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Sublimation printing has come a long way since it was first marketed as a major form of decoration a few years ago. However The Transfer Press may now be offering the next stage in the technology, Dan Raywood discovered more.
Until recently, it was believed that you could only use sublimation technology on garments that were white. The common solution was, at first, a pure polyester garment or, more recently, a cotton garment with a polyester surface woven onto it.
However the new range of garments from Vapor Apparel, that are being offered by UK transfer specialists The Transfer Press, give a whole new edge to sublimation garments. The range not only includes a range of colours, but also performance fabrics and, perhaps most notably, different fabric options away from the standard cotton and polyester mix.
The Transfer Press Director Graeme Turner said, ‘Over the past few years we’ve set out to create and deliver the widest range of sublimation consumables in the industry, now we are proving that this is the way to go for small run four colour orders.’
The core of the Vapor Apparel range is Basic Performance 100% spun microfibre T-shirts in white and grey, available in sizes from child’s XS through to an adult XXXL. ‘This fabric is so good we have to keep showing people the labels to convince them it’s not cotton’, said Graeme.
For the first time in sublimation, the Basic Performance range also includes a typical ringer T with a single colour body and contrast collar and cuffs that comes in a choice of white/black, white/red, sand/java and sky/indigo. In a similar style is the ‘The Player’ which only has the contrast collar and is available in a choice of white/black and white/red.
Both the Ringer and the Player are also made from 100% spun microfibre and are equally suitable for screenprinting and embroidery as well as sublimation printing.
These styles feature a performance fabric that is designed to wick away moisture and are engineered to keep you cool, they also feature Intera fabric that has anti-bacterial and anti-stain qualities. The technology is in the fabric itself rather than an applied layer of coating and no performance qualities are lost with repeated washing of the garment.
‘We believe that this is the widest and most competitively priced range of ‘wickable’ shirts on the UK garment decoration market’, said Graeme, ‘and they are not just for sublimation, they screen print and embroider superbly as well!’
Another benefit of the Basic Performance garments is the drying time, typically a normal garment will dry in around two and a half hours while this range can dry in 20 minutes after 20 launderings*.
If your needs are yet further advanced, then the Micro Performance range is also offered. These garments are made from a light yet durable fabric with two needle cover stitch-in-hem and four-thread overlock for extra strength in all hem seams. The Micro Performance garments offer superior wicking performance and feature anti-microbial, anti-mildew and anti-stain qualities.
In Micro Performance there is the standard fit T-shirt that is available in both a short and long sleeve and there are also ladyfit t-shirts, both with and without sleeves, together with a ‘muscle top’. With the choice of colours available in the short sleeve style, it is realistic for the first time to dye-sublimate a choice of coloured garments, including zesty yellow, breezy pink and sky blue as well as a bright red which can, of course, only be sublimated with dark images. Also offered is a sleeveless style for both men and women.
There is also the sublimation polo shirt, made from wickable sports fabric that is currently only available in white with a range of contrast collar options, but with more colour choices available soon. A recent introduction is a range of mens and womens athletics vests, and sweatshirts will be available early in the new year.
The Transfer Press have had great success with the Subli Soft sublimation range - a cotton/polyester mix - which is very soft and comfortable to wear and offers superb printability. The Subli Soft is currently available in a choice of white and grey T-shirts and ladyfits and white polos.
Graeme said, ‘We anticipate the Sublisoft range continuing to be a major part of our clothing range, it compliments the Vapor range.’
Graeme is keen to stress the simplicity of sublimation printing, he said, ‘If you’ve got a Epson 1290 with a bulk ink feed system you can sublimation print on anything really. We do all our samples on a standard printer to show our customers what they can produce. The things we’ve seen in the past 18 months are amazing and we see a lot of development in the future too.’ * Test carried out by Source Substrates in comparison to seven other garments.
For further information contact The Transfer Press on 01844 274354, fax: 0870 460 6241 or visit the website at www.thetransferpress.co.uk for a comprehensive guide to products and processes.
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