This matte thermal transfer vinyl combines with sublimation dye to create bold, vibrant designs that hold up well after many wash cycles.

Printer’s Jack Inkjet Sublimation Paper If you want to do a traditional sublimation transfer print and then apply it to glitter HTV on your cotton shirt, try this excellent inkjet sublimation paper! This paper is compatible with most major sublimation printers including the Epson range and Sawgrass models. Of course, you should not apply these transfers directly to 100% cotton fabrics. You need an intermediate layer such as B. Use white glitter HTV between the transfer and the cotton for good results.

Best sublimation spray for cotton

You can find many other brands of spray coatings for sublimating onto cotton, but the brand that most professionals prefer is called Poly T Pro. You can buy a concentrate to mix with water and spray, or buy the product in a ready-to-use spray bottle. Poly T Pro allows you to quickly apply a coated layer to the top of cotton fabric. You can then apply a sublimation transfer page to this coating and seal it to the fabric! You can use a heat press to set the PolyT coating or throw the shirt in the dryer for a few minutes.

Conclusion

Although you cannot sublimate directly onto 100% cotton, you can create high quality sublimation designs on cotton material using HTV cutouts or by applying special synthetic spray coatings. One of the easiest methods for sublimating cotton at home is to cut out white glitter transfer vinyl, glue it to the cotton, and then place the sublimation transfer on top of the glitter vinyl. Using a spray coating on the cotton also gives you an easy way to tie sublimation dye onto cotton.

You must use special products designed for sublimation onto cotton. You can buy sublimation fabric sheets that work on cotton. You can also find sublimation vinyl, which is receptive to sublimation dyes and adheres to cotton.

When it comes to t-shirt printing, there are printing methods like DTG, sublimation, heat transfer as some of the most famous techniques. Each of these methods plays an important role and influences the t-shirt industry. There are several factors you need to consider when choosing the printing technique as they can affect the print and t-shirt qualities.

Among all the different methods, one of the most well-known methods is sublimation printing. Most print owners prefer it for its bright and vibrant colors. However, customers often complain that sublimation prints become dull. There are several factors that lead to dull prints.

In this article we will discuss everything about sublimation printing and what are the reasons for dull printing.

What is sublimation printing?

In today’s digital age, sublimation printing is one of the most well-known printing processes. It’s a simple process of printing with heat and ink. The USP of sublimation printing is that the ink is transformed from a solid to a gaseous substance. This process has proven to be a game changer in the printing industry due to the quick and easy process.

sublimation process:

Sublimation printing uses heat to bring the ink and fabric together. Let’s see how:

First the design is printed on the special paper, then the inks used gasify when they are brought under heat. This permanently bonds the fabric and ink onto the fabric and reduces the chance of ink fading. Because the ink mixes with the fabric instead of forming a layer. The heat opens the pores of the fabric and applies pressure to cool the ink and return it to solid form. The result is a permanent, full-color image that will not fade, peel or wash away. Sublimation printing is growing rapidly and is a preferred method for short run jobs.

Pros and cons of sublimation printing:

Like any printing process, sublimation printing has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a quick look:

Advantages of sublimation printing:

It is easy to print on rough surfaces such as mugs, photos, clocks, etc.

Simple and easy to learn

The CMYK color base allows you to use a wide range of colors in sublimation printing. What’s more, it doesn’t even charge for additional colors or different screens for each ink color.

You can easily personalize your 1 to 1000 unit at the same cost and with the same designs.

The t-shirt print will not fade, scratch or lose its colors after printing.

The sublimation printing process is simple and can produce multiple prints in the same day.

Disadvantages of sublimation printing:

The fabric must be 100% polyester, which makes it difficult to print on other materials.

The fabric must have a white or light print area as dark surfaces are difficult to sublimate.

If you use non-textile substrates, it must have a polyester coating.

There is a chance that t-shirts will lose color over time.

With inkjet printers, the printheads can clog if you don’t use them for a long time. Therefore, it is better to leave the printer on as it will automatically clean itself periodically.

Let’s go further and see some of the main reasons why sublimation prints become dull.

Reasons for sublimation printing fading:

To wash:

If you’re wondering how to make my sublimation prints brighter, you need to count how many times you wash your clothes. Washing has a major impact on ink fading. When you use sublimation printing, it mixes with the fabric and also with the water, eventually causing the ink to fade. For example, if your customers wash their favorite t-shirt in hot water every day, chances are it will fade. So advise your customers to keep washing frequency to a minimum.

UV discoloration from sun:

The UV rays are also a common problem that fades your ink designs. If your customers dry the clothes in the sun every day, it is likely that the print will start to fade. Therefore, you may suggest drying them in the shade. This can reduce the chance of the print fading.

Avoid using polymer coating:

If you work with hard surfaces people may have recommended you to use polymer ink and it usually takes barely 35 seconds to sublimate polymer based materials. But in many cases the polymer layers are already in place. For example; Most ceramics originating from Asia have a polymer layer coating. So make sure you don’t put the excessive polymer layer on top of it as it can lead to more time to sublimate.

Conclusion:

Sublimation is currently a solution of choice for many print shop owners for many reasons. Despite this, many people are still struggling with the problem of fading. But by following the steps discussed, you can save the t-shirt from fading.

Go one step further, if you are planning to take a leap and provide your customers with a software solution to provide better service, we have an answer for you.

Product designer tool by Brush Your Ideas.

With our tool, your customers can easily create designs directly in your web-to-print shop. We’ve been in the industry for a decade, helping companies start their web-to-print shop from scratch. Not only that, we’ve even helped them thrive in their business, increase their return on investment, and increase their sales with the right tool like the Product Designer Tool. If you are looking for a software solution or want to bring your shop online, you can contact us.

All product and company names are trademarks™, registered® or copyrighted trademarks of their respective holders. Their use does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by them.

5/5 – (6 votes)

Do you want to get started in the personalization industry? Have you heard of sublimation printing and are you considering starting a business using this technique? If so, many of your questions will be answered in this post.

Sublimation printing is the technique that allows designs or images to be transferred onto rigid objects or polyester fabrics. This process impresses with its ease of learning, the low initial investment and the large selection of products that are already prepared for sublimation.

The sublimation process consists of two simple steps:

Print your design/photo with an inkjet printer that you will use exclusively for this technique. It must be equipped with special sublimation paper and inks. Transfer the design to a sublimation-prepared surface using a heat press to apply heat.

This technique offers many ADVANTAGES:

This is one of the few methods that allows printing on rigid surfaces (mugs, photo boards, plates, clocks, etc.)

