Prints that Last: The Magic of Sublimation Printing

4 days ago
2 min read

Let’s say you commissioned a famous painter to create an artwork to use as a print design for a scarf. Perhaps to sell, or as part of the company uniform. How do you transfer art onto textile? Well, that’s where sublimation printing comes in.

What is Sublimation Printing

Sublimation printing uses high heat and pressure to transfer a design printed on specialized transfer paper and inks, from the paper to a fabric. Although surfaces other than fabric can also be used during sublimation, those will not be included here.

An industrial press is used to facilitate the transfer. During this process, the ink turns from a solid to a gas, without turning into liquid. This results with the special ink bonding with the fabric instead of applying a layer of paint.

The Pros

Since the inks penetrate the fabric fibers, the designs are much less prone to fading in comparison to other printing methods. This is because the ink doesn't just sit on top of the material, but rather is part of it. Meaning the design will stay intact without peeling away, cracking, or flaking off.

Sublimation printing on fabric produces super vibrant colors across the whole spectrum. Any color that can be created on a computer can be reproduced with sublimation printing.

Another benefit of ink sublimation fabric is how intricate the detailing can be. This level of detail will depend on the fabric itself, as each one is unique. Above all, the fabric retains its original handle so it'll feel just as it's supposed to. Even the softest fabrics will still be cozy after they make their way through the sublimation process.

Sublimation fabric printing can be done in small runs, meaning there would be no need to order excess fabric if only a small amount is needed, or ordered as needed. This also means designs can be tested on how it looks after being printed on fabric several times before going for mass production.

The Cons

The fabric typically needs to be white or light-colored because sublimation printing can't print white inks. Another thing to keep in mind is that the tones of the colors depend on the base color of the fabric itself. If a fabric has a warmer or cooler undertone, the overall hue may be detected in the final printed fabric.

Some fabrics, such as pure cotton, or bamboo (see article) are not as suitable for sublimation printing. This process works best on light-colored polyester, polyester blends, or polymer-coated fabrics, as the sublimation ink adheres more effectively to synthetic materials. While still possible on such natural fabrics, the inks do not bond as strongly with the fibers of natural materials and will degrade much faster.

Additionally, the fabric should be flat. Knitted, highly textured, or creased fabrics might create results that are not ideal.

Conclusion

If you have a design that is intricate that would be impractical with other methods, sublimation is definitely a good choice. Not to mention that it is long lasting. But before you go all out on this production method, always try several small samples of your colors to see if it will come out as you expect.