Dye Sublimation Paper 101: The Basics of Transfer Paper

Dye-Sublimation printing uses sublimating ink and sublimating transfer paper to deliver superior print results compared to other printing methods. While ordinary laser or inkjet printers spray the ink onto paper or fabric, sublimation-dye printing effectively traps solid ink particles into the fibers of whichever material you’re printing on.

During the sublimation process, ink is first sprayed onto transfer paper to create a design on the paper first. This paper is placed in a heat press, along with the fabric you want to print on, to be heated at temperatures as high as 350—400 degrees. When heated, the sublimating ink changes into a gas that’s trapped between the fibers of your substrate—to solidify into a clear print when the substrate cools.
The transfer paper is the most important component of this entire process—a special kind of paper capable of holding onto sublimation ink and that won’t burn when heated.

Types of Sublimation Paper

There are three basic types of transfer papers used for sublimation-dye printing. These include:
· Transfer Paper for Soft Surfaces— Commonly used for printing on fabrics, paper, and other similar materials. These are further divided into light or dark transfer papers used for printing on light and dark colors respectively.
· Transfer Papers for Hard Surfaces—Usually for print jobs on plastic, wood or other coated materials.
· Transfer papers for both hard and soft surfaces—More expensive transfer paper types that can be used equally as well for both types of surfaces.

The Qualities of Good Sublimation Transfer Paper

The sublimation printing process involves putting your substrate and the transfer paper through intense heat to transfer the designs. For sublimation paper to do its job, it needs to have the following qualities:
· It can transfer sublimating ink onto the substrate.
· It should withstand extremely high temperatures.
· Maintains minimal dot gain after the printing job.

Things to Watch Out For

When you’re in the market for sublimation paper, you’ll need to keep in mind certain factors. Sublimation is a chemically sensitive process that is thrown off if you don’t maintain proper humidity conditions, buy the right type of paper and use the right kind of fabric.  Before choosing your sublimation transfer paper, consider the following factors:
· If you’re working in high humidity regions, you should invest in thicker transfer paper types because these are damp-resistant. Using damp transfer paper can cause problems like bleeding patterns and faded prints.
· The amount of ink you’ll during the printing process—lighter papers tend to curl after printing to compromise your final print quality.
· Use a transfer paper that is compatible with your sublimation printers.
Jind Group Limited is a premium, worldwide manufacturer and supplier of full sticky sublimation paper and eco-solvent transfer paper for sublimation printing purposes. For more information on their products, visit the company website today.

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