What is dye-sublimation printing and how does it work?

Compared to traditional wide-format inkjet printing this modern technology means you can create vivid, long-life and colour-fast displays and signage relatively quickly and cost-effectively.

The process by which dye-sublimation is applied means you get high definition results while maintaining fabric integrity. You can achieve continuous tone and near-photographic images that become part of the material itself, resulting in a flawless and smooth surface.

Your graphics are safe because they are permanently embedded through the dye-sublimation process regardless of the fabric you choose. Fabrics can include poly-poplin, satin, outdoor flag cloth, poly-knit, taffeta, sheer, chiffon, poly-silk, dacron, gaming suede, poly-dick, spun-poly, mesh and more recently, carpet.

There is no creasing or cracking of the graphics when folding your fabric. They are washable without risk and won’t curl at the edges. Moreover, they are free from any glare as they have a smooth and non-glossy finish making them perfect for both indoor and outdoor applications or in highly lit areas. The dye-sublimation printing method can be applied to outdoor flags, exhibition graphics and portable displays. And when applied to tension fabric exhibition systems your visual impact and ability to attract customers to your display is far superior to that of traditional printing methods.

The best part, however, is the eco-friendly nature of this process.

It uses water-based dyes, which means that no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) are produced like you would get from solvent-based inks and so there are no nasty vapours escaping into the atmosphere.

In addition, there is no waste making its way into our waterways as there is no water used in the printing process thus also saving water under dye-sublimation printing. And with no water in the process, prints are dry and ready to use as soon as they exit the printer in contrast to the energy-soaking heaters that traditional printing methods use to dry materials.

From a technical standpoint, the sublimation process is not complex to set up or administer thereby allowing the convenience and advantage of mass production. From a scientific standpoint, the sublimation process uses heat and pressure to convert solid particles into a gaseous state without first forming a liquid.

These gas particles are embedded within your fabric when they return to a solid. The high temperature used in the process opens the pores of your fabric through which the dye moves in and the particles bond together.

Once cooled, the pores of the fabric close, the particles settle and they don’t move or wash away. This physical reaction is named sublimation and when applied to the printing process is the technology of dye-sublimation printing.