What is Sublimation Printing?
Sublimation is the best choice for team uniforms and custom sports apparel.
Many people ask “What is sublimation printing and why choose to sublimate vs. screen print” or “What’s sublimation? Sublimation is the process of transferring dye to a fabric using heat. The images and graphics are printed on special paper placed on the garment and heat is applied, allowing the ink to become part of the fabric. This will leave you with a more breathable, soft-hand feel to the fabric. The best part is that the numbers, letters, and graphics do not peel, wear off, or come out in the wash!
The Magic of Sublimation Printing
Sublimation is a great process that allows for vibrant, full color, all-over prints that are exceptionally durable. Naturally the magic of the process lies in the printing technology. With designs infused directly onto the fabric, they become a part of the fabric itself. All of the design elements including the team logo, colors, and numbers become a part of the fabric in sublimation as opposed to other processes like embroidery, where they’re “sewn” onto the surface. So, there’s no scope for the colors or logos to peel off or fade in sublimated jerseys!
Besides the high temperature and pressures used in sublimation convert the prints into gas, which bonds firmly with the molecules of the fabric, fully integrating with them. Totally inseparable!
SUBLIMATION PRINTING DIAGRAM, PROCESS OF SUBLIMATION & THE DEFINITION OF SUBLIMATION
How do we define sublimation or define sublimated? Sublimation is a chemical process where a solid turns into gas without going through the liquid stage. As in our example, the ink that is printed on the transfer paper turns into gas, which then fuses into the fabric that becomes your sublimated sports product.
See below sublimation diagram as well as an explanation of the process of sublimation.
SUBLIMATION DIAGRAM SHOWING THE PROCESS OF HOW YOUR CUSTOM UNIFORMS ARE MADE.
STEP 1: SUBLIMATION DYES ARE LOADED ON THE PRINTER. STEP 2. YOUR CUSTOM UNIFORM DESIGN IS PRINTED ON A SPECIAL TRANSFER PAPER.
STEP 3: HEAT IS APPLIED TO TRANSFER YOUR DESIGN TO WHITE FABRIC. STEP 4 & 5. THE FABRIC WITH DESIGN IS CUT AND SEWN TOGETHER.
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Sublimation dyes are loaded in the printer. The colors are usually in the CMYK color space.
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Images are then printed onto the transfer paper. There are no limitations to colors and designs.
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Heat is applied to transfer the ink to the fabric to undergo the sublimation process.
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Ink is fused into the pores of the fabric and the garment panels are cut from the reels of the fabric.
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The panels are sewn and pieced together and turned into an amazing sublimated sportswear product.
