So, you're entering the wonderful world of T-shirt making and personalized garments - that's exciting! You may be asking yourself which garment decoration method is better: heat transfer paper or sublimation printing? The answer is that both are great! However, the method you go with depends on your needs and what you're looking to do. Plus, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's dig into the details to help you decide which is the right fit for you and your business.

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The Basics of Heat Transfer Paper

So, what is heat transfer paper exactly? Heat transfer paper is a specialty paper that transfers printed designs to shirts and other garments when heat is applied. The process involves printing a design onto a sheet of heat transfer paper using an inkjet or laser printer. Then, you place the printed sheet on your T-shirt and press it using a heat press (in certain cases, a home iron will work, but heat presses provide the best results). After you've pressed it, you peel away the paper, and your image adheres nicely onto the fabric. Great - you now have a custom T-shirt! That was easy, right?

Garment decoration via heat transfer paper is super easy and carries one of, if not the lowest, start-up costs in the industry. In fact, many decorators get their start using nothing more than the printer they already have at home! A few other important notes about heat transfer paper is that most papers work on both cotton and polyester fabrics - while you'll learn that sublimation only works on polyesters. In addition, heat transfer papers are designed to work for either dark or light-colored garments while sublimation is exclusively for white or light-colored garments.

Ok, How About Sublimation

The sublimation process is quite similar to that of heat transfer paper. Like heat transfer paper, the process involves printing a design onto a sheet of specialty paper - sublimation paper in this case - and pressing it to a garment with a heat press. The difference lies in the science behind sublimation. Ready to get science-y?

Sublimation ink, when heated, turns from a solid to a gas that embeds itself into the polyester fabric. When it cools, it goes back to a solid and becomes a permanent part of the fabric. This means that your transferred design adds no additional layer on top, so there's no difference in feeling between the printed image and the rest of the fabric. This also means that the transfer is incredibly durable, and under normal conditions, the images you produce will last as long as the product itself.

Bonus! Sublimation not only works on polyester fabrics - it also works on a wide variety of hard surfaces with a poly-coating. This opens up an entirely new world of items you can customize - coasters, jewelry, mugs, puzzles and much more.

Heat Transfer Paper vs. Sublimation

By now, we hope you have the gist of heat transfer paper and sublimation, so let's get down to the nitty gritty and compare these two garment decoration methods in a few important areas.

Startup Costs and Equipment Requirements

Garment decoration via heat transfer paper is one of the least expensive methods for starting out. To get started, you will need an inkjet or laser printer (which you may already have), a heat press, heat transfer paper, and the shirts or garments you'd like to decorate. That's it! A hobbyist heat press will typically run you around $300, and that will be your biggest initial investment. If you don't already have a printer, we would recommend an inkjet printer with pigment based ink for starting out - such as the Epson EC-4020

Sublimation carries a higher start-up cost than heat transfer paper, but that cost has greatly come down in recent years. Sublimation starter packages such as the Sawgrass SG500 contain everything you need to start sublimating - minus the heat press - at a very affordable price. This includes the sublimation printer, sublimation paper, essential software and a sample pack of products you can sublimate. Outside of this, all you need is a heat press, and a hobbyist heat press starts around $300.

For additional information and help picking out your first sublimation printer, check out our other blog, "Which Sawgrass Sublimation System is Right For You?"

Durability and Feel

Sublimation uses a process where the ink becomes part of the fabric rather than adding a layer on top. This results in a transfer that is unmatched in both durability and feel. On the other hand, heat transfer paper adds a layer on top of the garment. This additional layer can be physically felt and is less durable than sublimation and can become faded and cracked over time with numerous wash cycles.

It is important to note that heat transfer papers are not created equally, and you will find some that offer a softer feel and greater durability than other transfer papers. For folks just starting out with an inkjet printer, we recommend JET-PRO Soft Stretch for its soft texture and great durability.

Types of Garments You Can Decorate

With sublimation, you're more limited in the types of fabrics you can decorate compared to heat transfer paper. First, sublimation only works with polyester fabrics. No 100% cotton! This is because sublimation ink only binds to polyester material. You can get away with sublimating on some poly-cotton blends, but the transfer will not be as bright and vibrant as when you use 100% polyester. Because sublimation adds no extra layer on top of the fabric, the material also needs to be white or very light-colored for your transfer to show.

On the other hand, with heat transfer paper, you can decorate on light and dark-colored cotton, polyester and cotton-poly blends.

While heat transfer paper may be the clear winner on the types of fabrics (material and color) that you can decorate, remember that sublimation can also be used on a wide range of hard and soft surface substrates. For the most part, heat transfer paper cannot.

Other Factors to Consider

Colors You Can Produce

Sublimation allows you to print full colors, which is especially great if you are wanting to print photos or have customers that need a very specific color (such as for a company logo). Depending on what type of heat transfer paper you use - inkjet or laser - you may not be able to achieve the same full-color, photo-quality transfers as with sublimation.

