What exactly is that that is being sublimated?
Shall we start with an overarching description of the situation? What exactly does it mean when someone refers to something as “sublimation”?
To explain it more succinctly, it is a sort of printing that involves the use of ink and heat to transfer a design onto a material or cloth. This type of printing is known as heat transfer printing.
Because technology makes it possible to print designs that go from seam to seam all the way through an entire garment, it has a profound impact on the world of fashion.
The printing process known as sublimation
So how exactly does the sublimation process work? Heat is used in the printing process known as sublimation, which effectively fuses the ink and the cloth into a single entity.
The first step is to print a design onto the specialized paper. When heated, the inks that are utilized transform into a gas, which is followed by a reaction with the cloth that leaves a permanent print on the fabric. Because the ink is imbedded in the fabric or substrate rather than merely sitting on top like a traditional print would, the effects are long-lasting and less likely to fade over time.
The procedure is very similar to getting a tattoo, except that it is not for your skin but rather for the product that you have chosen. The ink will return to its solid state once it has cooled sufficiently and the pores of the fabric will have been opened up as a result of the heat.
The end product is a permanent image in full color that will not crack, peel, or get detached from the substrate in any way. Because of the procedure, the ink can transform directly from a solid state into a gas without first going into a liquid state, much like dry ice. Heat is what kicks off the conversion, but pressure is what keeps it under control.
This speedy and reliable way of digital printing is becoming increasingly popular for use with designs that are dependent on minute details as well as requests for smaller batches. Printing using sublimation is sometimes referred to as “all over printing” since the process enables the user to select a design that can literally extend from seam to seam.