Dye-sub or sublimation printing is a digital printing technology using full-color artwork that operates with polyester and polymer-coated garments or objects. Also referred to as digital sublimation, the process is commonly used for decorating apparel, signs, and banners. Also works on novelty items such as pillows, plaques, coffee mugs, and other items with sublimation-friendly surfaces. The process uses the science of sublimation, in which heat and pressure are applied to a solid, turning it into a gas without passing through the liquid phase.
The process consists of 3 general steps:
The sublimation dyes are loaded into the printer
The design is printed onto transfer paper
Heat is applied to the transfer paper, which causes it to transfer the ink to the product
The end product is less prone to fading, cracking, and peeling than other similar printing methods.
Here are the pros and cons of printing using this method:
Pros:
Image quality and digital errors can be fixed via the printer
It allows whole garment prints and designs that go seam-to-seam.
Requires fewer human hands than other methods, which makes it cheaper
Excellent color range, quality, and DPI (dots per inch)
Durable prints
You can't feel the print since the ink is absorbed into the material
Cons:
Only suitable for polyester-based and synthetic materials
Colors may vary slightly between the print file and the result due to RBG to CMYK color conversion
Here at Awkward Styles, we are lucky to have highly trained professionals working with our sublimation printers, so we can assure you that every product that goes through our production department will be carefully manufactured and reviewed for high quality before being shipped out.