Impressions - August 2018 - 41

think.
SUBLIMATION

make.

Like this article? Read more sublimation articles at
impressionsmag.com/digitaldecorating.

do.

The Road to
Sublimation Success
Learn the basics of this decoration technology.
By DaviD GRoSS, ConTRiBuTinG WRiTeR

Equipment Needs

Sublimation printing on
light-colored polyester
shirts results in vibrantcolored designs.

Sublimation decorating is a disruptive
technology that's changing apparelindustry rules by providing personalized
products almost instantly.
This burgeoning technology allows
digital decorators to create full-color,
photographic-quality products with a
minimum quantity of one and no setup
costs.
Sublimation uses inkjet printers to print
transfers using sublimation inks, also referred to as disperse dyes. These inkjet
printers use a piezo print head to vibrate
the ink onto the release paper.This paper
is designed to "carry the ink," then release
it onto the substrate as it turns into a gas
during the heating process.
To transfer, the printed image and paper
is secured to the substrate and placed in

a heat press, where it usually is pressed at
400˚F for a dwell time and pressure that
is dependent on the substrate. Most fabrics are pressed for 45 seconds with light
pressure, whereas ceramics require several
minutes with medium-to-heavy pressure.
During the heating process, the sublimation dyes seek an oil-loving molecule
(polyester) with which to bond. At the
same time, these molecules open up in
what is called the glass transition state to
accept the gas. It's important to note that
cotton is a water-loving molecule and will
not accept the dyes. Once the transfer is
complete, remove the substrate from the
press and allow it to cool, thereby closing its pores and trapping the dyes. Once
cooled, the results will be permanent, with
amazingly bright and vivid colors.

If you're a business owner, sublimation
equipment actually may be one of your
least-expensive investments.All you need
is a sublimation printer and heat press.
This also is a scalable technology, meaning you can start with a desktop printer
(such as the Sawgrass SG800, which can
print up to 13" x 21" transfers) and later
scale up to a large-format printer (such
as the Epson F6200 or Mutoh RJ900X,
capable of printing transfers up to 44
inches wide).
Although larger printers typically will
require a larger heat press (such as the
Geo Knight 44" x 64 " MAXI-PRESS),
such equipment can be used to produce
an exciting array of large products.These
include allover-printed T-shirts, cut-andsew apparel, the 40" x 60" ChromaLuxe
photo panels, in addition to all of the
products in the desktop category.
For a product to be sublimatable, three
things are required:
1. The item needs to be white or
light colored. Because the ink that's
used is not opaque, an item's color will
show through an imprinted image. Unfortunately, this means images can't be
printed on dark-colored or black items.
2.The item should be able to handle the required heat and pressure.
Whether it's with a heat press or oven,
the item must be exposed to 350˚F-400˚F
temperatures without melting or becoming deformed.
3. The item needs to be made of
or coated with a material that will
accept the sublimation gas.
AUGUST 2018

P.41
http://www.impressionsmag.com/digitaldecorating
Impressions - August 2018

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