Transfer printing describes two different types of printing: Heat transfer printing and sublimation.
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They both have their pros and cons, but they both tend to be more suited for different needs. There is still some ambiguity on sublimation and how it works, so we are going to take a look at the most frequently asked questions and try and provide a little more clarity.
Heat transfer printing is done using a specialist paper that is called transfer paper. You can use a standard inkjet or laser printer to print onto this paper with your normal ink. You then place the paper onto your clothing and use a heat press, or in some cases, you can use an iron, and peel away the paper.
Your design will then be stuck-on to your garment, and you will be able to see the transfer. You can use most heat transfer paper on a variety of fabrics, including most poly textiles and natural cotton. You can print on both light and dark-colored garments.
Sublimation is a modern digital printing technique that is increasing in popularity. Search volume has increased by around 115% worldwide since , according to Google Trends. It uses sublimation paper and heats to print your design.
We advise that you use this on fabrics that are 85% poly or more. This is because it is the poly fibers that open their pores to accept the dye. You can use a lower composition, however, your colors will be affected. You'll end up with more of a 'vintage faded' look. You can also print on hard surfaces with a poly-coating, such as keyrings, jigsaws, mugs and so much more.
Sublimation transfer paper is a specialist paper that is used exclusively in sublimation printing. Made using a paper substrate, which is broadly based on normal paper. A special coating added to the paper holds the dye sublimation inks. The coating includes around 35% silica and 5% binder, based on the weight of the paper when it's dry.
Sublimation doesn't use any liquid in the process. Inks heated from their solid state on the sublimation paper, convert straight to a gas. It is a printing method that bonds to poly fibers, and because the poly fibers have been heated, the pores expand. These open pores then allow the gas into them, which then fuses to the fabric itself, before resuming its solid state. This makes the ink part of the fibers themselves, rather than just a layer printed on the top.
Sublimation is a two-step process. Firstly, you need to print your design onto the sublimation paper, using specialist sublimation dyes. The image would need to be mirrored but don't worry about that, Contrado does that for you when you place your order, so all you need to do is create your design as you want it to look when it's finished.
Then you need to press the design from your paper onto your t-shirt (or fabric or surface). This is done using a heat press which applies either heat and pressure or heat and a vacuum. Once pressed, simply remove the transfer paper, and voila, your t-shirt is printed.
Sublimation is best suited to white or light-colored fabric bases. You can use it on darker shades, however, it will affect your colors. White ink is not used in sublimation printing. White parts of the design remain unprinted which shows the base color of the textile.
The benefit of sublimation over heat transfer printing is that there is a much broader range of colors. This means that you could print your background color onto the fabric rather than use a different colored fabric, and because of the advanced printing methods, the material would feel exactly the same.
Sublimation paper holds an enormous amount of moisture and humid air is not great for it. Exposure to humid air causes the sublimation paper to absorb it like a sponge. This results in image bleeding, uneven transfers, and color shifting.
Heat transfer paper is also sensitive to humidity. Inkjet or laser printing is more prone to dotting and color bleeding if there is excessive moisture in the paper, and as this form of printing applies a film, rather than being textureless, you may find that the transfer is not flat, or curls or peels at the edges.
When working out which side to print on your sublimation paper, it is important that you print your design onto the bright white side. If you order sublimation paper from Contrado already printed with your design, you will be able to tell which side is the right side.
For more information, please visit sublimation transfer sheets bulk.
You'll find that your colors look pale on the sublimation paper. This is completely normal and isn't what the finished press will look like. Once transferred to your medium your colors will come to life! Another benefit of sublimation over transfer printing is that there is a much bigger range of colors.
You can't reuse your thermal transfer paper, whichever type you use. Although with sublimation paper, you may find that there is some ink remaining on the paper, it will not be enough to make a good-quality print.
With transfer paper, the iron's heat melts the plastic lining on the paper, which transfers the ink to the fabric, as well as the plastic from the paper. This would be impossible to re-use.
There are some common mistakes when it comes to designing your own t-shirts, other clothing, and items.
*remember, if ordering through Contrado, we will do this for you, it's important that you don't do this step.
We always suggest testing on a small piece first, to ensure that you get the right amount of heat and pressure, before printing your full design.
