Dye Sublimation Overview

Sublimation Printing Overview
Sublimation printing is the application of sublimation inks onto a surface using a heat press to provide the required combination of heat, time and pressure. This combination causes the inks to be converted from a solid to a gaseous state enabling them to penetrate the sublimatable surface so that a permanent, full colour image is formed. The colour penetrates the surface of the item so that the result is colourful, long lasting and is resistant to scratching unlike some other printing methods that merely print onto the surface of the item

What can be sublimation printed
You can sublimation print onto a wide variety of items provided that the surface is suitable for sublimation printing. We offer both 'hard' and 'soft' items that are suitable for sublimation printing - full details of our extensive range can be found on our imprintables pages.

Hard items including specially coated plaques, signs, placemats, coasters, tiles, mugs, metal and keyrings.

Soft items including polyester fabric, canvas, umbrellas, t-shirts, polo shirts, cushions, car sun screens and even doormats! A sublimation print on a suitable polyester fabric is permanent, feels like part of the fabric and will not crack, peel or fade.

What cannot be sublimation printed
Cotton fabric and garments - because dye sublimation printing is always done on a polyester, polymer, or polymer coated items (see above). It is possible to sublimation print a cotton fabric but the image will wash out within a few washes. We offer a range of spun polyester t-shirts for sublimation printing including the Vapor range of 'wickable' and 'performance' t-shirts in a range of colours.

Other items that may have a polyester/polymer coating but which are unsuitable as they are unable to withstand the temperatures required for dye sublimation printing.

Subliflock
This is a similar process where images are first printed on a treated material and then heat pressed onto garments

Heat transfer
Names are first cut out of flexible transfer media and then applied to the garment using a heat press