For photo-quality prints with heat transfer paper, your best bet will generally be inkjet heat transfer paper for light-colored garments or laser heat transfer paper printed with an OKI white toner laser printer. For more information on this topic, check out our other blog, "3 Things You Must Know Before Buying Heat Transfer Paper."

Weeding

Sublimation is also naturally self-weeding as only the ink is transferred to the fabric. The process is easy as printing, pressing, peeling!

Most heat transfer papers are not self-weeding with the exception of "two-step" laser transfer papers such as FOREVER Laser Dark. With heat transfer paper, a transfer layer carries the print to the garment, and unless you want a noticeable background the shape of the paper on your T-shirt, you will have to trim around the image with scissors or a cutting plotter.

On transfer papers for light-colored garments, the transfer layer is clear and mostly invisible, and trimming is optional. However, if you don't trim it, you will be able physically feel the transfer layer even where the image is not present. On "one-step" transfer papers for darks, unprinted areas will show a white background, so trimming is essential.

Bottom Line

Both heat transfer paper and sublimation are wonderful ways to decorate apparel, and which method you choose ultimately depends on your needs. Hopefully this blog has helped you further your path to T-shirt and garment decoration! If you still have questions, do not hesitate to reach out to our Customer Success Team who are more than happy to help you find the best solution. Call us at (800) 562-7760 or email us at [email protected].

What is Sublimation Printing and When Should You Choose It?

What Sets Dye Sublimation Printing Apart from Other Processes?

Among all the ways you can print images on cloth, plastic, glass, metal, and other materials, sublimation is in a class all its own for image brightness and durability. It relies on a scientific principle that allows inks to be fully infused into the material being printed. Sublimation produces brilliant, photo realistic images that don’t wash off.

What is Sublimation Printing, Exactly?

Cool science moment: The word “sublimation” means turning a substance from a solid directly into a gas without it passing through the liquid stage. In sublimation printing, solid inks are sublimated—quickly heated to turn the inks into gas. The gas moves into the substrate (the material being printed) and bonds with it at the molecular level. Unlike silk screened and digitally printed images, which fade over time, sublimated images don’t wear out until the substrate wears out.

How does Sublimation Work?

Designs are printed onto a paper or film backing with sublimation inks. The backing is placed against the substrate and loaded into a heat press, which holds the two materials tightly together as heat is applied. The solid ink turns into a gas, which flows into the substrate and then turns back into a solid that is now printed into the substrate at the molecular level. How cool is that?
Sublimation printing can be done on a variety of substrates, including garments, signs, trade show materials, and promotional items like keyrings and coffee mugs.

Sublimation Printing for Businesses: What can Sublimation be Used On?

Sublimation printing can be used on a variety of substrates, including:

• 1. Rigid Substrates
  Sublimation can be used on many polymer-treated, hard-surfaced materials like fiberglass, drink ware, cell phone cases, magnets, and plastic.
• 2. Signage
  Signage substrate examples include flags, vinyl banners, fabric backdrops, table covers, canvas, and tent fabric.
• 3. Apparel
  Any polyester or 60/40 poly-blend garment can be sublimation printed.
• 4. Ceramics
  Home décor designers sublimate designs onto ceramic tiles used by interior decorators.

When Should You Choose Dye Sublimation Printing?

When image quality and longevity matters, dye sublimation is often the best choice. You’ll get photo-quality image reproduction, and the picture is there to stay. Common applications include heavy-use items like kitchenware, drinkware, mouse pads, bedding, and quality, polyester apparel. All these substrates can be used and washed repeatedly without compromising the graphics.

What are the Drawbacks of Sublimation Printing?

Cool science doesn’t come cheap. Sublimation printing machines can cost as much as $10,000, not including materials, supplies, and a separate heat press. Inks and papers are also expensive, so sublimation is far from the cheapest way to print. But it’s one of the best looking.
Also, sublimation can’t be used on non-polyester items, so that rules out 100 percent cotton fabrics, and any materials that can’t be polymer coated in advance of the sublimation process.

Exactly What Materials can be Sublimation Printed?

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: substrates can only be sublimated if they are made from polyester or polyester coated. The good news is that this leaves a very large number of materials that can be sublimated. This process can also be effective on materials for which there is no other effective printing method.

On Fabric?

We’ve already discussed how tough and bright sublimated images are, but there’s sometimes a design reason to use this technique: sublimation allows garments to printed all over, not just on the front and back. This opens up whole new, eye-catching design options. And, of course, the sublimated color is spectacular.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of large format sublimation paper. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

On Plastics and Other Synthetic Materials

The processes and equipment for three dimensional objects are different than those used for fabrics. Instead of a heat press, an oven press us used. And instead of paper, images are first printed onto plastic film. But the net effect is the same: the images are bonded with the molecules of the substrate.
It’s important to note that the process also uses a lot of heat—up to 400° F—so you can only print on higher temperature plastics with this method.

On Acrylic

Okay, acrylic is an exception to the previously mentioned guideline about only being able to sublimate polyester materials. One type of acrylic, aptly named sublimation acrylic, is specially formulated to allow sublimation dyes to permeate the surface.

