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Dye sublimation is a fabric printing method that offers vibrant, rich colors and long-lasting prints at an affordable price. Curious about this technique? Read on as our digital printing experts at XL Digital Imaging break it all down, and discover why dye sublimation is the top choice for vibrant, high quality soft-signage fabric prints.
What Is Dye Sublimation?
Dye sublimation printing is a digital printing technique that uses heat to transfer dye onto materials, in this case fabric, to produce soft signage products. Unlike traditional methods like screen printing, which apply the ink on top of the fabric, dye sublimation printing infuses the dye into the fabric fibers, resulting in a durable and high-quality print that is fade-resistant and stands the test of time.
How Does Dye Sublimation Printing Work?
The process of dye sublimation printing involves three main steps:
Printing: The design can be digitally printed onto a special sublimation paper or directly on to fabric using dye-based inks.
Transfer: The printed design is then placed onto the fabric (if using the paper method), and heat and pressure are applied using a heat press. The heat causes the dye to sublimate, turning into a gas and bonding with the fabric fibers.
Cooling: After the transfer process, the fabric is cooled, solidifying the dye and creating a permanent, vibrant print.
See how our team at XL Digital Imaging produces a large-format dye sub project from start to finish with our dye sublimation technology.
The Advantages of Dye Sublimation Printing:
Lightweight: Soft signage/ fabrics are extremely lightweight. This makes for fast & low-cost delivery – our team at XL Digital Imaging can overnight soft-signage right to your door or show for a fraction of the cost of rigid materials.
Durability: The infused dye creates prints that are resistant to fading, cracking, and peeling. Because of the material’s flexibility, dye sublimation fabrics/ products don’t wrinkle or crease either, allowing for easy and stress free transportation, installation, and storage.
Vibrant Colors: Dye sublimation printing offers exceptionally vibrant and detailed prints, making it ideal for designs with intricate patterns and gradients.
Versatility: Dye sublimation printing can be used on a wide range of fabrics, including polyester, cotton, mesh, spandex, blends, and so much more.
Flawless Display: Fabric graphics with SEG finish seamlessly integrate with BeMatrix and REXframes, guaranteeing a perfect fit tailored to your display needs.
Environmental Sustainability
Unlike traditional printing methods that use harsh chemicals, dye sublimation printing is eco-friendly, with minimal waste and no harmful emissions. The dye-sub process results in virtually no leftover ink or consumables, which reduces the need for waste management and disposal efforts, contributing to a more sustainable printing practice. More and more tradeshow and event groups are also switching over to dye sublimation/ soft signage in place of PVC and ultraboard displays for their events and promotional materials, which can be non-recyclable and have a larger environmental footprint.
What is Dye-Sub Used For?
Dye sublimation fabric printing offers unparalleled quality, durability, and versatility, making it the preferred choice for promotional print products such as banners, flags, backdrops, exhibition displays, and so much more. There are truly endless possibilities: Whether you’re a project manager looking for materials, a marketer looking to advertise, a business owner looking for promotional products, an event planner, or a fellow print shop, exploring the benefits of dye sublimation printing can elevate your creations to new heights of quality and creativity, all while being environmentally conscientious.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact XL Digital Imaging today to learn more about our dye sublimation printing services and bring your designs to life with vibrant, long-lasting prints.
Check out our guide to achieving the perfect print, and contact our sales team at XL Digital Imaging today!
sales@xldigital.com
(214) 904 – 9400