Printing on Fabric: A History of Dye Sublimation

    Printing on material items such as fabrics, metals, and ceramics is the perfect way to give a personalized gift. Using a special century old printing process called Dye Sublimation allows our company to create unique artwork. Each product comes out fun, original, and completely unique for the receiver.

Special Printer

    The printing process of Dye Sublimation can be applied to polymer coated wood, plastic, or aluminum, as well as polyester fabrics. This is done using heat and pressure, instead of using a printer directly on the chosen material. Before beginning to dye sublimate, the image is first printed on transfer paper using special inks. Then the paper is placed face down on the chosen material, soon after the heat and pressure are applied. The inks from the paper begin to sublimate, the process of turning from solid to vapor state, and saturate into the chosen material whilst expanding with the heat. After the material has cooled, the image is trapped permanently within the surface as the fibers have retracted.

    In 1957, Frenchman Noel de Plasse invented Dye Sublimation printing. Although at the time, it was referred to as transfer printing. De Plasse’s discovery found that dyes could easily sublimate when utilized with high temperatures. This approach was first commercialized by a company called Sublistatis SA. Prior to this revelation, the study of inkjets and an early encounter with piezoelectricity can both date back to the early 19th century. This is relevant as both were later on combined to create the process of sublimation.

Printed Fabric

    When printing on polyester fabric, it is unlikely that the images will fade or crack for many years to come. This is due to the fact that the dyes have been directly absorbed into the fabric, becoming one. The dye sublimated image is protected against UV damage, ozone gas, and air pollution which furthers its lifespan to decades. Over time the image will eventually fade when used regularly or with normal washing. There are two distinct choices of fabrics used. The first being a woven material for sturdy and hardwearing banner stands, exterior banners, or exterior signage. The second being an upholstery knit material that drapes and flows more naturally, and is best used for custom apparel, indoor flags and banners, photographic backdrops and table covers.

Printing on fabric is an easy process for an original gift! With our wide variety of fabrics available, you can create your own tapestry, clothing, or signage. We also supply t-shirts and face masks if you’re unsure where to start. Using the process of dye sublimation on fabric is a simple and long lasting product with endless possibilities for creation! Show us your creative designs and get them printed on fabric today!

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Dye Sublimation on Natural Wood

Dye Sublimation is a printing process in which a heat press infuses ink into a material. The material we will be learning about printing onto today is wood. In this post, we will discuss the step by step process of how to dye sublimate as well as the pros and cons of the product itself. Before you dye sublimate, you must have the proper materials to get started. The first material you will need is a blank wood panel. 

As you can see, it has a blue film on one side. This is because this is the side we will be printing onto as it has a thin coat of polyester which is what the ink will lock onto. These wood panels come in a few different sizes but limited shapes. The sizes range from as little as 8" x 8", all the way up to as large as 20" x 30". For more sizing information please see our website for further details by clicking here.

 Next we have transfer paper which is what the image will be printed onto first before the wood. The ink we will be using is water based and produces high intensity colors. However, the ink cartridges do not produce white pigment therefor any image with white shadings will show the natural material beneath, in this case natural wood.

After we have collected all our materials we can begin to dye sublimate using our heat press. First we will apply a sheet of brown paper as the bottom layer on our heat press. On top of that we will apply the transfer paper with the image printed on it face up. After peeling off the blue film, we will apply the wood panel face down on top of the transfer paper, making sure it is centered and lined up with the transfer paper image. We will then add heat resistant tape to the panel and paper on all four sides to keep them from moving around so that the image will not get distorted when printing. Lastly we will apply a top layer of brown paper on the wood. The heat press is then closed for approximately one minute at around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the heat press is applied, the heat and pressure infuse the inks from the transfer paper into the polyester coating on the wood panel. There is no chance of the image peeling or bubbling as it is not a layer on top of the wood but infused into the wood. Once it is done cooking, we will put our oven mitts on for safety and take the materials out of the heat press. Set them aside to cool before opening.

 Here we have the final product of dye sublimation on natural wood. As you can see the image has a warm earthy tone giving it a vintage appearance. The ink coloring is bright, vivid and rich once printed on the wood. That being said, the wood can give off a yellowish tone and can be harsh on certain images and colorings. It is noteworthy to mention that printing on wood is most suitable for photography images and not recommended for family portraits. The laminate coating creates a scratch proof, water resistant protection and gives off no glare.

All wood panels come with predrilled keyholes so it is ready to hang and requires no frame. A bonus is that as it is a solid piece of wood, therefor damage is less likely as there is no delicate features such as glass or a frame. There are multiple product material options available when it comes to dye sublimation and no matter which version you choose, you will end up with a very unique long lasting piece of art.

For more check out our YouTube channel and our step by step video on Dye Sublimation on Natural Wood by clicking here!

For more information on our dye sublimation on wood products click here!

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