There are various types of sublimation fabrics to sublimate on, the three common sublimation fabrics are specially treated cotton, synthetic fiber, and polyester. The performance of the three materials varies from each other during dye sublimation printing.
In this article, we explore the definition of dye sublimation printing and the best sublimation fabric for printing.
What Is Dye Sublimation Printing?
Dye sublimation printing, also referred to as all-over printing, is a technique that transfers the whole design of a certain sheet to the receiving fabric without any mistakes. Heat is what causes the sublimation dye to evaporate during the procedure.
Then the dye and the fabric are left to chemically connect at the molecular level while the fabric cools, the dye returns to its solid state, and the sublimation fabric tightens. This gives the fabric its bright, vivid, eye-catching, and long-lasting qualities.
What is the best sublimation fabric for printing?
Cotton With Additional Processes
For sublimation printing, pure cotton is useless. Cotton won’t be capable of continuing to connect with sublimation ink pigments because it is formed of natural fibers. The textile can sometimes be treated with particular coatings to enable the ink dye to adhere to it. By injecting a polymer into the cotton fabric, the specific coatings enable the ink colors to firmly connect with the cotton fabric.
Synthetic fibers
Materials with exceptional strength and durability, such as Nylon, Rayon, Lycra, and Spandex, are those that perform well with sublimation printing. While these synthetic fibers do not provide as much comfort as natural fabrics, such as cotton
Polyester
The best sublimation fabric for printing is polyester. When heated, the polymers of polyester expand. Heat causes the ink dye to change into its gaseous state, which allows it to easily pass through the pores of cloth and bond with other materials once the fabric has cooled. Even when worn over extended periods of time, polyester does not wrinkle readily. Since the molecules of polyester will readily form a link with the ink dye, you can transfer the design with the highest level of quality.
