Textile sublimation is a printing process widely used in the textile industry to transfer designs, patterns or images onto fabrics using special inks and heat. This printing method offers a number of significant advantages in terms of quality, durability, versatility, customization, speed and sustainability, making it a popular choice for the production of a wide variety of customized textile products.
Textile Sublimation Process
At Textilfy, all synthetic fabrics are printed by this technique. The process is relatively simple and the result is very good.
First, it is printed on transfer paper or sublimation paper with a printer that can be more or less large depending on the number of meters per hour it is capable of printing. There are many brands on the market, such as EPSON:
Once you have the paper printed, you take it out of the winding machine and place it in another machine called a calender. The calender is a machine that incorporates in its core a cylinder filled with oil that is heated to a temperature of about 190º. You can regulate it obviously according to the capacity of the machine and the speed at which it can go. The machine is like this:
When you have already placed the sublimation paper that has previously been printed on the printing machine, you also incorporate in the calender the fabric on which you want to sublimate.
Making a kind of sandwich, the fabric together with the paper with the ink pass through the hot cylinder and at that moment the ink from the paper passes to the fabric.
The result obtained on the fabric is very good, with great color yield and great resistance to rubbing and washing. In particular, to fully understand textile sublimation and all its implications, it is important to examine in detail each of the key aspects of this process:
Print quality with textile sublimation.
Print quality is one of the most outstanding features of textile sublimation. This method allows for the reproduction of designs with vibrant colors, sharp details and smooth gradations, resulting in high-resolution, near-photographic quality prints. The sublimation ink fuses with the fabric fibers during the transfer process, ensuring that the print is durable and resistant to washing, rubbing and wear. This high-quality reproduction capability is especially beneficial for the creation of customized textile products, where precision and design fidelity are critical.
Durability of sublimation
Durability is another key advantage of textile sublimation. Because sublimation inks are fully integrated into the fabric fibers during the transfer process, the resulting prints are highly durable and resistant to repeated washings and extended wear. This means that sublimated textile products maintain their original appearance and quality for extended periods of time, making them ideal for applications that require strength and longevity, such as sportswear, workwear and promotional products.
Versatility
Textile sublimation can be applied not only to continuous fabric rolls. It can also be applied to a variety of textile products, including apparel, accessories, home décor, promotional products and more, further expanding its usefulness and application in different industries and sectors.
Speed
Textile sublimation is a relatively fast and efficient process compared to other printing methods. Once the design has been created and the file prepared for printing, the sublimation process can be completed in a matter of minutes, allowing for streamlined production and quick response to market demands. This speed of production is especially beneficial in commercial and manufacturing environments where turnaround time and the ability to meet tight deadlines are critical to business success.
Sustainability of sublimation
Textile sublimation also offers benefits in terms of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Sublimation inks do not contain harsh chemicals or generate toxic waste, making them more environmentally friendly compared to some other printing methods. In particular, our inks are OEKO-TEX class 1 certified.
In addition, the sublimation process does not require the use of water in the printing process, which helps reduce the consumption of natural resources and minimizes the environmental impact associated with textile production. We only apply dry heat through the calender, which is also powered by energy from a photovoltaic installation we have on the roof of our warehouse. This makes dye sublimation a more sustainable option for the production of customized textile products.
In conclusion, textile sublimation is a highly effective and versatile printing process that offers a number of significant advantages in terms of quality, durability, versatility, customization, speed and sustainability. This technique is widely used in the textile industry for the production of a variety of customized products, from apparel and accessories to home décor and promotional products. With its ability to reproduce high-quality designs on a wide range of materials and products, textile sublimation remains a popular and cost-effective choice for manufacturers, designers and consumers alike.
If you have questions or don’t know which type of synthetic fabric to choose for your intended use, please share it with our team by emailing hello@textilfy.com, calling +34910493991 or via our chat.
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