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Sublimation or Dye Sublimation is a type of apparel or item decorating process. As hinted in the name, it uses a dye process. Unlike other t-shirt decorating methods, it leaves no hand, meaning you can’t feel the dye on the shirt.
Tell Me More…
In simple terms, T-shirts and other items, like mugs, ornaments, plates, and cell phone cases can be decorated with a special printer, ink, paper and a heat press. Using a printer(article here) that is compatible with sublimation inks(here) and paper(Here) that is made specifically for sublimation, you can print out your full-color design. Taking your print out and the item you are decorating, you load them into your heat press(link) and using the heat of your press and medium to low pressure, the image from the paper is transferred to your item. This is the very basic, basic description of sublimation if you are wanting to learn more, I recommend you spend some time on the blog. I am always adding more and more information!
What Is The Hitch? No More Weeding?
The sublimation ink will only adhere to polyester items. Which means, that your garments need to be at least a 50 percent polyester, but 80% or more is recommended. Other items need to be precoated with a polyester coating in order for the sublimation to work properly. These types of items can be found at a variety of vendors(I have made a list here) and sometimes I can find items at the dollar store, or on Amazon(who doesn’t love Prime?) Or you can coat products yourself, but I don’t recommend this at first.
Keep Going…Tell Me All The Wonderful Things…
Full-Color Designs in Small Runs: Since there is no weeding and multiple presses, or burning multiple screens for each color, you can provide multiple color designs easily. It requires the same amount of work to print a 5 color design, versus a 1 color design.
Longevity of Decoration: Unlike screen printing, HTV, or vinyl decals, you don’t have to worry about cracking or peeling because the ink is dyed into the item.
Hand: Is a term used for the industry for describing how much of the decorating process you can feel on the item. Since the item is being dyed, you cannot feel the decoration, unlike screen printing where you can feel the ink. This is great for moisture-wicking apparel, baby items or other sensitive items.
Customization: Since printing doesn’t require a screen for each time, it is easy to make adjustments or customizations to items.
Is it To Good To Be True?
It wouldn’t be fair to not let you know the shortcomings of the Sublimation decorating process.
Only Decorate polyester-based items: I hate absolutes, you can sublimate on cotton and lower poly combos but it requires more steps(more on that another day). For now, I will say that garments need to have at least a 50% polyester content. Other substrates will need to have a precoat and bought specifically for sublimation.
Can’t Print on Dark Color Garments: Since the inks are being dyed into your item, your shirts need to be white or a very light color(grey, sandstone, light pink, etc.) otherwise the dye won’t work properly… Just imagine trying to dye navy pants pink, it just won’t work.
Can’t Print White: Since it is a dye process, it is impossible to print white. No, if, and’s or butts. If you are working on white items, it shouldn’t be a problem but if you are working on, let’s say, a gray shirt, and you were trying to print an element that was white, like snow, you would be disappointed as it would show up. Again, more on this another day.
It has a learning curve: I have been working with HTV for years and embroidery longer, and sublimation, has a learning curve and requires some patience. But once you get the hang of it, you will never look back!
I think this is the basics of Sublimation and should help you decided if it something that you would like to start! Check back for more in-depth articles!
XOXO,
Jane