1. Dye sublimation utilises a textile disperse dye
2. Disperse dyes require heat fixation between approximately 180-210°C
3. Disperse dyes only work with polyester fabrics or polyester coated materials
4. Specialist sublimation papers should be used to achieve the best results
5. Sublimation requires even, constant pressure as well as heat to achieve consistent results. A good quality heat press is essential.

Dye sublimation will not work onto natural fibres such as cotton and silks or on materials that do not have a polyester coating. There are alternative methods for producing images on these materials such as ink jet transfer papers or acid and reactive dyes if printing directly onto textile but this is best left for another day as the process is more complex.

“RA Smart has seen a continual increase in the demand for small format dye sublimation systems and consumables and the reason for this is quite straightforward,” it says. “Relatively low cost small format systems allow customers to produce a wide variety of products with photographic quality printing for such markets as personalised products, giftware, bespoke garments etc.

“As the European distributor for American heat press manufacturer, George Knight, we continue to see growth in this sector. Increase in demand for more and more end uses has seen a huge range of consumables and blanks become available for use with dye sublimation including specifically manufactured garments such as the SmarTee and SmarTec T shirts through to ceramics, glassware, jigsaws, bar runners etc.”

Geo heat press image

Interestingly, RA Smart says it is also seeing dye sublimation grow in its wide format sector of the marketplace. “It is worth remembering that dye sublimation is not only used for producing promotional goods and giftware, but also by a wide range of ‘industrial’ customers for the production of sportswear, household and contract textiles as well as indoor and outdoor signage,” it says. ”The process is exactly the same as with the small format sector but larger and faster (and more expensive!) dedicated digital printers are used (machines up to 3.20mt wide are available).”

Rather than using a flat bed heat press, most wide format applications use a rotary heat press this gives the advantage of not being restricted to a certain panel size, says RA Smart. This way lengths of fabric can be produced with the width of the machine being the only constraint.

It adds: “There is no doubt that dye sublimation will continue to play an important role in the production of a whole myriad or products both in the small format and large format sector. Due to its user friendly application, anyone with the right support and advice can produce high value bespoke merchandise and add to their current product portfolio.”

Web: www.rasmart.co.uk