Surfaces (cups, photo boards, plates, clocks etc.) It is relatively easy and has a very short learning curve (quick learning curve).

and has a very learning curve (rapid learning curve). It offers an unlimited range of colors. By using four color ink (CMYK) you can achieve thousands of different colors. There is no additional cost when you add a new color to your design. That’s why it’s a fantastic option for printing photos.

. By using four color ink (CMYK) you can achieve thousands of different colors. There is no additional cost when you add a new color to your design. That’s why it’s a fantastic option for printing photos. You don’t have to set a minimum print run. Whether you personalize 1 or 1000 units, the unit cost remains the same.

. Whether you personalize 1 or 1000 units, the unit cost remains the same. After sublimation, the print is integrated into the substrate and becomes part of it. Unlike transfer paper, the result does not feel, cannot be scratched and does not lose its color.

into the substrate and becomes part of it. Unlike transfer paper, the result does not feel, cannot be scratched and does not lose its color. Because it’s quick and easy, you can produce your orders the same day.

. Today there are hundreds of items prepared for sublimation: mugs, plates, photo boards, wallets, flip-flops, clothes, decorative items, etc.

But it also has a few CONS:

The fabric must be 100% polyester or at least 2/3 polyester.

or at least 2/3 polyester. Only articles with a special polyester coating may be used for non-textile surfaces.

can be used. Sublimation items must have a white or light print area. Black or dark surfaces cannot be sublimated.

or light print area. Black or dark surfaces cannot be sublimated. The item may lose color over the months due to exposure to UV rays if left in continuous direct sunlight.

. As with all inkjet printers, the printheads can become clogged if they are not used frequently. For this reason, it is recommended to leave the printer on at all times. It automatically cleans them daily.

As with any mark made by digital image transfer, the size of the print is limited by: The original resolution of the image, which defines the maximum size to which it can be enlarged. The dimensions of the lower platen of the press.

of pressure is limited by:

If you are new to this field and starting from scratch, it would be useful for you to have prepared a pack with everything you need to start sublimating. There are several options available in our sublimation packs category. You can also find all the instructions for sublimating our products, as well as some templates, on our Brillor.com website.

You no longer have an excuse not to start your personalized gift project!

And you? What advantages and disadvantages do you see in sublimation printing?

5 things you need to know about dye sublimation printers

Welcome to the world of dye sublimation printing! The home decoration, soft signage and sportswear markets are growing steadily and dye-sublimation printing is a great way for business owners to capitalize on this opportunity.

Below we outline what dye-sublimation printing is and provide five tips you need to know before you get started.

Not sure where to start? Download this 10-step checklist to find the perfect fabric printer for your needs and budget. >>

What is dye sublimation printing?

It is the chemistry behind dye sublimation that makes it the right technique for printing on polyester and polyester resin coated products. Dye-sub inks are printed onto special transfer paper using a wide format inkjet printer. From there, the ink is transferred from the paper to a fabric using a heat press. The ink goes from solid to gaseous (hence the term “sublimation”) and penetrates the polyester fibers.

The polymers in the polyester bond when heated, allowing the graphics to be quickly and permanently embedded into your materials. As a heated gas, the ink fully penetrates the fabric rather than just printing on the surface, resulting in long-lasting, high-quality products.

Compared to inkjet printing on other materials such as paper or vinyl, dye sublimation is a more complicated process as it involves multiple steps. But no worry. With the right knowledge, dye sublimation can be an enjoyable and profitable business. Here’s what you need to know to get started:

1. You can print a variety of products

As already mentioned, polyester and polyester resin coated materials are the perfect substrates for dye sublimation printing. Because these printers come in a variety of styles and sizes, you can print on a range of products including:

Home decor upholstery window treatments tapestries cushions

sportswear jerseys and related sports equipment

Fashion and accessories dresses scarves ties swimsuits handbags

Trade Show & Retail Graphics Backlit Graphics Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG): At SEG, graphics are printed onto special fabrics designed to carry a strip of silicone along the edges. This allows the print to be placed in a frame, replacing the need for hardboard graphics. SEG gives trade show displays photo quality images with a clean, frameless, clean appearance.

Memorabilia Phone cases Mouse pads Coffee mugs Luggage tags Clipboards License plates

2. You must use a specific type of ink

When you transfer your graphics from paper to fabric, the ink must be converted from a solid to a gaseous state. Because the chemical process for dye-sublimation is very specific, you need to use a specific type of ink known as disperse dyes (commonly referred to as “dye-sub inks”).

These dyes can change from solid to gaseous state at high temperatures and bind easily to polyester fabrics.

The color gamut of disperse dyes is incredibly vivid. And some brands like Mimaki have introduced fluorescent inks to expand the color gamut even further!

Because disperse dyes are permanently bonded to your finished products, they create long-lasting graphics that are fully washable.

3. You need a special dye-sublimation printer

While similar to other large format printers, dye-sublimation printers are specific to the dye-sublimation application. They use disperse dyes that are intended solely for printing onto transfer paper.

Dye sublimation is experiencing tremendous growth and there is a wide range of dye sublimation printers available from the best brands in the business. Here are some that the ITNH team highly recommends:

Mimaki TS55: This 74-inch wide model is the leader in high-productivity sublimation printing.

: This 74-inch wide model is the leader in high-productivity sublimation printing. Mimaki CJV300-160 Plus : Combining high quality dye-sub graphics with contour cutting, the CJV300 is perfect for mass production of small items like coffee mugs.

: Combining high-quality dye-sub graphics with contour cutting, the CJV300 is perfect for high-volume production of small items like coffee mugs. Epson F6370H : Epson’s 64-inch roll-to-roll dye-sublimation printer is built for versatility.

: Epson’s 64-inch roll-to-roll dye-sublimation printer is built for versatility. Mutoh RJ-900 : This entry-level 42-inch, four-color roll-to-roll printer is perfect for apparel and flags.

: This entry-level 42-inch is a four-color roll-to-roll printer perfect for apparel and flags. Mutoh VJ-1638WX: A 64-inch model, this Mutoh printer is ideal for everyday printing on exhibition materials, interior design, apparel and more.

The wide range of dye sublimation printers available allows you to choose the perfect printer for your application and budget. Printers are available from 44 inches wide to 10 feet wide. Some are designed for occasional use and others are capable of impressive factory production.

