What Is Sublimation Printing: A Complete Guide

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Are you looking for vibrant, long-lasting prints for everything from custom t-shirts to personalized drinkware? Look no further than sublimation printing! This versatile technique goes beyond fabric, allowing customization on metal, ceramic, and even mouse pads. Buckle up as we dive into the wonders of sublimation, exploring its pros and cons, ideal products, and how to use it for print-on-demand success.

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Key takeaways

• Versatile printing. Sublimation delivers vibrant and durable prints on various products, from polyester t-shirts to drinkware.
• High-quality results. The sublimation technique produces permanent, high-quality prints that merge with the material, making sure they won’t crack or fade.
• Specialized equipment. Sublimation requires a unique type of printer, ink, transfer paper, and a heat press to create detailed, colorful designs.
• Easy setup with Printify. Connect your store to Printify, use the Product Creator or graphic design software for designs, and let Printify handle printing and fulfillment.
• Cost-effective and eco-friendly. Sublimation printing is cost-effective for single and bulk orders with minimal leftovers or wasted ink.

What is sublimation printing? How does sublimation work?

Sublimation printing is a process that uses high heat and pressure to transfer your design from sublimation paper directly onto your chosen product (material or fabric). The combination of pressure and heat embeds your artwork for long-lasting and vibrant results.

Did You Know?

Dye sublimation printing requires special ink, transfer paper, a heat press, a specialized inkjet printer, and other essentials. It uses heat to fuse ink and surface material or fabric in a permanent design. 

Unlike traditional printing methods, heat and pressure turn sublimation inks into gas, penetrating the material and leaving a permanent imprint. Since it becomes one with the fabric instead of laying on top of it, the result is high-quality, vibrant, and significantly less prone to cracking or fading.

Here’s how the sublimation printing process works:

1. A dye-sublimation printer prints your custom design onto a special transfer paper using sublimation inks.
2. Then, you place the paper onto a product (enamel or ceramic mug, t-shirt, or other) and put both in a sublimation heat transfer press, applying immense heat and pressure at once.
3. The heat turns the inks into gas, and the material absorbs them.
4. As a result, you get a permanent, vibrant print that doesn’t lay on the product; instead, it becomes one with it.

Fact:

The sublimation printing method allows for long-lasting designs – the images won’t crack or wear even after dozens of uses.

How to do sublimation:

Unlike traditional printing methods, sublimation uses heat and pressure to turn sublimation inks into gas, fusing with the material.

The design becomes one with the fabric instead of laying on top of it, resulting in high-quality, vibrant prints that are significantly less prone to cracking or fading.

Dye sublimation printing requires special ink, transfer paper, a heat press, and a specialized inkjet printer. It works best with synthetic fabrics like polyester.

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Sublimation vs screen printing vs direct-to-garment

Sublimation, screen printing, and DTG each have their strengths and weaknesses. Let’s explore these popular options to find the perfect fit for your business.

Screen printing is excellent for making t-shirts in bulk. Whether for events and charities or other occasions where you need more than one product. It works best for simple designs with a few base colors on soft cotton fabrics.

Sublimation is a more flexible printing process for creative designs, and it’s great for single and bulk orders. This digital printing technique is highly durable and eco-friendly for unique patterns and vibrant colors.

DTG is perfect for creating unique, small-batch garments with complex designs and photorealistic prints.

Where is screen printing used?

This printing process is often used for multiple products:

• Apparel. T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and more.
• Promotional products. Like mugs and tote bags.
• Sports gear. Custom backpacks, team jerseys, and uniforms in bulk are a hit.
• Banners and signs. Indoor and outdoor banners, posters, and signs.
• Any other flat surface.

What can I sublimate on?

This digital printing method is used on anything that can handle custom-print designs. Such as:

• Apparel and accessories. Tees, custom hoodies, sweatpants, dresses, socks, scarves, and more.
• Gaming or office accessories. Like mousepads and desk mats.
• Home decor. Personalized curtains, rugs, pillows, and blankets.
• Promotional products. Like mugs, phone cases, and tote bags.
• Sports gear. Uniforms, fan merch, jerseys, and more.
• Wall art. Posters, canvases, banners, and other prints.

Sublimation printing pros

Pros:

• Almost no design limitations, from colors to complexity.
• Works with different products, from sublimation shirts and curtains to coffee mugs and posters.
• No minimum units. Perfect for printing one or a hundred products.
• Sublimation is one of the rare printing methods that allows for complete customization.
• Permanent, long-lasting, and durable designs that won’t fade, crack, or peel for a long time.
• A unique and vibrant print, unnoticeable to the touch, covering the product seam to seam or side to side.
• Environmentally friendly printing process compared to other printing methods.

