What is the principle of the sublimation?
The principle of sublimation mainly involves the process of a substance transforming directly from a solid state to a gaseous state without going through a liquid state.
Sublimation is not only widely found in nature, for example, the phenomenon of dye sublimation can be observed in substances such as dry ice and mothballs, but also has important applications in many industrial fields. Clothing, food, housing and transportation are one of the important means of life that have been indispensable to mankind since civilization. For example, in the field of textile printing, the heat sublimation process utilizes the characteristics of substances that are directly transformed from a solid state to a gaseous state at a certain temperature and pressure, and realizes high-quality printing effects through the steps of toner transfer, heat treatment and cooling.
Then, according to this principle, the invention of dye sublimation printer to meet the demand for a large number of multi-color printing in the textile printing industry. Is the four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black, referred to as CMYK) of solid pigments (known as color rolls) set on a drum, which is installed on the top of tens of thousands of semiconductor heating elements, when the temperature of these heating elements to a certain degree, the solid pigments can be directly converted into a gaseous state, and then the gas will be injected into the print media. Each semiconductor heating element can be adjusted out of 256 temperatures, thus being able to adjust the proportion and intensity of color, achieving the effect of true-color photos with continuous tones.
What products are needed when printing with a dye sublimation printer?
You will need a dye sublimation printer, image processing software, dye sublimation ink, dye sublimation transfer paper, and a heat press. If you are able to do so, you can prepare a cutting machine to cut the printed transfer paper.
When selecting a dye sublimation printer, there are several factors to consider to ensure that you choose a device that meets your needs. Here are some key recommendations:
(1) Print performance and resolution:
Color performance: dye sublimation printers are known for their high-quality color performance, so when selecting one, you should focus on whether its print colors are vivid and full, and whether it can achieve the effect of true-color photos with continuous tones.
Resolution: Resolution is an important indicator of the printer’s printing effect. Higher resolution can print a finer, clearer image. When choosing, you can pay attention to the printer’s dpi (dots per inch) value, usually, a higher dpi value means better printing results.
(2) Printing speed and efficiency:
Considering that dye sublimation printers are typically used to print high-quality images and photos, print speed may be a factor to weigh. While dye sublimation printers print excellently, they usually print at a relatively slow speed. Therefore, when choosing one, you need to weigh the print speed and results according to your actual needs and budget.Sublistar has a wide range of dye sublimation printers that cater to large rolls of high-speed printing. Its brand name is already known globally.
(3) Stability and durability of the machine:
Choose a brand and model with a good reputation and stable performance. You can check product reviews and user feedback to understand the durability and reliability of the equipment.
(4) Special features and needs:
According to specific needs, consider whether the dye sublimation printer has other special features, such as automatic deskew, noise reduction and other functions. These features can improve the ease of use and efficiency.
(5) After-sales service and support:
Consider the after-sales service and support provided by the manufacturer, including the warranty period, maintenance service, and technical support. This will help to get a timely solution when there is a problem with the equipment.
Image processing software generally includes: Maintop, Photoprint and CADLink. Senior designers need to be familiar with the master, in order to maximize the effect.
The choice of dye sublimation ink as well as dye sublimation transfer paper is generally recommended to use the original factory-provided, there will be better compatibility and adaptability. Replacing the ink midway may cause the machine printheads to be affected, leading to the progress of the entire production process. Choose the right grammage of the heat sublimation paper according to the printing needs.
The heat press is responsible for transferring the design on the heat sublimation paper to the garment. There are desktop type, single station and multi-station. The choice is made according to the production requirements. The image is permanently on the substrate after heat transfer, and the color will generally not fade as long as it is not outdoors for a long time in the wind and rain.
What is the workflow of the sublimation printer and where is it applied?
The process is very simple, the first is to design a good print pattern on the computer side, and then instruct the printer to print, after printing and winding up, cutting, and then the corresponding pattern will be transferred to the garment or other fabrics using a heat press.
Wide range of applications: Rigid Substrates, Rigid Blank Products, Signage, Polyester fabrics, Home Decor, Photograph Printing and so on.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a dye sublimation printer?
Advantages: the printing effect is delicate, high color reproduction, especially the skin texture and color scale transition of portraits, very natural. Printing does not fade, can protect the print pattern from water, fingerprints, oxidation, etc., to extend the preservation time. And breathable and comfortable, very suitable for printing on T-shirts.
Disadvantages: sublimation printers are expensive and printing can only be done on polyester fabrics. For best results, they must be made of 100% polyester. If you want to print on non-fabric items, they must be polyester-coated before you can proceed with the subsequent process.
To sum up, dye sublimation printers are preferred by textile merchants because of their characteristic advantage of outputting brilliant and long-lasting colors. If you have more questions about dye sublimation printers, you can contact us for answers.