4. You need additional equipment

The dye sublimation process involves several steps, but they are simple and straightforward as long as you have the following items:

heat press

Your heat press is just as important as your dye-sublimation printer. And just like your printer, heat presses come in a variety of sizes, styles, and price points. Here are some of the most common types to give you an idea of ​​what’s out there:

Flatbed Press: If you are transferring to solid objects, a flatbed press is your best bet. They’re also great for printing on t-shirts that require “all-over” designs.

If you are transferring to solid objects, a flatbed press is your best bet. They’re also great for printing on t-shirts that require “all-over” designs. Calender Press: These presses use oil or electric heated drums for heat transfer and are intended for apparel, decoration and soft signage. Calender presses are best suited for long-run printing.

cutting & sewing

Depending on your specific desired application, you may consider cutting and sewing options. Like the printer, these items range from simple and relatively inexpensive to large scale factory equipment. The best thing to do is speak to an expert to learn more about the gear that will best suit you.

5. Dye sublimation is affordable

With the range of equipment needed and the multi-step process, dye-sublimation printing was once expensive and intimidating. The printers alone could cost as much as $20,000, and that doesn’t even include the cost of a heat press.

Now the market has expanded to give people more choices and the cost of equipment has been drastically reduced. The technology has also been improved, making the sublimation process much easier with even higher print quality.

Some of the best names in dye-sublimation printing, like Mimaki, Epson, and Mutoh, now offer printers for $10,000 or less. And when you consider the potential that dye-sublimation printing has for your revenue stream, it will definitely be a worthwhile investment.

frequently asked Questions

Q: How much does a dye sublimation printer cost?

A: You can find top brands (Epson, Mimaki, Mutoh, etc.) dye-sublimation printers for under $10,000. They get more expensive as they get bigger and faster. Also keep in mind that you will also need additional equipment – like a heat press or a cutter – so your total investment will exceed the cost of the printer.

Q: How long does a dye sublimation printer last?

A: As with anything, the higher the quality of your printer, the longer it will last. A high-quality dye-sublimation printer should have a service life of 10 years.

Q: How long will my sublimated item last?

A: Because the sublimation process chemically bonds the ink to a material, decorated items are permanent and washable. Lightfastness can vary from ink to ink and should be discussed with a professional in relation to your application.

Q: How do I know how long an item needs to be sublimated? And what temperature should the printer have?

A: This may take some trial and error as it depends on the product you are customizing. Typically, the following times and temperatures are recommended:

For polyester fabrics – 400F for 40 seconds

For hard goods – We recommend a case-by-case assessment

If in doubt, contact the printer manufacturer or your product supplier for the correct settings for your items.

If you need help getting started with dye-sublimation printing, you can always use our free Printer Match Tool to find the printer that best suits your business. Or you can always contact us for advice or recommendations.

There are products on the market that allow this process to be compatible with cotton substrates, opening up new possibilities for your business.

Recent developments in the market have brought about products that can be used to apply sublimation dye to the surface of a cotton fabric. All photos courtesy of Sawgrass.

If you’re a sublimator, you’ve no doubt heard – repeatedly – that this decorating process doesn’t combine with cotton. To be honest, that hasn’t changed. Sublimation chemically bonds to polyesters and polymers, not cotton; However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it on cotton.

Recent developments in the market have brought about products that can be used to apply sublimation dye to the surface of a cotton fabric. In the true sublimation production process, the dye combines with polymers at the molecular level. In the case of apparel, this means that the chemistry doesn’t happen on the surface, but beneath the surface. Because of this, true sublimation bonding results in color not cracking, peeling or fading with washing.

For products that allow cotton sublimation, the resulting image is on the surface, not in the surface, and may crack, peel, or fade over time. But that’s not really a bad thing considering that traditional forms of cotton decoration – like screen and direct printing (DTG) – also tend to share the same trend.

Several new sublimation-to-cotton products have hit the streets in recent months. Typically they fall into one of two categories: transfer paper and printable material. Let’s focus on those

Transfer paper options.

All about the paper

The concept of transfer papers means that all you have to do is select the right option from all the options available and print directly onto it with your sublimation printer. Then use a heat press to apply the design to the shirt. The dye, along with the chemical elements it contains, is transferred from the paper to the surface of the cotton shirt. Then just throw the paper away. This process is similar to the usual, everyday sublimation process.

Sounds simple and it really is. However, not all papers are created equal; It is therefore important to test different products and evaluate the results.

All papers currently available use some form of polymer, which is an “intermediate compound” that allows sublimation to adhere to cotton. Essentially, the entire sheet metal is coated during production. When applying an image with a heat press, the coating with the ink separates from the paper to bond it. With some products, however, the coating of the unprinted area is also transferred to the shirt.

Imagine a rectangular piece of transfer paper with a small logo in the middle. During the hot pressing process, this logo is also transferred, as is the blank area of ​​the paper. What you end up with is a printed logo surrounded by a faint, off-white rectangular box that’s the dimensions of the paper. This “polymer window” is not desirable.

For these papers, trim the excess paper around the printed image so only the color transfers. This can be done with scissors; However, if you intend to do a lot of sublimation printing on cotton, you should buy a vinyl cutter that can be set up to do it automatically. Using a cutter adds a few extra steps, but it’s well worth the effort.

The second type of paper is known as “self-weeding” because the polymer component only transfers where dye is present on the paper. While it sounds like a better solution, there are downsides to this type of paper.

Firstly, a “wet process” is used for production, which means you have to print the image and quickly apply it with a heat press. The second problem is that it works best with dark images. Light colors and images do not transfer well.

In comparison, the other type of paper copes with lighter colors rather well. Translation: No paper option is perfect. So take the time to experiment with them and the production processes so you can determine what works best for each application.

Using sublimation on cotton transfer papers is not just about choosing the right product. Digital transfer papers have many different properties that affect the quality and color of the image. You need to absorb the dye and deliver it properly, and everyone does that differently. Consider these issues when using the products.

The software factor

The key is to use color management/printing software, which makes it easy to troubleshoot such issues. For example, there is software that makes it possible to create different “profiles” for different papers. The profiles set up parameters within the printer and control how the colorant is applied to the paper based on its properties and the properties of the colorant. Too much ink leads to waste; streaks may also appear if the transfer paper is wet. Too little ink can result in images with dull or wrong colors.

If the right profile is used, the best quality will be achieved. So make sure you use the right settings every time. If your software offers specific profiles for specific products, you just need to choose the right profile for the job. The software and printer will do the rest.

If you are using a raster image processor (RIP), try experimenting to find the right settings for each type of transfer product. If you do not have a RIP or system specific software, contact your sublimation system manufacturer for advice.

