Is That Dye Ink Same with Dye Sublimation Ink?

What is sublimation transfer? Sublimation transfer is a new way to print patterns on a variety of materials, especially for making a small variety of personalized and custom-made products, as well as printing patterns containing full-color images or photos. The principle is that the digital pattern is printed on the special printing paper by the special dye sublimation ink through the printer, and then the special transfer machine is used to accurately transfer the pattern to the surface of the product at high temperature and high pressure to complete the printing of the product.

Dye and sublimation inks are commonly used in inkjet printing. Contrary to what many people believe, there’s a great difference between the two inks.

Here is a look at the main features of dye and sublimation inks:

 Dye Ink
Before we get to the advantage and disadvantages of using dye ink, it’s important to talk about what dye ink actually is.

Dye ink is the standard ink used in inkjet printers. It is made from water and colorant. The colorant gives the ink ‘color.’



Pros and cons
Dye inks typically come in a variety of colors, which makes them suitable for decorative or artistic use. The ink can easily stick to textile fabrics, print paper or any other appropriate medium.

Due to its small molecular size (1.5–4 nanometers), dye ink can produce vibrant colors. Another advantage of using dye ink is that it’s more economical than other inks, such as pigment ink.

On the other hand, the biggest downside of dye ink is that water or excessive heat can ruin the quality of printed products. When you are using dye inks for printing, be very careful that the final product does not come into contact with water. A few drops of water can make the ink flow across the paper.



When should you use it
Dye ink is a good option if you need to print documents and photographs. It is much more economical than pigment ink.

Dye Sublimation Ink
Dye sublimation ink is a dye that is printed onto specific items, such as t-shirts, mugs, plaques, coasters, and more, via heat and pressure. Heat and pressure help convert the dye into a gas state, without turning into liquid.


Pros and cons
Dye sublimation ink is high quality, water-proof ink. The ink does not smudge because of high temperature. In addition, dye sublimation ink lasts longer than other inks.

As the imprints are dye-based rather than ink-based, the dye becomes part of the product. Dye sublimation ink has greater print accuracy and performance and delivers stunning results. Sublimated products will not crack, peel off or wash off.




Sublimation ink is used for textile printing or personalized or promotional items. However, the ink can be used on specific materials, such as polyester and polyester-coated substrates. Other materials like cotton will not withstand the heat during printing.


When should you use it
Dye sublimation is the perfect ink for transferring graphics onto pre-coated ceramics, metals, plastic or polyester t-shirt printing. Interested in buying premium quality dye sublimation ink? Look no further.