Read more: Learn how to do sublimation in our design guide.

Sublimation printing cons

Cons:

• Limited choice of materials. Sublimation shirt printing is mostly available for polyester and polyester blends.
• Sublimation blanks have to be white for the best and brightest result. It’s not possible to print a black shirt or other dark-colored products.
• White creasing is a thing. If areas of the garment are left uncovered or simply out of reach, they’ll remain white.

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Is there white ink in sublimation printing?

No. Sublimation uses a CMYK color scheme, so no combination of its base inks can produce white. To achieve white in a design, print onto lighter or white materials. Use a PNG file with transparent areas where you want the material’s white to show through.

What are the best-selling all-over-print (AOP) products?

All-over-print t-shirts and sweatshirts are popular choices, but don’t underestimate the rising star: sublimation socks! Check out this piece on how to sell sublimation socks like a pro and maximize your profits.

Designs that work well with sublimation printing

Sublimation printing works especially well with dramatic, whimsical, and almost, dare we say it – ridiculous designs. I can neither confirm nor deny that the author of these lines owns leggings with dozens of bratwursts printed on them.

What makes Printify the best sublimation Printing Provider?

Printify is a free and foolproof way of learning how to do sublimation. With our giant Catalog of over 1,000 printable items and a network of more than 80 highly-rated Print Providers worldwide, Printify helps you make a profit with no hassle.

Streamlined fulfillment

Printify’s Print Providers handle order fulfillment so you, the merchant, can focus on marketing and growing your brand. Design your products, publish them to your online storefront, and Printify handles the rest without you needing to lift a finger after making a sale.

Production network

Printify lets you easily choose among the more than 80 global printing facilities and partners you want to work with. Pick based on what’s essential to your business – product, location, and price. By choosing Print Providers closer to your audience, you substantially save on shipping costs and fulfillment time.

Save more with Printify Premium

Printify is and always will be free to use for everyone. Integrate your sales channels with ease and publish as many products to your stores as you want. And with the Premium subscription, you get up to 20% off on all products, drawing more profit.

Easy integrations

Printify offers automatic integrations with some of the world’s most popular online marketplaces and eCommerce platforms: Shopify, Etsy, Wix, WooCommerce, eBay, BigCommerce, and more.

FAQ

To get started with sublimation printing, you’ll need a few essential items: a special sublimation printer, ink and transfer paper, and a heat press. Additionally, you’ll need blank items specifically designed for sublimation printing, such as polyester fabric, coated ceramics, or other specially treated substrates.

Yes, sublimation printing is an excellent method for producing high-quality, durable prints. It’s especially valued for its vibrant colors and the ability to print intricate designs. The prints are long-lasting and won’t crack, peel, or fade over time, making it a preferred choice for creating customized apparel, home decor, and promotional items.

Can a regular printer print sublimation? No, only a special printer designed specifically for sublimation printing will work, or one that has been converted.

Popular brands include Epson and Sawgrass, which offer models that are widely used in the industry. It’s crucial to use a printer that’s compatible with sublimation ink for the best results.

Both sublimation and screen printing are durable, but sublimation printing generally lasts longer. Sublimation dye becomes part of the fabric, which means it won’t fade, crack, or peel even after multiple washes. Screen printing is also durable, but it may eventually show signs of wear, especially if not properly cared for.

To start sublimation printing, follow these steps:

1. Research and Plan: Understand the basics and gather information on the equipment needed.
2. Purchase Equipment: Buy a sublimation printer, sublimation ink, sublimation paper, and a heat press.
3. Get Blank Products: Find items specifically designed for sublimation.
4. Design: Create or source designs compatible with sublimation.
5. Print and Press: Print your design on sublimation paper and use a heat press to transfer it onto your blank item.
6. Practice: Start with small projects to get the hang of the process and refine your technique.

It could be due to several reasons:

• Incorrect Color Profiles: Make sure you’re using the correct color profiles for sublimation printing.
• Clogged Print Heads: Perform regular maintenance and cleaning of the print heads.
• Low-Quality Ink or Paper: Use high-quality sublimation ink and paper designed for the best color reproduction.
• Printer Settings: Check and adjust your printer settings to match the requirements for sublimation printing.
• Software Issues: Make sure your design software is properly configured for sublimation.

Summary

Now that you know more about sublimation printing, it’s time to get started. With Printify handling the printing, you can focus on designing for your customers. 

Set up your online store, connect it to Printify, and enjoy the process. Printify’s Product Creator is fun and easy to use, especially for all-over-print products. Start creating stunning, seamless designs that cover your high-quality blanks edge to edge.

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