What Is Sublimation Printing?

 

Craving vibrant, long-lasting prints for everything from t-shirts to custom 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 your print-on-demand success.

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.

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.

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	Sublimation Printing	Direct-To-Garment (DTG)
Print Quality	A fantastic print quality with a strong color saturation. Good for fluorescent colors and special effects.	Sublimation prints are unmatched in quality. They're vibrant, permanent, and detailed.	High resolution, sharp details, full-color images.
Durability	Screen-printed designs are very durable, however, they will fade and crack after a while.	Extremely durable prints. Sublimation ink becomes one with the material – it will not crack, peel, or fade.	Designs resist fading and abrasion, comparable to screen printing.
Color Scope	Best for simple designs with a few solid colors.	Full-color scope for vibrant images, patterns, or creative designs.	Wide range of vivid colors, can print photorealistic designs.
Materials and Surfaces	Best for cotton shirts and cotton blends, even with dark colors. Specialty inks are also suitable for printing on metal, plastic, paper (silk screening), wood, and other materials.	The ink adheres well to light-colored polyester and other synthetic fabrics, as well as cork-based coasters and mugs (ceramic or enamel).	Works best on natural fabrics like cotton, requires pre-treatment for synthetics.
Costs	A more expensive method for single orders.	One of the most cost-effective printing methods for both single and bulk orders.	Low setup costs, but per-unit costs can be higher for low volumes.
Production Speed	A lengthy process that takes time and preparation since each design element needs its own stencil.	Relatively fast production time. Dye sublimation printers print out the same design that heat presses infuse into the product.	Slower than some methods like screen printing, especially for bulk orders.
Design Complexity	Screen printing works best with simple and bold designs consisting of only a few colors, as they need to be layered.	Sublimation printers can print close to anything, allowing you to create interesting textures, print digital photos, create patterns, and more.	Handles intricate designs and photorealistic images well.
Environmental Impact	The screen printing technique works with non-biodegradable inks that are not eco-friendly. Bulk printing can also result in waste from leftover stock.	Sublimation dyes are non-toxic, and this method reduces leftover waste with on-demand printing. Sublimation uses less water than other dye transfer techniques.	Uses eco-friendly water-based inks, but pretreatment chemicals can have an impact.
Limitations	Screen print transfers the best results to cotton. It won't work well with synthetic fibers, highly detailed or photographic designs.	The dye sublimation process is limited to a light polyester fabric for best results. It won't work well with dark-colored natural materials.	Not ideal for thick fabrics or non-absorbent materials.
Volume	It's cost-effective only for bulk orders. The setup and overall process of traditional screen printing aren't worth the hassle for just one item.	Perfect for single and bulk orders thanks to its relatively simple printing process.	Suitable for low-volume printing and on-demand orders.
Washability	A screen print will withstand many wears and washes until it starts to fade, crack, or peel.	Highly washable and long-lasting. The design won't crack, peel, or fade for a long time.	Designs remain washfast with proper care, following garment washing instructions.

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 can be used for multiple products and occasions:

• Apparel. T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and more.

• Promotional Products. Like mugs and tote bags.

• Sports Gear. Team jerseys and uniforms in bulk are a hit.

• Banners and Signs. Indoor and outdoor banners, posters, and signs.

• Any Other Flat Surface.

Where Is Sublimation Printing Used?

• Apparel and Accessories. Tees, hoodies, sweatpants, dresses, socks, scarves, and more.
• Gaming or Workplace Accessories. Like mousepads and desk mats.
• Home Decor. From personalized curtains to rugs, pillows, blankets, and more.
• Promotional Products. Like mugs, phone cases, and tote bags.
• Sports Gear. Uniforms, fan merch, jerseys, and more.
• Wall Art. Posters, canvases, sigils, banners, and other prints.

Sublimation Printing Pros

• Design limitations are close to none, 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.

Sublimation Printing 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.

Is There White Ink in Sublimation Printing?

Unfortunately, no. Sublimation uses a CMYK color scheme; so, no combination of any base color ink can create the color white. It’s possible to print onto lighter colors or ideally white materials, but this will not work with sublimation if any of your designs have white in them.

What Are the Best-Selling All-Over-Print Products?

All-over-print t-shirts and sweatshirts are popular choices, but don’t underestimate the rising star: sublimation Shoes! Check out this piece on Sublimation shoes 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 Sublimation Products Does Coolcustomjerseys Offer?

In the Coolustomjerseys Catalog, you’ll find blank all-over-print goodies for every need: we offer , t-shirts, hoodies and jackets, custom shoes, bags, and Uniforms. 

If you’re looking for long-lasting POD products that feature distinct colors and high-resolution quality, keep an eye out for AOP clothing. The process is applied to achieve that vibrant, all-over, everlasting graphics on apparel.

Coolcustomjerseys Sublimation Design: Technical Recommendations

• Here’s a technical rundown to prepare your design files for stunning all-over prints with Printify:
• Each product on Coolcustomjerseys Catalog has a dedicated size guide. Refer to it to guarantee your design fits perfectly.
• The gray zone around the printable area with the dashed line around the design? That’s the bleed area. It’s a helpful guide for trimming, and won’t show up on your final product. Avoid placing text or key design elements there. Cover 100% of the bleed with your design when preparing an AOP product to avoid unprinted spaces.
• Resolution: Use 300 DPI for JPEG/PNG files whenever possible. For larger items like leggings or blankets, 120-150 DPI is acceptable.
• Color Profile: We operate in RGB. Uploading CMYK files might cause slight color variations. Consider converting them to RGB beforehand for optimal results.