Dye sublimation is a printing method that uses heat to fuse solid ink into a gas that then bonds to synthetic materials like fabrics and glass, allowing detailed designs to be printed. It involves using a dye sublimation printer and paper to create a design, which is then pressed onto the material using heat. While it only works on synthetic polymers and not natural fibers like cotton, dye sublimation provides photo-quality prints without waste and is used for both individual and industrial printing applications.

1. What Is
Dye Sublimation?

2. Dye Sublimation
In recent years, a new way of
printing designs onto fabric, paper,
glass, and other media has come
into popularity. It's called "dye
sublimation," and it is the simplest
method of imprinting a design.
With just a digital camera and a
dye sublimation printer, anyone
can create a design that can easily
be transplanted onto the garment
of their choice.

3. The Process
"Sublimation" is the name for the
chemical process when a solid object
is changed into a gas, without first
becoming a liquid. Like the name
suggests, dye sublimation relies on this
chemical process, using a heat press to
change the solid ink from a design into
a gas. Once the ink turns gaseous, it is
fused to the garment it is being
pressed with, leaving behind a clear,
photo-quality design.

4. What Equipment
Do You Need?
Dye sublimation is a relatively easy way to
print designs onto objects compared to
other methods like screen-printing, laser
treatments, or embroidery. All that's
needed is:
• A dye sublimation printer
• Sublimation paper
• Photo processing software, installed
onto your computer (such as Adobe
Photoshop)
• A heat transfer press
• A digital camera and/or scanner to
transfer designs onto the computer for
printing (optional)

5. Printing a Design
Once you're ready, print the design onto
sublimation paper using the dye sublimation
printer. Then, place the garment and the paper
(design-side down) onto the heat press, and then
activate the press. This will turn the ink printed
onto the garment into a gas, which will then fuse
with the garment and return to a solid state.

6. Some
Restrictions with
Dye Sublimation
One of the biggest limitations with using
dye sublimation is that the process only
works on synthetic polymers. That
means that dye sublimation cannot be
used to print on 100% cotton shirts or
other natural fibers (though it can be
used on poly/cotton blends).
Also, dye sublimation does not work well when used to transfer a
design onto darker material, making it best to stick to white and
light colored cloth when printing. Color range can also be limited
when using consumer grade dye sublimation equipment.

7. Dye Sublimation in
Industrial Printing
Dye sublimation isn't just used by individuals
with their home computers. It is also used on
a larger scale, using industrial sized machines
to print multiple garments at once. When
done as an industrial process, dye
sublimation can be used to create even more
detailed and vibrant designs than can be
done on a home printer.

8. Safe and Efficient
In addition to being easier to use,
dye sublimation printing is also less
wasteful and more eco-friendly than
other printing methods. The dye-
based inks used in the process are
safe to handle, and unlike the
regular dyeing process, it uses no
water and causes no contamination.
Dye sublimation printing produces
no waste, aside from the recyclable
paper the designs are printed on.

9. Artex Group
Patches
In addition to t-shirts, sweaters,
and other types of clothing, dye
sublimation can be used to create
custom patches. Artex Group uses
dye sublimation to produce many
unique, complex patches for
companies around the world,
allowing them to display their
brand in vivid color.

10. About Artex Group
Since 2002, Artex Group has produced over 40 million embroidered
patches for companies and organizations ranging from police and fire
departments, major corporations such as Toyota and Mazda, and small
businesses across the country.
If you're looking for an innovative way to display your brand, get an
instant quote at www.artexgroup.net or call 866-845-1042.

11. Summary
Dye sublimation is an efficient and
environmentally sound method for printing
designs onto clothing, glass, and other synthetic
material. The process changes solid dye instantly
into gas, which then fuses with the material. Dye
sublimation can be done on an industrial scale
or with a home computer using a special printer.