What is dye sublimation

　　Dye sublimation is the process of transferring dye to polyester or other synthetic fabric by converting the solid of the ink into a gas using heat and pressure.

　　Most often, the printer prints onto a specialty transfer paper, which is then transferred or sublimated onto the fabric in a heat press.during the process,the ink bonds with the fiber of the media.this process is unlike other inkjet printing technologies (where there is just a layer of ink on top of the media).

　　Dye sublimation is becoming a growing industry of inkjet printing in North America(note: it already has a strong foothold in Europe and south America).more and more countries are requiring dye sublimation for apparels---due to it being less harmful than solvents,as well as its eco-friendly and biodegradable properties.

　　Dye sublimation has many advantages over other traditional inkjet printing technologies (low startup costs,ease of use,accessibility,tec.).

　　One of the strongest advantages is that the images are permanent.images printed with dye sublimation will not peel or fade.the dyes do not build up on the fabric; instead they bond to the fabric.vibrant colours can be achieved through bonding that is equivalent to photographs.

　　Anything made with polyester can be used for dye sublimation. One hundred percent polyester materials work best for transfer of colour and vibrancy, but a poly–blend of at least 60 percent is recommended.

　　Synthetic fibers(such as nylon,rayon,spandex,and Kevlar)may also be used with dye sublimation,but these fiber would need to be able to withstand the 400°F temperature of a heat press.

　　Another feature to sublimating is the amount of time that it take to sublimate.

　　Sublimating time varies based on the type of material.the harder a substrate`s sublimation coating,the longer it takes for the substrate to sublimate.

　　For example,a T shirt will take less than one minute to sublimate,whereas a lager,harder surface could take over ten minutes..

　　To get started with dye sublimation.you will first need a dye sublimation printer such as the Epson F-series or Mimaki JV300 series printer.you will also need a polyester fabric or a rigid media with a polyester coating,sublimation transfer paper,a heat press,and finishing products like a hot knife,industrial sewing machine,sign frames,banner stand,and hanging frames.

　　Below are a few examples of the different types of products and items that can be used for dye sublimation:

　　Apparel(shirts,hats,socks,sportwear,hoodies,scarfs,bandanas,towels,etc.);

　　Promotional items(mouse pads,beverage coolers,key chains,magnetic,coasters,clocks,license palte frames,phone cases,etc.)

　　Rigid boards(aluminum,steel.plastic,and wood may be printed on via the dye sublimation press,as long as the product or material has a polyester coating).

　　Dye sublimation is a growing trend in the sign and graphics industry and becoming more popular as additional products are being added into the market .the good news is that just about anyone can get into dye sublimation and begin to expand their own product line.