Sublimation in digital decoration

Update time : 2022-09-30 14:30:54

It is now simple to enter the world of digital garment printing thanks to modern sublimation technology. High-definition (HD) printing quality, a larger variety of gorgeous colors, faster printing rates, and easier graphic setups have all been made possible by recent developments in sublimation printing methods.
In contrast to the majority of other inks used for apparel decoration, sublimation uses inks that adhere to the fabric fibers at a sub-surface level. In order to stick to cloth, the latter actually depend on a chemical ingredient called a binder. Molecular bonding is used in sublimation to adhere and recolor the fabric's fibers, producing an image that won't peel, crack, or fade when washed. As a result, sublimation is perfect for goods like team gear, which endures a lot of physical strain and several washings throughout the course of its lifespan.
Although sublimation might initially seem like the best option for clothes decorating, it is not a "one-size-fits-all" answer. When thinking about sublimation, it's important to consider the fiber composition, fabric color, and image color.

Fiber composition
It will only bond with polyester and polymers due to the chemistry involved in the sublimation process. As a result, it won't work with materials like cotton, bamboo, wool, etc.
Will it function with blends? Well, that depends on how the fabrics are used together. Sublimation will undoubtedly work with poly/cotton mixtures. However, the end result will have a vintage or "retro" appearance, which may work well in some sectors. In general, a mix should contain at least 50% polyester and the other fibers should be able to sustain a heat press temperature of roughly 400 F.
The greatest fiber option is 100% polyester, thus it makes sense to assume that all polyester products can be sublimated, however, this is untrue. Occasionally, during the production process, specific chemicals are applied to polyester clothes that can prevent sublimation. For instance, it has been demonstrated that some (but not all) antimicrobial coatings can hinder sublimation. Therefore, always remember to examine a product before assuming that it can be adorned.

Fabric color
The simplest fabrics to sublimate are white ones. There is no mix of basic color inks that can yield the color white when using CMYK printing, which is what sublimation employs. As a result, during printing, all white spaces are left "open". The open sections allow the color of the shirt to show through when a picture is placed on a white shirt, creating white.
However, if the same image is used on a yellow shirt, the white color will show up where it should be hidden. As a result, white is said to be the greatest clothing color for sublimation, while you can print on light-colored clothing as long as the picture doesn't require the color white.
There is still another issue with colored clothing. To ensure colorfastness when the garment is washed, apparel dyes are heated up. The shirt may, however, fade in the region where the heat press makes contact with the fabric during sublimation if the heat-set value was significantly lower than 400 F.

It should be noted that neon materials typically turn brown when exposed to heat at temperatures higher than 300 F. The substances known as brighteners that were added to the fabric dye are to blame for this. The bottom line is that you should test clothing before presuming that it will adequately sublimate.

Image color
Spot printing and allover printing(AOP) are the two different application methods for apparel sublimation.
The most frequent method is spot printing. It entails affixing a brand or image to a particular spot on the garment. Usually, a desktop printer is used for this. A single sheet of sublimation transfer paper with the image printed on it is used for the application using a heat press. The transfer paper is taken off after use is finished and thrown away.
AOP is completely different from spot printing in every way. The idea is to ink the entire shirt, from top to bottom and side to side. That could refer to numerous or huge images or even just solid color.
Theoretically, white can be printed without white ink. Spot sublimation, for instance, cannot be used to print on a black garment with white letters since there is no white ink. However, when using AOP sublimation, you begin with a white shirt, generate a transfer that is all black, save for the white lettering, and then leave those areas as blank spaces (no ink). When the transfer is placed on the front of the shirt, it changes the color of the shirt to a solid black, with the exception of the letters, which turn out to be white because of the color of the shirt.
Equipment that is substantially larger than that used for spot sublimation is needed for this. Imagine a shirt's breadth expanded out, with the sleeves included. You must print and press the image at that size onto the shirt. Therefore, you probably need a heat press that can accommodate prints that size and a roll-feed printer that is at least 44 inches wide.

When it comes to decorating clothing, sublimation offers several options. Just make sure the right equipment is used for the right job. Although it doesn't work in every situation, it can produce fantastic outcomes in situations when it makes sense.

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Sublimation in digital decoration