Getting Started in the Sublimation Industry

Posted by Mary Yaeger - 6/15/2017

Also seen on Printwear 

How many of you have walked the streets of your downtown area, coffee in hand, and stepped into one of the really fascinating boutiques? I’m guessing all of you. I know I have! One of the great things about downtown areas is that they thrive because of small shops that specialize in unique products and apparel. With the rise of entrepreneurial communities and desire for economic efficiency, we are right in the middle of a great opportunity to strut our creative stuff.

If you spend any time on the internet (I’m looking at you Pinterest), what you will find is that a big trend happening is sublimation. Sublimation is the printing of an image (or images) onto specialty items – like keychains you can get at the zoo or quirky coffee mugs at coffee shops. This versatile printing method opens a whole world of opportunities that may not have been available before.

The Benefits

From personalized gifts to home décor to promotional products and everything in between, there is an endless possibility of items waiting to be sublimated. A big difference that you will notice with sublimation verses any other printing method, is that the process is simpler and in some ways, more effective. Not only can you print full color images on a variety of surfaces, the prints are infused with a special coating that protects and preserves so when you wash the item, you don’t have any worry about what it will look like when it’s done. When set up properly, sublimation can save you time and money. Even more important than that is the customer satisfaction that will come of it.

• You can do full color images, even for smaller print jobs, that won’t cost your customers an arm and leg.
• You also don’t have to worry about a great deal of setup for the process. 
• You don’t have to worry about losing a customer because of a minimum order number
•  Sublimation can accommodate any print job that you are willing to take on.
•  The prints are not thick and provide a soft hand feel. Your customers will love the natural feel    of the garments. 
•  Sublimated products are durable. You don’t have to worry about cracking or peeling.

Getting Started

As with any process or business it is going to take money to make money so you will need to consider your startup costs. Here are a few items that you will need to get started:

•  Sublimation Printer  
• Ink 
• Sublimation Paper 
• Design Software 
• Blank items (to practice on and have for print jobs) 
• Heat Press

It is also important to note that if you are going to sublimate apparel, the process only works on polyester materials. Sublimation can be a great place to start in the printing industry. It is also a great addition to any existing print shop! The print industry is diverse – the customer demand even more so. Sublimation may just be the answer you need to keep the revenue flowing. The most important thing you can do is assess your needs and come up with a plan that fits.

Tips On How To Solve Sublimation Issues

Posted by Alexandra Perry - Webmaster on 9/26/2016

Sublimation printing is a complex process; during the chemical process sublimation is the transition of the solid dye to a gas but it does not change into a liquid during the transition. The process is endothermic; the dye absorbs heat from the heat transfer machine, emits gas, and then dyes the polyester.

  Intriguingly enough the most common issues seen with sublimation generally deal with color, printing, and computerization. Start-up issues can happen when a new user doesn’t understand the difference between factory print drive and the drivers for their specific ink system. Configuring those two things can be a challenge and many times during the setup a new user will power on the printer before reading the proper installation instructions. You should never turn on or connect the printer to your computer until prompted to do so because it can cause a communication failure between the machines.

  Poor or washed out color is another complaint often heard about sublimation. Poor or washed out color can be caused by printing on the wrong side of the paper. The side intended for printing is bright white. The white material captures the sublimation ink to preserve the dot structure while in turn keeping the ink on the top of the sublimation paper. The ink is then absorbs the heat and outgasses which in turn dyes the substrate material. Once the color has been applied then you can start to figure out your color problems. Printing a primary color chart and checking the expiration date on your ink, verifying that you are using the right time, temperature, and pressure, as well as making sure you are printing with the right driver for the ink can help you determine any issues you may be having.

  Banding can be defined as consistent, straight, horizontal, white lines that appear on print and run in the direction of the print head. Banding is commonly found among inkjet printers. Banding can be caused by clogged nozzles, therefore, you need to run a nozzle check which you can do from your printer drive or power drive and you should make sure to run the test on regular paper.

  Another common issue is black turning out brown after application. This problem is generally found when applying a transfer to a ceramic but can still be found among apparel applications as well. Black may appear brown when the transfer was applied too long or at too high of a temperature. In order to fix this issue it is best to review application instructions and check your temperature and dwell time.

  Sublimation has become a common practice among small and large decorators alike. There are large amounts of information regarding sublimation and sublimation packages you can purchase to help get you started. The main issue many decorators seem to have is the inability to follow instructions and seek help. Don’t forget the many tips I have provided you with as well as the fact that there are many facets of information pertaining to sublimation out there.