possible stupid question alert!! how does sublimation work, exactly?

[TQfan]

Hey

Just curious as to how sublimation works, in respect of the material used?

I know you print out your design and heat on to the material, but i am wondering about the materials. is it ALL 100% polyester? or only specific items that say you can use for sublimation??

i bought these patches - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-Blank-5 ... 2749.l2649 - for embroidery purposes, but as you will see from the item description it states they can be used for sublimation.

is this because you can sublimate onto any 100% polyester item??

i'm looking at other ready made patches (http://www.waughgroup.co.uk/s.nl/it.A/id.6001/.f) that say they are suitable for print, embroidery, and transfers, and am wondering if by print they mean sublimation? orrrr am i completely way off base here?! :rolleyes:

thanks all :biggrin:

[logobear]

you need a printer setup with a special ink set, - and colour calibrate it for accuracy.
Sublimation is a heat induced migration of the colour dye into a substrate - it can be many materials, but the colour only permanantly bonds with polyester, - it would wash out of cotton.
Both the patches shown are poly, - hence suitable for sub

To begin you need a heat press and inkjet printer setup exclusively for sublimation
Speak to PrinterOwners, or The Magic Touch for more info,
OR - read around this forum !

[TQfan]

yep, just wanted to know about the polyester, thanks, it helps a lot!

i already have a sublimation setup

[pw66]

You can sublimate onto virtually all polyester and most polyester blends( with varying results).
The only thing you might struggle with is some coated polyester, such as some dearer hivis motorway coats.

[TQfan]

You can sublimate onto virtually all polyester and most polyester blends( with varying results).

i tried to explain this to my dad earlier. told him what logobear said about cotton not taking it, so he was like, but why polyester? then he asked about polycotton! told him it could be 50/50 and might fade but not wash out. just an assumption based on what logobear said, you've confirmed that, i think!!

the Reveal-S system is similar, at the demo day we were told it might fade a little after first wash but be fine after. not sure how true that is!!

[webtrekker]

Sublimation inks bond with polyester AND polymer-coated substrates.

The polymers 'open up' under heat and pressure and the ink from the transfer turns immediately into a gas which is infused into the polymer. On cooling, the polymer 'closes up' and traps the inks. In this way the image is actually inside the coating and not lying on top as in other print methods such as screen printing. This means a sublimated t-shirt image will always feel as soft as the material it's printed on and will never crack when washed or stretched.