On Vinyl

Vinyl falls into the polyester category, and it offers endless shape options for sublimated designs, ranging from banners to vehicle wraps.

On Nylon

Dye sublimation on nylon is far less common than with other synthetics. It can be done, but the process requires lower temperatures and a specific type of nylon, and it can still be tricky; materials usually need to be tested before printing production runs.

On Metal

Dye sublimation can achieve very striking images on metals, and these surfaces respond well to molecular image adhesion. Image clarity is excellent when applied to high-quality metal surfaces.

On Canvas

If you’ve ever seen an amazingly authentic looking reproduction of a painting on stretched canvas, it was probably dye-sublimation printed. The process renders vivid color and high detail, making it the perfect choice for paintings—or marketing messages.

On Wood

Wood falls into the category of materials that can be dye sublimated after coating with a polyester substance. The results add an attractive wood-grain dimension to high-resolution images.

Why Choose Dye Sublimation Printing?

Sometimes image quality and longevity are more important than price. When your project calls for a high-end look, sublimation is often the right choice. When a t shirt image needs to keep looking great after several laundering, or a banner needs to look good through all kinds of weather, dye sublimation is the weapon of choice.

Why choose US Logo as your sublimation printer source?

We’re a one-stop shop for any kind of promotional items, including sublimation printing, so you can take care of all your branded merchandise needs with one call. And we don’t have a minimum order restriction for sublimation printing, so you can get exactly what you need in the quantity you need.

FAQS:

Q: What are the advantages of sublimation printing?
A: Sublimation is a very fast process, from setup to finished product; same day orders are often possible. It’s an excellent option for small print runs and on-demand printing needs. Sublimated colors are extremely durable, and images are high definition.

Q: What are the drawbacks of sublimation printing?
A: We’ve already covered the downsides: it only works on polyester, and it’s a bit pricey. Sublimation is not always the best value for large printing runs, but because if its low setup costs, it can actually be cheaper than silk-screening for small runs.

Q: Is sublimation printing worth the money?
A: It certainly can be, if you need the best possible image quality. Some designs may work fine with other printing methods, but when you need color durability and high-definition imaging, sublimation is the only way to fly.

Q: Which is better, sublimation or screen printing?
A: Depends on what you’re looking for. Sublimation gives the best image quality and durability, but screen printing costs less for larger runs, and it can be done on cotton fabrics.

Q: Which is better, sublimation printing or heat transfer?
A: Sublimation printing offers better long-term image adhesion than heat press because the ink becomes part of the fabric rather than simply adhering to the surface.

Q: Is sublimation better than vinyl appliques?
A: Sublimated images will not crack and peel the way vinyl images do, over time. On the other hand, vinyl images can include the color white, and can be applied to cotton garments.

Q: Is dye sublimation printing permanent?
A: Sublimation printing is as permanent as a design can be because, unlike other printing processes that put pigments on the surface of the substrate, sublimation bonds images into the surface.

Q: How big can a sublimation printed design be?
A: The largest surface we can print is 40″ x 60″.

Q: What can dye sublimation be printed on?
A: Anything that contains polyester or that can be surface-treated with polyester.

Q: Can I have garments or other items I already own sublimation printed?
A: Sure thing. However, it can get a little tricky printing on unfamiliar materials, so we’ll ask you to sign a waiver, just on the off chance that it doesn’t look great or, heaven forbid, some damage occurs.

Q: Can sublimation ink be used on cotton?
A: Not unless the cotton is first coated with a polymer. Products like Polyfog can easily be sprayed into cotton garments to prep them for sublimation.

Q: Is dye sublimation ink waterproof?
A: The finished design is very waterproof. The ink itself is water soluble before undergoing the sublimation process.

Q: Can sublimation printing be done on color shirts?
A: Absolutely, and it can look great, as long as there is no white in your design. Sublimation inks can’t be blended to make white. So for those designs, you need to start with a white shirt and leave those areas unprinted.

Q: Can I print sublimation ink on paper?
A: Sorry, no, paper doesn’t stand up to the high temperatures and pressures of sublimation.

Q: What percentage of polyester works best with sublimation?
A: One hundred percent works best, but 50 percent poly blends can be sublimated as long as the other fibers can tolerate the 400 degrees of heat generated by the press.

Q: Does sublimation work on 40 percent polyester?
A: Sublimation dyes do well down to about a 50 – 60 percent polyester content, but 40 percent is getting into a gray area. Tight knits will probably hold ink better than loose knits.

Q: What’s the difference between ChromaBlast and sublimation?
A: ChromaBlast uses a carrier film that bonds well with cotton, not as effective as the fabric-direct molecular bonding of sublimation, but a good solution for cotton blends.

Q: Can you dye sublimate on red?
A: Yes, but darker inks tend to stand out better on deep colors, so always try to use inks that are darker than your substrate color.

Did you say, “Where is a sublimated product shop near me?”

We’re at 520 N. West Street, a block south of Central Ave. Stop by anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to check out our “Big Red Showroom” and tell us about your marketing project. Or call (316) 264-1321 to speak with a customer service representative.

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Are you interested in learning more about oem sublimation paper? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!