Sublimation can open up many transferring opportunities for crafters and business owners alike, though you may ask how exactly is it possible and what substrates are available for sublimation. As long as the substrate includes polyester or a polymer coat, virtually anything can be transferred onto it with sublimation, leaving many unique items, also known as sublimation blanks, up for grabs. We'll be giving you a rundown of the many popular and unique types of sublimation blanks available at HeatPressNation.com which will give you an idea of how extensive sublimation is as a heat transfer. Now we do want to make it clear that T-shirts are not the only substrate for sublimation, as there's much more available especially for anyone running a business.
As a quick review, sublimation is technically defined as the changing of a solid particle directly into a gaseous state. Dye sublimation is the method specifically used for heat transferring. Inks designed for sublimation will first be used to print an image into a solid form with sublimation paper; that is then heat pressed onto a polymer-coated substrate, which will form into a gaseous state and permanently transfer onto your substrate. In layman's terms, the heat press heats up the gas dye which is then pressed permanently into the surface of your substrate. With the aforementioned substrate types, there are a wide variety of applications for sublimation, all of which are perfect for businesses looking to expand their horizons alongside crafters looking for more fun projects to tackle. Firstly, any garments which are 100% polyester or of a polyester blend will work for sublimation, making white polyester T-shirts and similar apparel effective as blanks. Though we must note that cotton garments are not entirely compatible with sublimation transfers. However, sublimation allows you to do more than just clothing.
Some of the most popular sublimation blanks in the market are Mugs and Drinkware. All of these are coated with a special polymer coating, which means that you can't exactly go to the dollar store and pick up a random mug or glass off the shelf. Drinkware of the ceramic, metal, and glass types are customizable enough to have a vibrant image transferred of either your friends or family, yours or others' artwork or photography, or maybe your brand's work or logo! With drinkware ranging from mugs, tumblers, sports bottles, shot glasses, and many more, your sublimation transfers can be applied to any of these items. It really depends on what you prefer to have around, what options are convenient for your clients or customers, or for general business exposure whether as promotional gifts or one-of-a-kind shop items. While many mugs and similarly sized drinkware can be pressed with our Signature Series mug press, the option to sublimate multiple items, notably for shot glasses, is possible with the use of an oven and appropriate wraps. If you intend to use an oven and your oven wraps, we advise to use a separate oven specifically for sublimation purposes.
Another two popular sublimation blanks are Photo Panels and Photo Tiles. While they both serve the same purpose of presenting photos or art on a flat surface, their main differences can be distinguished from their sizes and applications. Photo panels are used to present artwork and photography, and are often sold in common presentation sizes, like 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, and more. On the other hand, photo tiles are ceramic tiles ranging from 1.75' to 6' squares. These smaller sizes allows them to work perfectly as coasters or wall tiles. Both photo panels and tiles have a glossy white finish perfect for detailed images. Aluminum photo panels are offered in matte white and glossy clear finishes, while wood photo panels have a clear coating that allows the natural finish to be seen through the artwork.
Sublimation blanks come in a huge variety of shapes & sizes. Blanks such as Ornaments, Key Chains, Mouse Pads, and much more can be pressed in a traditional flat heat press. Some thicker items like awards plaques will work best with a swing-away style heat press. For certain blanks, such as Pet bowls and hats/caps, specific methods of heat transferring will be required due to their unique shapes. Pet bowls are best sublimated using sublimation wraps and an oven, while caps require either a specific heat press or curved cap attachment. Having the right specialized equipment will allow you to offer a wide variety of fully-customizable products to your customers, which of course adds an incredible value to your business.
While polyester garments are fantastic for sublimating onto, it's so great to know there's a whole world of substrates available for sublimation. This makes for limitless creative possibilities for crafters, business owners, or anyone interested in producing fully customizable products. From the super popular coffee mugs to pet bowls, keychains to awards plaques, there's something for everyone when it comes to sublimation blanks. When you decide to begin expanding your work in sublimation, be sure to not only consider the sample items shown in this video, but also our huge variety of sublimation blanks. Of course, all of these can be found on our site in the link below.
Browse Our Selection of Sublimation Blanks at HeatPressNation.com!
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit a4 sublimation paper manufacturer.