Impressions - October/November 2012 - (Page 36)

Whereas DTG printing has an advantage over sublimation in terms of printing on colored surfaces, sublimation takes the cake when it comes to the range of products that can be decorated. Photo courtesy of Unisub Products, Louisville, Ky. of the garment. The process sounds easy enough, but there is a lot more to this. White ink has to be thick enough to create a decent base, yet thin enough to get through the inkjet nozzle. In addition, it has to cure quickly so that other inks can be applied on top of it without any quality issues. Chemically, it must start “drying” as soon it hits the surface of the garment. This is accomplished by a two-pronged approach. The first is that the white ink itself must be engineered to cure quickly. The second is that a secondary chemical called a pre-treatment typically is added to the surface of the shirt before printing. When the white ink contacts the pretreatment, the curing time is accelerated such that the production proceeds uninterrupted. This means there’s no need to stop and wait for drying to occur. Early white ink systems developed a reputation for clogging and drying out in the print heads, which led to expensive repairs. New advances in technology have greatly improved the process and — for the most part — if you fully understand how your system works and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer, you shouldn’t experience significant problems. In reality, white ink is not needed on every job; thus, not all DTG printers offer it. But before you insist on having white ink capabilities, make sure you balance your desire against your need. White ink 36 Impressions | October/November 2012 does present challenges, one of which is the artwork that has to be prepared differently to accommodate white ink. So know what you are getting into, especially since it typically raises the price tag in addition to the level of production complexity. What about white ink for sublimation? It’s not available. There are some alternative methods, such as allover sublimation where you apply an image that completely covers the surface of a shirt. You start with a white shirt and then recolor it while adding graphics all in one step (per side). It requires a wide-format printer and heat press, but is gaining in popularity for creating retail-inspired looks for a multitude of market niches. RANGE AND COST Whereas DTG has the advantage over sublimation in terms of printing on colored surfaces, sublimation takes the cake when it comes to the range of products that can be decorated. Sublimation-ready merchandise includes plaques, awards, promotional products, photo panels, memorial products, signage, mugs, flip-flops, koozies, flags, tiles, iPhone covers, laptop sleeves, stadium seats, acrylics, pet products, etc. One machine can decorate hundreds of products! Moving on to costs, both systems are close in terms of production numbers with a large, full-color image averaging about $1 in media costs. But in terms of startup costs, there are significant differences between the two. DTG printer costs start at about $16,000 and increase from there. In contrast, an entry-level desktop sublimation system starts at about $575 (without a heat press) and tops out around $2,500. Is one system better than the other? It really comes down to your needs. Take the time to calculate the ROI for each — which goes well beyond equipment costs — as you also want to take versatility into consideration. Which process will give you the widest range of decoration services and product options based on the needs of your business? The answer to that question will generate the most business in the long run. Be diverse, creative and — most importantly — profitable! Award-winning author and international speaker Jimmy Lamb has more than 20 years of apparel decoration experience. He currently is the manager of communication for Sawgrass Technologies, Charleston, S.C. For more information or to comment on this article, e-mail Jimmy at jlmab@sawgrassink.com. Hear Jimmy speak on sublimation topics at the 2013 Imprinted Sportswear Shows (ISS). Individual seminars are just $25 if you pre-register: issshows.com. impressionsmag.com http://www.issshows.com http://www.impressionsmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - October/November 2012

Impressions - October/November 2012
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
FYI
Product Gallery
ISS Conference
Embracing Digital Technologies
DTG vs. Dye Sublimation
Digital Products Preview
High-Performance Fashion Yields a Technical Edge
How To Sell More With Every Order
Shop Spotlight
Embroidery Production
Screen Printing Production
Online Directory
Screen Printing Technique
Digital Decorating
Business to Business
Classifieds
Ad Index

Impressions - October/November 2012

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