What Makes Dye Sublimation Printing a Great Option for Branding?

What Is Dye Sublimation Printing?

Dye sublimation printing is a digital printing method that uses heat transfer to apply an image to a material. The most common materials used for this method include transfer paper, fabric, and metal.

In dye sublimation printing, the printer heats the ink, causing it to sublimate, which means it skips the liquid form and transitions directly into a gaseous state. This gas form will then return to solid and create a full-colour image.

Similarly, this printing style is not intended for typical workplace media such as printing papers, labels or envelopes. Dye sublimation is popular for printing logos and graphics on rubber, synthetic fabric, and plastic substrates.

Different promotional products such as mugs, pillowcases, mouse pads, and sports apparel are suited for this type of promotional product printing.

A Step-by-Step Guide in Dye Sublimation Printing

Not all business owners can visit the factories where their promotional products are made. Often, they appoint personnel from their company to do this particular task to monitor how things are going.

Therefore, if you’re a business owner and want to learn how this process works, this step-by-step guide for pillowcase printing will show you how.

Dye sublimation printing requires key materials such as sublimation printer, sublimation paper, computer & RIP software, cutting device, and heat press to push through.

Step 1: 

Create the image using the “Raster Image Processor” (RIP) software. A master layout containing the graphics for each part of the product is created. This is the file that will be used to print the transfer paper.

Step 2:

After creating the design, it will be printed using a specialized digital printer. The design is printed onto a large ream of transfer paper using specialized sublimation inks.

Step 3:

Once the image is printed, the paper will be aligned with a polyester textile so that the printed side faces the fabric. It will then be put into a heat press.

Step 4:

Once the materials are all set, the heat transfer will be closed and open once the image transfer is done.

Step 5:

After ensuring the design is successfully transferred, the transfer paper can be discarded, and the fabric is ready for cutting and sewing.

Top 5 Reasons Dye Sublimation Printing is Great for Branding

1. Full-colour and high-quality printing.

The main benefit of using dye sublimation printing in branding products is its ability to use any colour with high-quality resolution. This printing method allows you to make your brand message and marketing initiatives bolder, livelier and more effective.

In addition, the dye or sublimation ink used in printing works well with the fabric, giving the material smoother colours.

2. Versatile

Dye-sublimation printing technology works great for indoor and outdoor promotional products. Its popularity grows as more and more types of materials can be printed using the method.

From custom one-off flip flops, uniforms and socks to large outdoor signage and home decor items, dye sublimation provides unlimited potential for your business branding.

3. Long Lasting

The chemical bonding for this printing method ensures that the dye is permanently imprinted on your product/ material. Likewise, this means no cracking, fading or deterioration of the image will occur once it is set into the product.

If the base material can withstand the cleaning agent or environment, your print will maintain its original look.

4. Provides unlimited colour options. 

Dye sublimation printing offers unlimited colour options for businesses like yours. Unlike other printing methods, it can produce thousands of colours, even if you choose a 4-colour printer.

5. Flexibility in production.

Dye sublimation printing is quick and inexpensive in both setup and production, making it an ideal choice for creating personalised, one-of-a-kind items or mass-producing various custom products.

Using a relatively cheap printer, a computer and a heat press, you can now produce full-colour transfers cheaply and easily.

Promotional Products Printing Methods

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil.

This method is also known as serigraphy or silkscreen printing. It’s a trendy technique used in a whole range of different industries.

3D printing is an additive process wherein layers of material are built up to create a 3-dimensional part.

This is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing processes, where a final design is cut from a larger block of material.

Water transfer printing or immersion printing is a method of applying printed designs to three-dimensional surfaces.

It was based on the water as a medium, combined with cutting-edge offset printing and screen printing technology for precision.

Laser engraving is a process of cutting or etching into a surface with light.

The laser beam acts as a chisel, incising marks by removing layers from the material’s surface.

Debossing is when an image, logo or text is imprinted into your print piece, creating a depressed effect.

Just like embossing, you can leave the debossed area untouched or fill it in with ink or foil stamping.

Embroidery is considered an art of decorating textiles and goes a long way back.

It’s primarily used as a means to display the social status of those who can afford the costly art due to the amount of time and labour to finish the embroidery.

In Conclusion,

Remember that when your business selects promotional products, you invest in your public image, marketing potential, and client acquisition. Whether you distribute products at tradeshows or public fairs, your marketing materials are the first impression potential customers will have of your company.

Therefore, when it comes to branding or printing your promotional products, dye sublimation is an excellent option to consider.

Harness Our Creativity!

ODM has more than a decade of experience in the sourcing industry. Since 2003, we have helped local and international companies produce promotional products for their marketing campaigns. From custom promotional giveaways, office merchandise, 3D printed promotional products, and promotional sports merchandise to gift-with-purchase items and free-standing display units, ODM is here to provide all the marketing tools you need.

Likewise, our team is here to assist you in printing and branding all your promotional products for your upcoming activities.

We have a lot in store for you! Connect with our team today to learn more about our products and services!

What to Read Next?