Sublimation printing is becoming more and more popular. It is a form of digital printing that uses a particular type of paper. Sublimation is a chemical process in which a solid turns into a gas immediately without passing through the liquid stage. There are many pros and cons of sublimation printing. Let's explore them here.
Pros
- Continuous tone – Compared with screen printing, every dot of ink in sublimation printing can be a different color. For this reason, sublimated graphics appear high-resolution and have fantastic color accuracy, even under a microscope.
- Ready to wear – Sublimation printing on the fabric means you can fold or wear the garment immediately after it leaves the press without worrying about smearing the ink.
- Resistant to fade – Sublimated dye impregnates and becomes part of the plastic. It will not fade or degrade the plastic, and the colors will not run if exposed to water.
- Many uses – Sublimation printing is also great for mugs, pens, clocks, Christmas ornaments, tins, the list could go on.
- Small-batch friendly – Sublimation and DTF printing are excellent for one-off or small batch orders. It does have a high initial set up costs too and therefore small business-friendly.
Cons
- Not for 100% cotton – Sublimated printing does not work with natural textures like cotton or paper unless the materials have been treated with a polymer coating beforehand. Furthermore, because sublimation printing is more like high-precision dyeing than imprinting, it works best on white or light-colored materials.
- Cannot mass produce – Sublimation printing requires that each item be pressed individually. And because it also involves the extra step of printing the transfer paper, the sublimation printing method requires more work.
- Cheap materials result in toxic fumes – Before you order a sublimated print, do your due attention to ensure that both the sublimation inks and the materials used are of high quality.
Conclusion
Sublimation printing is one of the most common methods to print pictures onto synthetic materials and supplies – and for a good reason. Not only does the digital print come out firm, clear, and colorful, but the image will virtually never fade. Furthermore, sublimation printing is cost-effective for small batches, making it a popular printing technique for personalized garments like t-shirts and trinkets like mugs.