So far I’ve used half a dozen products that sublimate cotton and have found all of them to be different but useful. In addition, new products are regularly introduced that improve the process and offer more functions, such as: B. sublimation on dark fabrics.

These new products will open doors to many new fascinating sublimation applications that will help maximize the profit potential for your decorated apparel business.

Award-winning author and international speaker Jimmy Lamb has over 25 years of apparel decoration experience. He is currently communications manager at Sawgrass Technologies, Charleston, S.C. For more information or comments on this article, email Jimmy at [email protected].

About acetone

Acetone is a colorless, volatile liquid with a pungent, sweet odor. It is a solvent used to clean liquid polyester and vinyl ester resins. It dissolves liquid resin and allows cleaning of spills, rollers, brushes and other equipment. Once polyester resins are fully cured, acetone cannot dissolve them. Acetone is not an effective solvent for epoxy resins.

Acetone is good at dissolving substances, including the fat in human tissues. This means that with prolonged or repeated contact with acetone, skin strips natural oils, causing dryness or cracking. Therefore, acetone must not be used to clean hands.

Acetone is completely water soluble and easily washes off the skin. Acetone forms a vapor easily at low temperatures. In small or poorly ventilated spaces, this vapor can accumulate and, in high concentrations, can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Acetone is also highly flammable.

Special protection information

Respiratory protection: Ensure adequate ventilation. If above NOHSC exposure standard level, use SA-approved respirator.

Eye Protection: Use SA approved chemical splash goggles.

Protective Clothing: Wear chemical resistant gloves such as butyl rubber or neoprene rubber gloves. Apply barrier creams to exposed skin. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and safety boots.

CONTACT YOUR SAFETY EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.

effects of exposure

Eyes: May cause moderate to severe irritation.

Inhalation: May cause eye and upper respiratory tract irritation and CNS depression.

Skin: May cause moderate irritation – defatting and dermatitis.

Ingestion: May cause gastrointestinal irritation, CNS depression, drowsiness, and kidney and liver damage.

First Aid Procedures

Eyes: Flush with water for at least 15 minutes.

Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, seek medical attention immediately.

Skin: Flush with water.

Ingestion: DO NOT induce vomiting. If the person is conscious, they should drink large amounts of water. Get medical advice immediately.

Spill or Leak Procedures

Eliminate all sources of ignition and ventilate area. Wear protective gear, stop spill at source, dam area and pump liquid to recovery tank if possible. Alternatively absorb spilled liquid with vermiculate or sand. Pick up in designated waste container using non-sparking tools. Flush the area with water, but avoid getting into bodies of water. Dispose of waste in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. Let the supplier advise you. Spill/leak reporting may be required by EPA and Dangerous Goods regulations.

fire extinguishing procedures

Wear protective equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus. For small fires, use dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Use alcohol-type foam on larger fires. Cool fire exposed containers with water spray.

Storage and Handling Procedures

DG class 3. Highly flammable. Keep away from sources of ignition in tightly closed, labeled containers. Store in a cool, well-ventilated area with an automatic sprinkler system or fire suppression system. Ground containers when pouring to prevent static electricity discharge. Do not transfer to unmarked containers. Provide ventilation both at floor level and in the breathing zone. Open containers outdoors to allow any vapors to escape, especially when heated. Store away from oxidizing agents.

KEY to Abbreviations – CNS: Central Nervous System EPA: Environmental Protection Agency NOHSC: National Occupational Safety and Health Commission (Worksafe Australia) PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride SA: Standards Australia

Disclaimer: The facts and information contained on this page are believed by Composites Australia to be correct at the time of going to press. Composites Australia accepts no responsibility for the use or misuse of information on this site. Composites Australia accepts no responsibility for any damage or injury caused by any information or omissions on this page.

Acetone can be used to remove annoying ink stains from shirts and other clothing. Credit: CasarsaGuru/iStock/GettyImages

Although many people know that acetone removes nail polish, they may not know that it has many other uses as well. Acetone is a solvent used in other household products such as personal care products and cosmetics. It’s also a highly effective stain remover, regardless of what household product you have that contains it.

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Remove stains with acetone

The most obvious type of stain that acetone can remove is nail polish itself, but it’s also good for removing paint and ink stains. When using acetone this way, you have to be very careful. While you can use acetone on cotton clothing or other man-made materials, you shouldn’t apply it to fine natural fibers like wool or silk. Read the label first to see if the item is washable. Also, if the fabric contains acetate, modacrylic, or triacetate, use a non-acetone nail polish remover.

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If the stain is still wet, blot with a clean, white cloth to remove as much of the stain as possible. For washable fabrics, use a white cloth or clean sponge and dab some acetone. Work with a light hand from the outside in, using clean parts of the sponge or cloth for each movement.

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When you can no longer see the stain, rinse with cold water and wash as usual. To remove ink stains, combine one part acetone and two parts water, dip in a cotton ball, and blot the ink stain until it disappears.

Acetone on black clothes

Can you use acetone on black clothes? The answer is yes, but you may not have much success. Most experts agree that this doesn’t work as well as using acetone on lighter colored fabrics.

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If you are trying a cleaning product on fabric, test it on a small, inconspicuous spot first. Just dab a bit and see if it changes color or damages the fabric in any way. You can also try using non-acetone nail polish remover on black clothing, but there is no guarantee that this will be successful.

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Other Uses for Acetone

Acetone has many other uses. First, it can be used to remove melted plastic from metal objects. If your plastic spatula is taped to a saucepan, you might be able to salvage it. Wait for everything to cool down. Dip a rag in acetone and wipe away the melted bits until they come loose. Then be sure to clean everything thoroughly before cooking with it again.

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Acetone can also smooth out scratches on hard plastic items like furniture, clock faces, and picture frames. Use a cotton swab and some acetone and rub slowly and gently. It can also remove tea and coffee stains from glass and ceramic mugs. Wash them very well afterwards too. You can also use acetone to remove scuffs from floors and to dissolve dried superglue.

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Acetone can be used to remove paint stains from walls and to disinfect small grooming items like nail clippers, razors, and tweezers. You can also clean a porcelain tub with acetone. Be sure to wear cleaning gloves and a mask if you find the odor bothersome, and ventilate the area well. To clean porcelain tubs, mix equal parts water and acetone, apply to dirty parts with a rag, and scrub with a non-abrasive brush. Rinse anything you clean with acetone with soap and water.

DIY manicure is fun. They are inexpensive and allow you to try different nail polish colors on your whim without leaving the comfort of your home. Sometimes, however, manis at home go awry when your hand slips during your manicure and you manage to leave a streak of red nail polish on your living room couch — or worse, your favorite white t-shirt. If this happens to you, don’t panic. We’ve done some research and found some surprisingly simple tricks you can use to save your clothes and furniture. Read on for three easy tips to remove nail polish from any surface.

