Dye Sublimation

All I know about Sublimation is that the ink turns to gas at high temp, then transfers to the item. And it doesn't work well with cotton or 50/50 tee's, just polyester and ceramics.

I have been making custom flags using dye sublimation for several years now. Polyester is the material of choice since it doesn't burn. The pictures look great and colorful though. I have an Epson 9600 wide-format printer using dye sub. ink. My heat press is a
Geo Knight Maxi Press (44x60 inch heat surface). Actually, we are having someone else doing it for us now and are looking to sell our equipment, if your interested in getting into it.

It's as easy as printing your artwork, cutting your size of material, placing your printed art on the material and pressing at 400 degrees for about 1 minute. The art transfers to your material, whether polyester, tiles, mousepads, etc.

I use an Epson 4800 and I'm runing the MultiRip software to do Dye Sub, Light & Dark Transfers, Film Positives and Posters all from the same printer. It's amazing! I got a great deal on the Epson from Lee's Supply. I got the MultiRip and my Inks and paper from The Paper Ranch. They also offer FREE training! I just got back from the training and it was well worth it.

Dye Sub is best on 100% polyester. The ink only adheres to non-organic materials. You just print a full colour image with Dye Sub inks onto dye sub paper and the press it on the substrate for 40 seconds at 390 degrees. The ink turns into a gas and clings to the polyester. It's amazing!. It also look super cool on tiles and coffee mugs and shot glasses and beer steins and metal and...the list goes on.

you mention above die sub works great on 100% poly but what about poly/spadex?

Used Full Color Sieko ColorPoint 820 Specialty Digital Printer fro sale

This digital printer has the capability to print thermal wax tranfers onto 50/50 and 100% cottons or poly. It can also print dye-sublimation prints to transfer onto ceramics and poly's. please call if intersted

MichaelWayne
219:201:2311

A new type of hybrid transfer paper for 50/50 and 100% cotton tees for use with sublimation inks are out on the market. It costs $0.50 per sheet and looks and feels as good as printing on 100% polyester. Don't remember what this is called, but I have some that I just ordered last week. I went to a workshop couple weeks ago and made a t-shirt with this transfer paper and a 100% cotton tee.... Looked awesome and felt soft.

P.S. Fades about 10-15% at first washing, but does not fade after that.