October 15, 2024 The Print Authority

What is Sublimation Printing? [A Complete Guide]

Did you know that professional printing consists of more than just digital and offset printing? Sublimation printing is a high-quality, durable, and visually vibrant printing option that can be a great alternative to traditional printing methods. If you’re producing branded merchandise, signage, or promotional products, using a sublimation printer might be the best print method for your project. 

If you’re asking yourself, “What is sublimation printing,” you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll go through everything you need to know, including the pros and cons, how it compares to screen printing, and why you might want to choose the sublimation printing process ​​for your next print project. 

Sublimation Printing Defined

Sublimation printing, also called dye sublimation printing, is a specialized printing technique that uses heat and pressure to transfer ink directly onto materials. It is most commonly used for printing on polyester-based surfaces

Here’s how dye sublimation printers work:  

  1. Your design is printed onto a special transfer sublimation paper using sublimation inks. 
  2. The printed paper is placed onto the product to be printed, and both are then heated in a heat press.  
  3. The heat press applies both heat and pressure to the transfer paper, which turns the ink on the paper into a gas. This gas is then absorbed into the material.
  4. This absorption creates a permanent bond, which leads to a design that won’t peel, fade, or crack over time. 

What sets the sublimation printing method apart from other kinds of printing is that the dye becomes part of the material itself, rather than simply lying on top of it. This creates an incredibly durable and high-quality print product. 

Pros of Sublimation Printing

Sublimation printing offers many advantages, making it an attractive option for businesses in every sector. Here are some of the most significant benefits that it can give your print products: 

  • Vibrant colors. Sublimation printing produces incredibly vivid colors, making it an ideal choice for designs that contain lots of detail or color variation. Whether you’re printing simple text or complex graphics, the result is stunning. 
  • Durability. Because the sublimation ink bonds with the fabric or material it is transferred to, your image or design becomes part of the product itself. This means that it won’t fade, peel, or crack, even after multiple washes or prolonged use. You can rest assured that your product will always look as good as the day it was printed. This is especially true for sublimation shirt printing.
  • Smooth finish. Unlike some other printing methods, sublimation leaves no texture or raised edges. Your design feels like it’s part of the material itself, which makes your product look sophisticated and professional. 
  • Full coverage. Sublimation can cover the entire surface of a product, so you can print from edge to edge without leaving a gap at the edge of your design. This is an important benefit for apparel, mugs, and other products that need full-bleed designs. 

In short, sublimation printing offers crisp designs that cover your entire product and hold up perfectly over time. 

Cons of Sublimation Printing

While sublimation printing offers many powerful advantages, it also has its downsides. Here are some limitations to keep in mind when you’re choosing a print method for your next project. 

  • Limited material choices. Sublimation works best on polyester fabrics and objects that have a polymer coating. This means that you’re more limited when it comes to which types of fabrics you can print on. Cotton, for example, can’t hold the dye. Feel free to ask your print partner which items and materials they offer for sublimation printing. 
  • Limited to white or light-colored-substrates. Sublimation inks are translucent, so sublimation printing works best on white or light-colored surfaces. Unfortunately, printing on dark surfaces creates designs that simply don’t show up. 
  • Possibility of white creasing. If an item is folded while it undergoes sublimation printing, the folded areas won’t receive ink and will therefore remain white. Therefore, if you’re planning to print a design that covers an entire shirt, for example, it’s best to print each piece of fabric individually and then cut and sew the shirt together. 

As you can see, sublimation has its own peculiarities that are worth remembering when you’re planning your next project. They’re not dealbreakers, but they’re important to think about before you finalize your chosen print method. 

Sublimation vs Screen Printing

Sublimation isn’t the only method for custom printing. Another common method is screen printing. But what is the screen printing technique, and how is it different from sublimation? Here’s what to know. 

Screen printing consists of pressing ink through a mesh screen. The screen contains a stenciled design, which is then transferred onto a flat surface. It’s commonly used on fabrics and papers, and it creates bright and beautiful designs. 

Screen printing and sublimation are both popular choices, but they serve different purposes and are good options in different situations. Here’s a comparison of the two methods:

  1. Printing process. Sublimation uses heat and pressure to transfer dye onto the material, while screen printing adds a layer of ink on top of the material. These can therefore look and feel different from each other.
  2. Material options. As mentioned above, the dye sublimation process is limited to polyester-based products or products with a polymer coating. Screen printing, on the other hand, works on a wide range of materials, including many types of fabrics such as cotton and nylon. 
  3. Durability. Screen printing can crack, fade, and peel over time, particularly on apparel that is washed frequently. Sublimation prints, on the other hand, are much more durable because they bond with the material itself. 
  4. Design flexibility. While screen printing can include multiple colors and complex designs, it generally works better with fewer colors. Sublimation can handle complex designs, color gradients, and even photo-realistic images. 

All in all, both methods create high-quality printed products that make your design look great. Between the two of them, you’re sure to find a method that works for your project. Your printing partner will be happy to talk through both methods with you and help you find the solution that fits your needs. 

Benefits for Franchise and Commercial Businesses

Sublimation printing offers a wide range of benefits for franchises and commercial businesses that need high-quality, customizable products for marketing and branding purposes. 

Sublimation facilitates customization at scale. If your business uses custom items such as signage, promotional products, or uniforms, sublimation’s quick turnaround time allows you to print them on demand and at scale to fit your needs, not to mention, that it offers fantastic print quality. 

Sublimation’s long-lasting products provide great value for your money. If your business distributes promotional items or uses branded uniforms, choosing sublimation printing makes sure that your product will remain intact over time. 

Sublimation can help you build brand consistency through color matching and high levels of detail, which ensure that your logos and images look exactly like you have in mind and match all of your existing products. This is particularly important for franchises, where maintaining a cohesive brand image is essential. 

The Print Authority Process 

Here at The Print Authority, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality sublimation printing services that are tailored to your business’s needs. Our process ensures that you get vibrant, long-lasting printed products, whether you’re ordering branded apparel, signage, or any other kind of promotional item. 

When we work on sublimation printing projects with our clients, we take the time to get to know your needs, as well as your goals, timeline, and budget. Our design team loves to work with clients to perfect your graphics and ensure that you’re creating a design you love. We offer high-quality sublimation printing for businesses in a range of branches nationwide, and our delivery services ensure that your products get to you quickly. 

If you’re looking to complement your sublimation printing with other high-quality print materials, The Print Authority also offers all the types of print products you might need, including marketing and operations materials that help you provide top-quality services to your customers. We also specialize in offering custom online print portals that make ordering easy. 

If you’re ready to elevate your business with top-quality sublimation printing, contact the Print Authority today!

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