Use hairspray on fabric

To remove nail polish from gentle fabrics like clothing, you need one essential item – hairspray. Hairspray, like the Matrix Total Results High Amplify Flexible Hold Hairspray, is a great solution for removing stains as it won’t fade your clothes and will help break up nail polish. After spilling, you should allow the polish to dry completely. Then soak the affected area with hairspray. When the hairspray is dry, use tweezers to scrape away any flaky residue. Remove the remaining polish and put your clothes in the washing machine to completely remove the stain. If you still see a stain after drying, simply repeat the process until it’s gone. If your carpet needs saving you can use the same technique, except after applying hairspray you should scrub the stain with a small carpet cleaning brush until it comes off.

Avoid acetone nail polish remover

Acetone is a very strong ingredient that can bleach and damage fabrics. Therefore, you should definitely avoid it when handling clothing and carpets. Instead, try using a non-acetone nail polish remover like Ella+Mila Soy Polish Remover. Soak a cotton ball and blot the stained area until most of it is removed, then wash as usual. To make sure the remover won’t cause any damage, try testing a small, imperceptible spot on your clothing or carpet to see if it stains.

Spread the word!

Creating sublimation projects is fun and easy, but when you encounter these common sublimation problems, it can get stressful. These are the most common sublimation problems that almost everyone has experienced. We’ll discuss how to avoid these common sublimation mistakes, what causes them, and how to fix them so you can get back to making your own mugs, mugs, garden flags, and other sublimation products.

banding

When you print your sublimation transfer and notice a visible line or an area that is blank and missing the print, this is known as banding. It is caused by a clogged print nozzle so when printing the ink is not spit out and this causes this band of blank outputs.

Banding can be caused by dried ink in the printhead, a blockage in the line preventing ink from reaching the printhead, or a damaged printhead. It’s a good idea to use your printer often so that the ink on the print head doesn’t dry up or run out completely. If you have a Sawgrass dye-sublimation printer, it can service itself, so it is recommended to keep this printer powered on at all times.

If you have a printer that doesn’t support these self-maintenance cycles, just print a sublimation transfer every now and then. Some people recommend a few times a week, which is enough to ensure the ink on the printhead doesn’t dry out.

So how do you know that the banding is caused by a printhead problem? You simply print a nozzle check and check for missing lines in the printed pattern. Go to your printer’s control panel and look for the option to print a nozzle check.

If your nozzle check print is missing lines, you may need to clean your printhead by printing an entire page borderless to free the line. After full border printing, do a nozzle check print again to see if that solves the problem. If lines are still missing, you may need to clean the printhead with denatured alcohol. Watch this video for instructions on how to do this.

If the problem persists, try these Sawgrass steps (fix missing rows) or contact Sawgrass Technical Support for assistance. They will give you a step-by-step solution and if they can’t solve your problem, they can replace your printer if it’s still under warranty. My older SG400 had to be replaced due to the same issue.

Pinwheels on printed sublimation transfers

Pinwheels are also called roller brands and pizza wheel brands. These are the dotted lines that will be printed on your sublimation transfers and will also be transferred to your sublimation blank when you press on it. This is caused by the ink on your paper not drying fast enough for the wet ink to be picked up by the roller and printed onto the rest of the paper.

Make sure you are using the correct paper recommended by your printer manufacturer as it has been tested to work with it. If you have a rebuilt Epson printer, try a different weight and see if it works better for you. Turning off high-speed printing will also slow down your printer so your ink has some time to dry so it doesn’t get on the platen.

Printed transfers are not alive

If your printed sublimation transfers are matte, this can either be normal or a problem. Usually printed transfers are matte, but once you press them properly onto your sublimation blank the colors should be vibrant.

But if your pressed sublimation blank still has a dull image, then it could be due to one of the following:

You printed on the wrong side of the paper – most sublimation paper has a watermark on the back, so make sure you print on the unwatermarked side. If using paper without a watermark, look for the side with the lightest/whitest side; This is usually the side you want to print on. You are not using sublimation ink – make sure you actually received ink made for sublimation. Missing ICM Profile – Some sublimation ink manufacturers provide an ICM profile so check it and make sure you have downloaded it or you are using the most current version. Your image is not of high quality – check your graphic and see if it is clear and vibrant to begin with. Images that are small or of poor quality will result in a poor quality print.

Check out our FREE sublimation files for high quality sublimation designs that are free to download and use!

The pressed sublimation image is a different color than the design on the computer

If your computer monitor is showing a different colored design than what you are pressing onto your sublimation blank, it may be due to a missing ICM profile. Contact your ink manufacturer to obtain an updated ICM profile and download it to your computer.

Often what you see on your computer screen is not what you see on your pressed sublimation blank. Computer screens process and display colors differently than what our eyes see on actual physical products. Calibrating your screen is possible and requires professional editing software to do it properly.

Other possible causes may be that your heat press is not at the correct or high enough temperature, or is not using a blank that can be sublimated. As discussed in our What is Sublimation Printing post, the heat press needs to reach the right temperature for the ink to gasify and adhere to your sublimation blank. Read more about the necessary transfer press temperatures here.

The design was not transferred to the sublimation blank

The most exciting moment is when you finally peel off that sublimation transfer to see the image on your sublimation blank. When you then only see a hint of yellow residue instead of the design on your blank, that’s such a disappointment. If you see this happening, it could be because:

The ink you are using is not suitable for sublimation – check your ink to make sure it is suitable for sublimation and not just regular inkjet. The blank you printed the design on does not have enough polyester material or coating to hold the sublimation ink – make sure your sublimation blanks are actually made for sublimation. The heat wasn’t high enough to turn the ink from the sublimation transfer into gas – check the temperature of your heat press with an infrared thermometer and make sure it’s high enough for the sublimation process. You need to be closer to 380 degrees and higher for the sublimation ink to turn into gas. Not enough time was used for the sublimation process – most sublimation blanks need about 1 minute and more heat. This time also depends on what you are pressing. Therefore, contact your supplier of sublimation blanks.

ghosting and bleeding

Ghosting and bleeding is a common sublimation mistake and is common for both beginners and advanced sublimators. This is when the design of your pressed sublimation blank has some shadowing or blurring around its edges instead of being clear. Some causes of these ghosting and bleeding from sublimation are:

There might be some moisture on the sublimation blank, so the moisture when pressing prevented the ink from fully transferring. A simple fix for this is to pre-press your blank for about 10 seconds to dry out the moisture. The shifting of your sublimation transfer when opening the press can also cause ghosting. This is because your sublimation blank is still hot enough to pick up the sublimation ink from your transfer that has just moved or shifted. To avoid this, make sure your transfer adheres well to your blank so it doesn’t shift when you open your heat press. Slowly opening your press also reduces the likelihood of the transmission shifting. If you are not using blow-out film to cover your sublimation transfer, your design can actually be transferred to the hot plate which is then re-transferred to your next sublimation blank. So make sure you use a new and clean blown film every time you use your heat press.

