Take you to understand the working steps of sublimation printer

Sublimation printer: Innovative technology to achieve color leap

The key reason why the sublimation printer can achieve such a magical printing effect is the ink it uses. This ink is fundamentally different from ordinary printer ink in that it is made of special dyes that, when heated, can directly sublimate from a solid to a gas, which is the core material basis for sublimation printers.

When the sublimation printer starts working, the print head sprays this special ink onto the printing material. At room temperature, the ink exists in liquid form in the cartridge and is precisely sprayed onto the transfer paper through a precision print head. At this point, the ink is evenly distributed on the surface of the transfer paper, forming an image consistent with the design pattern we input.

Sublimation printer printing steps

1. Pattern design

Before sublimation printing, you first need to use professional graphic design software on the computer, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, etc., to design and create. The pattern needs to be colorful and clear in detail, which will directly determine the effect of the printed product.

2. Print to sublimation paper

The design pattern is printed on transfer paper with sublimation ink, and the color after printing is dim, but it is a normal phenomenon. This transfer paper is specially treated to adsorb the ink well and helps the ink transfer smoothly to the target material during the subsequent hot pressing process.

3. Prepare the object to be transferred

Choose white or light colored polyester, polymer coated materials, such as T-shirts, mugs, etc., as the printing base. Sublimation printers are not suitable for all materials, and they work best on white or light-colored polyester or polymer coated materials. Common base materials are various styles of T-shirts, mugs, mouse pads, mobile phone cases, flags, banners and so on. These materials have good water absorption and heat resistance, allowing the sublimation ink to fully penetrate and combine with it to achieve high-quality printing results. When selecting the base material, ensure that its surface is smooth, clean, and free of stains and impurities, so as not to affect the print quality.

4. Transfer pattern

We cover the printed transfer paper tightly over the base material and then put it together in the hot press. The hot press applies high temperature (usually about 160-200 ° C) and a certain pressure, under such conditions, the solid ink on the transfer paper rapidly sublimates into a gas, they quickly penetrate into the fiber gap of the material, and the material is closely combined. In this process, high temperature plays a key role, which not only promotes the sublimation of the ink, but also makes the fiber structure of the substrate become more loose, which facilitates the penetration of ink molecules. The pressure ensures the close contact between the transfer paper and the base material, so that the ink can be evenly transferred to the material.

5. Cooling cure and finished product presentation

After hot pressing sublimation, the base material needs a period of cooling. As the temperature drops, the gaseous ink that permeates the fibers of the material gradually cools and resolidifies, becoming part of the base material. At this point, we carefully remove the transfer paper, and a brightly colored, beautifully patterned sublimation print is presented in front of us. Sublimated printed items, the color is firm, durable, will not fade easily, peeling, and feel soft and comfortable.

Conclusion

Sublimation printer with its unique working principle, the use of sublimation phenomenon and special ink, through a series of precise printing steps, to bring us bright colors, strong durability, rich details of the printing effect. Compared with traditional printing methods, it shows significant advantages in several aspects, whether it is better color performance, pattern durability or detail presentation.