Sublimation Printing:

To rise to the top, we have to be the best. To be the best, we accommodate and research and find ways to become better. Sometimes becoming better is as easy as adding a little extra spice or seasoning. Other times, it takes time, work and effort to gradually increase to the top. But it’s a busy world and when you have a company or business you are trying to reach peak success, you need the quick fix add to make it better now.

• PROCESS IDEAL FOR: Specially coated metals, ceramics, and polyester material.
• TURNAROUND TIME: 10 Working Days, Rush Services Available.
• MINIMUM ORDER: 1.

Now is the time to get to the top and with sublimation printing, your company or product will soar and reach the peak. To fully understand sublimation printing, we will take you step by step to understand its process, potential, and popularity.

What is sublimation printing?

Sublimation printing is the new and improved way to make your products and designs look perfect. Let’s break it down. The verb sublimation is from the Latin word sublimare, meaning “raised to a higher status.” All the way to its roots, sublimation printing allows for your images and creativity to rise to the top and reach its peak performance.

The dye sublimation inks are a disperse dye suspended in a liquid solvent, like water. The images are initially printed on coated heat-resistant transfer paper as a reverse image of the final design, which is then transferred onto polyester fabric in a heat press operating at a temperature around 180 to 210 C (375 F). Because of this complex process, sublimation printing allows for all sorts of products to turn out better than you could ever imagine. Sublimation t-shirt printing is very popular as more and more companies are aware of the benefits. Because of the heat transfer sublimation printing, t-shirts have better, crisper, stronger images that last even after customers wash and wash again.

Heating Process of Sublimation Printing

The transfer paper typically is placed into a heat press with the substrate and exposed to temperatures from 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the ink and transfer material to move into the gas state. Once the ink and transfer material are in a gas state, they permeate the fibers of the substrate material. Materials can include anything from ballet shoes to coffee mugs. The sublimation heat transfer lasts on materials optimizing results.

Ink Transfer and Bonding

When the heat is removed from the transfer paper and substrate, the ink that has permeated the substrate fibers solidifies and is locked permanently into place by the transfer material. Assuming the procedure has been performed correctly, the image should never be subject to deterioration beyond that of the substrate itself.

Sublimation Potential

Because of this transfer of heat and evolution of states of matter, sublimation printing can essentially be used for anything. The potential to grow and expand your product line is endless. The process works on materials like ceramics (coffee cups, coasters), polyester (sports uniforms: basketball jerseys, football jerseys, baseball jerseys, soccer jerseys, wrestling singlets and more), and coated metals (trophy’s).

Other items with potential use of dye sublimation printing services include bags, tents, flags, table clothes, door mats, license plates and plaques.

TURNAROUND TIME: 10 Working Days, Rush Services Available.

Sublimation printing, also referred to as dye sublimation printing is a printing method for transferring images onto a substrate (usually a cloth material such as polyester). Sublimation refers to a process where a substance moves from a solid to a gas state without ever being in a liquid state. Sublimation printing normally involves the use of a digital printer to produce mirrored images on paper that has been specially coated with a transfer material.

“Sublimation isn’t something you see often in Wichita, but that is only because people don’t know about it! US Logo has the largest press in Wichita, coming in at 40”x60” and has the ability to print the highest quality images. The quality comes because the image actually becomes part of the material, which means that it isn’t stiff or course at all, and it lasts a long time.”

Note: This is not sublimation in psychology terms.

What can sublimation do for my business?

Promotional benefits, brand recognition…

Types of sublimated products…

“At US Logo we use, the MAXI•PRESS. It is a multipurpose large-format manual heat transfer press intended for the imprinting of a vast range of different materials. The MAXI•PRESS combines an oversized platen with a low production oriented framework with a single loading table configuration. We use the 44″ x 64″. The gas shock counter springs provide a weightless and effortless operation of the press.

The Digital Knight state-of-the-art control system accurately regulates all aspects of the electrical functions of the press, freeing the operator for the main goal of material imprinting.”

Other Methods

There is an alternate method for dye sublimation printing where the ink is applied directly to a substrate that has been coated. Ink bonding is achieved by exposing the fabric to heat.

FAQs:

Q: CAN I BRING IN MY OWN ITEMS?:
A: Yes, you can. We do ask that you sign a garment waiver form when you drop off your items. We cannot guarantee quality due to production errors. The item must be 100% polyester or poly coated.

Q: WHAT IS THE DOWNSIDE TO SUBLIMATION?
A: This process will work on polyester items only. Most of the modern performance fabrics, moisture-wicking fabrics, are made of polyester.
A: There is a higher price per piece in large runs. When you get a large run of items, it will become more expensive than traditional screen printing. However, even if the blanks are slightly more expensive, for small runs, the reduced setup fees often make sublimation more economical for full-color or photo-realistic designs.

Q: WHAT ARE THE DESIGN LIMITATIONS?
A: The largest area that can be heat pressed 40” x 60”. While most heat press projects are one or two color, we do have full-color heat press options.

Did you say, “where is a sublimated product shop near me?”
Well here we are, conveniently located at 520 N. West St in Wichita, Kansas. Give us a call at (316) 264-1321