Blank or light areas in the pressed sublimation blank

If you are seeing a blank or lighter area in your pressed sublimation print, this could be due to uneven heat from your heat press or moisture on your sublimation blank. Sublimation requires fairly consistent, high heat to get it to come out right. Moisture prevents this even heat, so your design isn’t fully transferred to your blank. Here are some ways to avoid those blank areas on your pressed sublimation blank:

Use an infrared thermometer to check multiple areas of your heat press to see if there is a cold spot. Eliminate moisture on your sublimation blank by pre-pressing it for about 10 seconds. Avoid using Teflon as a blowout film as it can trap moisture. It works well for vinyl but not for sublimation. Use a plain white blowout paper. Uneven pressure from your press can also be a cause. When using a clamshell heat press to sublimate something thick like cutting boards or slabs of slate, the area toward the back of the heat press can have more pressure than the front of the press.

Lines around the design on your sublimated shirt or towels

Soft sublimation blanks such as shirts, towels, canvas and neoprene do not require heavy pressure in the heat press. The edges of sublimation transfer paper can leave a line on your soft blanks if you press too hard. You can prevent this line by using less pressure on your heat press, ripping the edges of the paper so it’s not a hard solid edge, and using a lint roller after pressing to fluff up the flattened fibers of your blank.

Coming Soon: Sublimation Tutorial Video on how to sublimate kitchen towels without press lines.

Sublimation design is faded on the sublimation shirt

As per our section What is Sublimation Printing? Your guide to the dye sublimation process, your sublimation blanks must be polyester or have a polymer coating to allow the sublimation ink to transfer and adhere to your blank. Sublimation works best for 100% polyester shirts or fabrics as it produces the most vibrant colors. The less polyester in the fabric, the lighter your design will be on it. But this lighter/faded sublimated image can work if you’re looking for a vintage look!

Check out the color difference of these sublimated designs on shirts with different polyester content:

If you’ve sublimated a cotton shirt and it looks good right away, remember that the design will eventually wash off after a few washes. This is because the sublimation ink is only permanently transferred to the polyester portion of the fabric.

Bruising on the fabric after sublimating the design

If you ever see those little bruises on your shirt or other soft sublimation blanks like towels and canvas bags, they are lint that has been heat pressed. The bad news is that these bruises are permanently inked on your sublimation blank and cannot be removed by washing. To prevent this, roll your blank with a lint roller before pre-pressing, and then lint roller twice more! It’s important to do this more than once as lint is everywhere.

If you encounter other common sublimation problems and issues not covered above, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Imagine this: you sublimate a picture frame with the words “Happy Mother’s Day” and a picture of mother and child. After carefully printing the picture on transfer paper and attaching it to the photo frame, press the frame for the appropriate time.

When you take the frame out of the heat press, you lift the transfer paper to reveal the sublimated surface, but you accidentally drop the paper back onto the sublimated surface. If you move the paper again, it looks like there is a shadow behind the text.

What happened?

In sublimation this is known as “ghosting” and is one of the most common problems with this decoration process. However, below are some tips that can help you avoid this problem completely.

STOP SHIFT

Shifting the transfer paper while the plate is still very hot from the heat press will result in a duplicate or “ghosting” behind the original image. Ghosting can ruin an otherwise pristine piece and is particularly common with dark text on a light background. By being careful, you can eliminate the “ghosts” and return to the great sublimation.

The easiest way to avoid ghosting is to make sure the transfer paper doesn’t move when you stick your panel to it. Ghosting can occur anytime air or air pressure gets under the transfer paper – even if the paper is still glued to the plate. After removing the panel from the heat press, leave the transfer paper taped and untouched until the panel cools. Once cool, there is no risk of ghosting and you can safely remove the transfer paper. Give the panel time to cool down to avoid the double image.

Some sublimators prefer to separate the transfer paper from the plate once they remove the plate from the heat press. Be very careful and make sure you peel your transfer paper off the plate vertically. Do not drag it across the hot sublimated surface. You should peel off the transfer paper in one quick, fluid motion to keep the panel free of ghosting.

By taking the time to allow your panel to cool after pressing and quickly removing the paper in one smooth motion, you can ensure that you end up with a great product, ready to advertise for any occasion!

Quick Tip: For those who are new to hard surface sublimation, remember to do some extensive research. Take the time to think carefully about what you want to do with the sublimation, particularly understanding the tools that will be needed to create the final product. By first taking the time to understand what tools work best for your system, you’ll be faster and more successful in achieving perfection with the product you intend to offer.

Shira Allego is a sublimation specialist for Unisub. About sublimation she says: “The whole process of sublimation is interesting. Sublimation is chemistry and I really love it. Now all I need is a lab coat to truly be a scientist!” For more information or comments on this article, email Shira at [email protected].

If you haven’t already, you’re eager to take the plunge. A poll of Recognition Review readers showed just how popular sublimation is. Many are now using sublimation, and many more are hoping to get into sublimation soon.

Ghosting, banding and spots! Oh my!

(Originally published in the February 2015 issue of Recognition Review.) Read more articles on sublimation.

If you haven’t already, you’re eager to take the plunge. A poll of Recognition Review readers showed just how popular sublimation is. Many are now using sublimation, and many more are hoping to get into sublimation soon.

The reason is pretty obvious. Sublimation is a relatively affordable way to provide an almost endless number of custom colored products that people want to own and give away. And the substrate options available for sublimation seem to be growing every day.

So why doesn’t everyone do it? For those who heard horror stories from the early days of the trial, fear seems to have something to do with it. But today’s users are largely satisfied with the technology and the doors it has opened for their businesses.

As with any other technology, there is a learning curve with sublimation. It’s likely that the laser, which you consider an everyday tool of the trade, once seemed an overwhelming challenge. With practice you have become accustomed to it and now consider using your laser as basic as using a pen. Sublimation can also be like that.

