Tips for the Importance of Dye Sublimation Printers in Your Business

What is Dye Sublimation Printing?
It’s the chemistry behind dye sublimation that makes it the correct technique for printing on polyester and polyester resin coated products. Using a wide-format inkjet printer, dye-sub inks are printed on a special transfer paper. From there, the ink is heat transferred from the paper onto a fabric by using a heat press. The ink becomes a gas (hence the term “sublimation”) and enters the polyester fibers.

Compared to inkjet printing on other material like paper or vinyl, dye sublimation is a more involved process since it involves multiple steps. But don’t worry. With the right knowledge, dye-sublimation can be an enjoyable and profitable business. Here’s what you need to know to get started:

 You’ll Need to Use a Specific Type of Ink
When you’re transferring your graphics from paper to fabric, the ink needs to convert from a solid state to a gas. Since the chemical process is very specific for dye sublimation, you’ll need to use a specific type of ink known as disperse dyes (commonly referred to as “dye-sub inks”).

These dyes are able to go from a solid state to a gaseous state in high temperatures and will easily bond to polyester fabrics.

The color gamut of disperse dyes is incredibly vibrant. And, some brands like Mimaki have introduced fluorescent inks that can be used to push the color gamut even further!

Since disperse dyes are permanently bonded to your finished products, the result is long-lasting graphics that are fully washable.

You’ll Need a Special Dye Sublimation Printer
While similar to other wide format printers, dye sublimation printers are specific to the dye-sub application. They use disperse dyes which are dedicated to print on transfer paper only.

Dye-sublimation is experiencing tremendous growth and there is a great selection of dye sublimation printers available from the best brands in the industry. Here are a few that the ITNH team highly recommend:


Mimaki TS30: This 54” wide model is perfect for first-time dye sublimation printers.
Mimaki TS300P: A stepup from the TS30 model, the TS300P is 77” wide with faster print speeds and a high gap print head.
Epson F7200: Epson’s 64” roll-to-roll dye sublimation printer was designed for versatility.
Mutoh RJ-900: This 42” entry-level model is a four-color, roll-to-roll printer, perfect for apparel and flags.
Mutoh VJ-1638WX: A 64” model, this Mutoh printer is ideal for everyday printing on trade show materials, interior designs, apparel and more.
The wide selection of dye-sublimation printers available allows you to choose the perfect fit for your application and budget. Printers are available from 44” wide up to 10’ wide.  Some are designed for the occasional job and others are capable of impressive factory production.


You’ll Need Additional Equipment
The dye sublimation process involves multiple steps, but they are simple and straight forward as long as you have the following items:

Heat Press
Your heat press is just as important as your large format sublimation printer. And just like your printer, heat presses are available in a variety of sizes, styles and price points. Here are a few of the most common types to give you an idea of what’s out there:

Flatbed Press: If you’re transferring onto solid objects or smaller sample fabrics, a flatbed press is your best bet. Plus, they are great for printing poly t-shirts including those “all-over” designs.
Calender Press: These presses use oil or electrically heated drums for heat transfer and are intended for apparel, décor and soft signage. Calender presses are best for high-volume printing.
Cutting & Sewing

Depending on your particular desired application, you may consider cutting and sewing options. Like the printer, these items range from simple and relatively inexpensive to large factory equipment.  Its best to talk with an expert to learn more about the equipment that will be your best fit.





Dye Sublimation is Affordable

Now, the market has expanded to give people more options to choose from and the cost of the equipment has been dramatically reduced. The technology has also improved, making the sublimation process much easier with even higher quality printing.


Some of the best names in dye sublimation printing, like Mimaki, Epson and Mutoh, now offer printers at $10,000 or less. And if you consider the potential that dye sublimation printing has for your revenue stream, this investment will be well worth it.

If you need help getting started, you can always use our free Printer Match Tool to find the wide format sublimation printer that’s the best fit for your business. Or, you can contact us anytime for advice or recommendations.

"ORIC" which is subordinate to FeiYue Digital Inc. Fei Yue Digital Technology Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive technical enterprise which brings R&D, design, production and sales together. Corporate headquarters is located in Nanjing China, since its inception, company strives to become an innovator and leader in printing technology area, and through the accumulation of years’ experience, we have been the pivot strength on green printing.

We have our own brand of printer, ORIC, and we also agent other brands abroad, such as EPSON, MIMAKI, ROLAND and MUTOH.

Contact: web: www.oricprinter.com

whatsapp: 008618795970428

email: rebeca@feiyuepaper.com