Dye sublimation is probably one of the best ways to get your items personalized. But for that purpose, you’re definitely going to need to own a dye-sublimation printer. Getting a dye sublimation to work sounds like a pretty big deal right? Well! In this blog, I will discuss how a dye sublimation printer works so that you can master the art of sublimation printing.
A dye-sublimation printer is essential when it comes to sublimation printing. But at the same time, learning how to use one and putting it to use is also quite viable. If you don’t know how to properly operate a dye sublimation printer, then there is a huge risk of you messing up the design. I wouldn’t want that, hence the reason why I have come up with this useful guide.
Contents
What Is a Dye Sublimation Printer?
A Dye Sublimation Printer uses dye-sublimation technology (also known as digital technology) to print in order to apply graphics and images. These designs are then transferred to the substrate, be it a t-shirt, mug, mouse pad, mobile covers, or whatnot. In simpler terms, a dye-sublimation printer is a tool that is used to decorate or personalize many different things, most commonly garments. In other words, the designs are transferred by heat transfer.
How Does a Dye Sublimation Printer Work:
A dye-sublimation printer functions by the process of heat transfer to imprint designs and images which includes heating up the ink, which is then forced to be absorbed by the substrate.
This entire process of transferring the image onto the face of the subject or the intended substate is also known as Digital Sublimation. Most of the time, dye-sublimation printers are usually utilized for printing on objects like t-shirts, business cards, coffee mugs, etc.
Another thing to keep in mind here is that the dye-sublimation printers do not print with the traditional CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) palette. Rather, a particular overcoating is used in place of black ink. What’s more? All the inks are transferred one by one, which only ensures the picture-perfect quality of the images and designs being printed.
The Dye-Sublimation Process – How Does It Functions?
Using a transfer paper for the process of sublimating is pretty popular among sublimation enthusiasts. In spite of the fact that the transfer paper method is a little bit difficult to handle, people still go for it.
- First of all, the transfer paper (also known as sublimation paper) is provided with ink for the design. Meaning that the image or the design must be printed on the transfer paper. I prefer to use the A-SUB sublimation paper for its remarkable performance when sublimating. The thickness of these transfer papers is also quite commendable.
- After printing the design on paper, it is time to place the design on the substrate you want to sublimate. Make sure that the paper is properly aligned with the object and is fixed with help of heat-resistant tape.
- Allow the heat press to apply the adequate amount of temperature and pressure required to transfer the design to the substrate.
- The ink is then transferred from the sublimation paper onto the face of the subject by the process of heating the ink. The ink is literally transformed to a gaseous state hence the reason why it is called sublimation.
- Once you lift the heat press, you will see that a fine image of perfect quality is imprinted on the substrate.
Key Takeaways Of Dye Sublimation Printers:
In order to grasp the concept of dye-sublimation printers on a deeper level. There lies a few things that one should be aware of before getting started with dye sublimation for printing.
Vast Range Of Products:
As we have mentioned before that dye sublimation is one of the most efficient ways to customize different items. But dye sublimation complements functions well with polyester and polyester-coated items. Since the printers come in a variety of sizes and dimensions, they can be used to print items on multiple products. For instance:
| Pillow, cases, Phone cases, Wallets, TiesScarves | Coffee, MugsMouse, MatsBusiness, CardsID, CardSports, Jerseys | Handbags, T-shirts, TumblersCutting, BoardsLicense Plates |
Special Ink – The Disperse Dyes:
The dye sublimation printers use a special type of ink which is solidified ink. These blocks of inks are then sublimated into the gaseous state for the purpose of transferring the design. These specific types of inks have a name of their own and are called Disperse Dyes.
These dispersed dyes are used in the dye sublimation process so that the solid ink can easily adhere to the surface of the substrate without any problem. Along with that, the outstanding quality the ink provides is simply unmatchable. On top of that, the design imprinted in disperse dyes lasts a very long time solely due to the reason that it completely sticks to the fabric of the substrate.
Dye-Sublimation Is Budget-Friendly:
When people first started using dye-sublimation printers, all the processes involved along with the equipment required to customize accessories could cost you a fortune. But with the passage of time, the technology-enhanced and sublimation giants such as Epson, Sawgrass, and Mimaki when entered the sublimation market, drastically reducing the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts:
In my opinion, having a dye sublimation printer is significant if you want your results to be nothing less than perfect. But in order to make it work, you also must have enough knowledge about all the ins and outs of the printer. We hope that we were able to provide you with the information you required on how a dye sublimation printer work.
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