New users often encounter the same problems. These problems can seem daunting, but experts are on hand to help you solve them to ensure a long, fruitful career in sublimation. Recognition Review engaged several supplier experts to address some common issues to ensure you never have unanswered questions. Many of ARA’s supplier members offer sublimation training, troubleshooting and expertise online, over the phone and at in-person events, so we’ve included links to their websites. We hope you will learn a lot from reading this article, but learn even more from the combined years of experience available to you through industry suppliers and education.

ARA thanks the experts who took the time to answer the following sublimation questions. In alphabetical order, these are Marco Awards Group’s Cathy Garcia, Coastal Business Supplies’ Kristen Harvey, Unisub’s Jory Hutchens, Continental Awards & Trophies’ JD Meredith, ACP Technologies’ Mike Onushco, Identification Plates’ Janna Rodriguez, and JDS Industries’ Shon Roti.

With help like this at your disposal, we hope that your printer and heat press will be as important to your business as your computer is – only you’ll understand your sublimation equipment that much better!

There is a second version of my transmission, a little apart from the others, like a shadow. What I have done wrong?

The industry term for what is referred to as a shadow is “ghosting”. Ghosting occurs when the sublimation transfer paper shifts on the substrate during the sublimation process or when the hot press surfaces are exposed to residual ink. Ghosting can manifest after several common sublimation failures. Here are some of the most common causes of ghosting and how to fix them.

Cause: Closing and reopening your heat press can cause the transfer paper to shift and cause ghosting as the sublimation process has already begun.

Solution: Position your substrate and transfer in the heat press and make any adjustments before closing.

Cause: Adjusting the pressure of the heat press after closing it can cause the transfer paper to shift which can lead to ghosting as the sublimation process has already started.

Solution: Perform a cold run and match your print to the substrate.

Cause: Improperly adhering the transfer to the substrate can cause the transfer to shift, causing ghosting on the transfer.

Solution: Always stick the sublimation transfer paper firmly to the substrate with suitable adhesive tape. Small, lightweight items like a 2-in. Sublimation discs may only need two pieces of tape to secure the transfer. Larger items like 12-in.-by-12-in. Aluminum plates should be sufficiently glued on four sides.

In the example shown, the transfer paper was not firmly adhered to the substrate. The ghosting occurred after the substrate was removed from the press and the transfer paper was repositioned on the hot substrate, allowing the sublimation process to continue.

Cause: If your heat press pad or printing plate is exposed to residual sublimation ink, the ink could transfer to the next items you sublimate.

Solution: Sandwich your transfer paper and substrate between a protective layer of sacrificial paper to absorb any ink that falls outside the confines of your substrate.

Source: JD Meredith is Creative Director at Continental Awards & Trophies (the CAT). Learn more at www.trophyparts.com

Why do vertical lines appear on the images I print for sublimation?

These vertical lines on images, called banding, are usually caused by dried ink or dust in the printhead. Here is the simple solution. Find the cleaning mode in the printer settings. Cleaning mode causes the printer to flush a small amount of ink through the printhead, removing fine particles or dried ink.

You should run the cleaning mode at the beginning of each working day to avoid streaking on your products. If the printer will be idle for more than a few days and has the appropriate settings, set it to perform daily automatic printhead cleanings for that period. Some stores have all their printers set to be cleaned automatically. You can avoid the banding problem and use your printhead for years by properly maintaining your printhead. Lack of maintenance leads to banding in the short term and to printhead failure in the long term.

If running two to three cleaning modes doesn’t resolve your banding, you may need to replace your printhead. While printers that do a lot of sublimation printing occasionally need to replace printheads, the problem is not a common one.

Many print shops also recommend covering your printer when not in use to reduce exposure to dust and greatly reduce the possibility of banding.

A note of caution: check your printer’s warranty before using third-party ink; Some companies, like Epson, mandate the use of their brand of ink to maintain the warranty. If you suspect you have a bad printhead, even if you believe the warranty has been voided, we recommend that you contact the printer manufacturer’s customer service department. The manufacturer’s customer service department will also help you locate a licensed representative who will repair the printhead to their standards.

Source: Jory Hutchens is a graphic designer and sublimation specialist at Unisub. Visit www.unisub.com for more tips and http://www.unisub.com/find-a-distributor to buy blanks.

If slight streaking is visible on the transfer paper, it may be “pushing out” – especially on soft substrates such as textiles or mouse pads. More severe banding requires immediate investigation as it indicates a clogged nozzle or printhead.

Source: Cathy Garcia is Director of Marketing at Marco Awards Group. Visit www.discount-trophy.com for more information about Marco and the company’s sublimation division.

Why is the transfer paper sticking to the product I just sublimated?

When it comes to sublimating onto metal, it could be your temperature setting. Remember that most coatings (or paints) on the metals are not cured at 400 degrees. So if you sublimate at 400 degrees Fahrenheit you could actually cause the varnish to soften which would then cause the paper to stick. Our recommended starting temperature for sublimable metals is 380 degrees.

Another factor that can cause the transfer paper to stick to the substrate is too much pressure. Try medium to light (30 psi or less) to see if sticking goes away.

Source: Janna Rodriguez is Director of Sales and Marketing at Identification Plates Inc. For more information, visit www.idplates.com.

There are strange spots and smudges on my sublimated images. What I have done wrong?

Excessive humidity in a production environment can be an insidious problem. It can occur randomly, with unseen changes in the air, or with objects that you may never have noticed contain moisture, such as: B. Metal plates. It can also often be easily confused with other problems such as: B. Pressure inequalities and insufficient time or temperature when applying the sublimation transfer. Fortunately, however, it can be an easy problem to solve!

Almost any item can absorb and hold moisture from the environment, but some substrates hold up better than others. This may depend on the size and composition of the item. T-shirt fabrics, MDF/hardboard, and metal photographic boards can all absorb moisture, which escapes as vapor when pressed under a heat press at temperatures that activate dye-sublimation. Since dye sublimation also breaks down gaseous particles, especially in the narrow space between the transfer and the sublimation coating of the substrate, the presence of other moisture vapors in excess can easily cause immediate problems and poor transfer results.

How do you know when excessive humidity is affecting your workflow? More often than not, the most difficult items are larger overall (think 11 inches by 14 inches or larger, for example) or thicker in construction (about ½ inch thick would be thick enough to hold potentially problematic moisture levels). Items containing other materials such as B. a cork backing, can also absorb a little more moisture than usual. Only ceramic and glass substrates appear to be largely moisture-free, but if you’re not sure, it only takes 10 seconds to find out – if there’s moisture there will be steam. This is called pre-pressing.

Pre-pressing is often the easiest way to solve the moisture problem. Pre-pressing the item for a fraction of the total pressing time required to fully sublimate the item will help drive most of the moisture out of the panel or slab. This is done without the handover in the press. For particularly large and costly panels and blanks, it is worth pre-pressing for almost or as long as the total pressing time required to avoid a potential transfer error – protect the surface only with parchment paper or polyester cloth to avoid scorching the printable coating and around wick away excess moisture. Allow the substrate to cool before applying the transfer for the first time, as a hot printing surface can begin to activate the dyes in the transfer while you are still preparing and aligning the image, which can cause ghosting in the print.

For extra protection, especially with large metal photo plates, use a polyester cloth or parchment paper overlay to vent any vapor that may escape when the sublimation transfer is pressed.

The extra step of pre-pressing might make your workflow seem too time-consuming, but when you’re working with large, expensive blanks, it pays to be careful to avoid excessive vapor fumes.

Source: Kristen Harvey is a Tech Support Specialist at Coastal Business Supplies. Learn more at www.coastalbusiness.com.

Why doesn’t a color I print look the way I want it to?

There are several reasons for the discrepancy between what you see on your monitor and the sublimated result. The biggest problem is how these two colors are made; Monitor colors are created using light in the RGB color space, and printers use ink to create colors in the CMYK color space. Your monitor can produce up to 16 million different colors, but your printer is limited to a few thousand. For example, I have two monitors, one Dell and one Samsung. Both have been calibrated but neither look like my sublimated end result.

The other challenge with color matching is the ink itself, which is actually a dye, so semi-translucent. When you look at a sublimated product, you see the mixture of the color of the dye and the surface color of the product. This means that a red color on white material will look very different when sublimated on gold material. Even subtle differences between different white substrates can change the colors.

How do you overcome these difficulties? work backwards Print and sublimate color palettes on different substrates to know in advance what these colors will look like (see photo above). Then use these as a guide to finding the right colors and color values ​​for your project.

Also, make sure to write the date on the rim of the cartridge after you install it. You should try to use up this ink within 6 months to avoid color shift. If your reds are starting to look pink, chances are the yellow cartridge has been in the printer too long. In addition to all of the above, make sure your color management is set correctly – this is the most overlooked issue in the sublimation process.

Source: Shon Roti is a sublimation specialist at JDS Industries, Inc. Learn more at www.jdsindustries.com or email [email protected].

If you are using a Ricoh printer and the Sawgrass PowerDriver, you must first verify that you have the PowerDriver installed and that the settings are correct. Make sure the correct substrate is selected in the PowerDriver drop-down list. It is important to remember that you are printing from the PowerDriver and not the Ricoh OEM driver.

If you see the SubliJet-R black ink turning brown, it is possible that you have pressed or baked your substrates for too long or at too high a temperature. This is particularly troublesome for items such as tiles and mugs that are pressed for long periods of time. It is best to experiment with reducing the temperature and/or dwell time in small increments until the black ink looks the way it should. Be sure to check out a Time/Temperature/Pressure Tips page for recommended starting points for a specific substrate.

Source: Cathy Garcia is Director of Marketing at Marco Awards Group. Visit www.Discount-trophy.com for more information about Marco and the company’s sublimation business.

I printed my transfer but it wasn’t the size I wanted – or it was off center or cut off. What happened?

If the printed image is the wrong size, first check that the paper size you have in Corel or Photoshop matches the paper size set in the PowerDriver. If they do not match, the image will not print correctly. Also, make sure you have loaded the correct size paper in the printer.

Source: Cathy Garcia is Director of Marketing at Marco Awards Group. Visit www.discount-trophy.com for more information about Marco and the company’s sublimation division.

How often do I need to do nozzle checks and printhead cleaning?

A nozzle check is performed to determine if your printer is properly ejecting ink from the printhead. A good nozzle check means you’ve passed the first step for a good sublimation print. At best, do a nozzle check every day. If you turn on the printer and do a nozzle check even if nothing else is printing that day, you pretty much make sure your printer will be too when you’re ready to print. If daily nozzle checks are not practical, doing them at least twice a week should be sufficient, but this depends on the printer manufacturer and the environment your printer is in. Ricoh printers, for example, generally require less maintenance over time to print well.

If your nozzle check is not good, printhead cleanings can be used to try to unclog your printer’s nozzles. We would never run a head cleaning cycle without first printing a bad nozzle check.

We know that some printer manufacturers recommend leaving your printer on, which will run cleaning cycles on a set schedule. Head cleaning uses significantly more ink than nozzle checking, and it’s possible to waste ink unnecessarily by leaving your printer on.

Source: Mike Onushco owns ACP Technologies. Visit www.Acp.com to learn more.

What is the difference between laser/toner sublimation, gel ink sublimation and inkjet sublimation?

In the relatively recent past, sublimation fell into two camps, laser/toner based sublimation and inkjet sublimation.

Toner based sublimation

Sublimation toner has a powdery consistency, not unlike the toner found in typical copiers or laser printers; Models used for toner sublimation include the HP LaserJet4, HP4500 or 4550, among others. Toner is very dense, sublimes quickly and has the ability to sublime through a protective plastic coating onto the sublimable substrate. These properties made sublimation a fast and popular process. Many have found this process well suited for sublimation onto gold and silver metal. However, sublimation toner did not work well on white substrates. White substrates exhibited the “background effect” that occurs when toner dust lands in unwanted areas, causing all white areas of the substrate to appear light gray. Color density can be difficult to control, especially in photos, and laser printer resolution is lower than most inkjet printers.

Inkjet and gel ink

For many years, Epson was the only option for inkjet desktop sublimation printing. The advantage of inkjet printers is that the resolution is photo quality, the color management technology is advanced, and unlike toner-based sublimation, there is no “background” so white substrates are not a problem. In fact, the most vivid colors come from white substrates due to white’s natural reflective properties. The downside of inkjet printers is that they clog when not in use. This happens when the water content of the ink evaporates from the printhead. Also, Epson printers print slower than other inkjet printers, although they offer good print quality.

Next came the gel ink and Ricoh printers. These are also inkjet printers and have all the advantages of other inkjet sublimation printers, however the ink has a much lower water content; Therefore, you have less to worry about when it comes to head congestion. These next generation printers have been the biggest game changers for sublimation over the past 5 years due to the increased speed, quality and reduced maintenance requirements of the ink and printer.

Source: Shon Roti is a sublimation specialist at JDS Industries, Inc. Learn more at www.jdsindustries.com or email [email protected].

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