Are you in the printing business? Or an artist who loves printing, or a person who is following the passion and converting the passion into a business like me? Are you anyone from these categories, you obviously gone through the dilemma of what is best for me and my business. Sublimation or heat transfer? When I was new to this business, I was also confused. Initially, I thought that both were printing methods. Choose one of them and do your work. But when I tried both methods, I found that both are different. Both have their own process & distinguish them.
So today I’m on the mission to give and explore all-around information from my own 15+ years of experience about both sublimation and heat transfer printing, which will definitely help you to find the best for you from both. So with that, without delay, let’s get started!
What is sublimation Printing?
Sublimation printing or all-over printing is the process that uses high heat & pressure to transfer your design from sublimation paper directly onto your chosen product (material or fabric). The right combination of pressure and heat embeds your artwork for long-lasting and vibrant results.
How sublimation works?
Basically sublimation printing is the process in which a specialised ink (dye-based ink) is directly converted into the gaseous form from its solid state with the application of heat. For this purpose, you have to print the design on the transfer paper. Then stick this print to the substrate (the item on which you want to print) with the help of heat-resistant tape. Apply the heat with the help of a heat press to this setup for some time. And now your print is ready to blow.
But It works best on polyester, polyester blended or synthetic material. It is not best suited for cotton or dark-coloured material.
What is heat transfer printing?
Heat transfer printing or white toner transfer printing is a digital printing method used to print apparel, mugs, etc. It uses high heat and pressure to transfer your design onto a substrate. The heat and pressure duo helps your design to embed on the upper surface of the substrate and gives you the desired result.
You may also check – What Is Dye Sublimation
How Heat Transfer Printing works?
In this digital printing method, the design is printed onto the special transfer paper. And now transfer the design onto the adhesive paper. Place the adhesive paper on the substrate and heat press the setup. And you get your It looks easy.
But the scenario is different. So now move on and look at the major differences between sublimation and heat transfer printing so that you get clear information and will easily pick from the two that are the best for you.
You may also check – Sublimation Vs Heat Transfer
What are the major differences between the sublimation & the heat transfer printing?
The major differences between the sublimation and the heat transfer printing are as follows:
| Differentiating Factors | Sublimation Printing | Heat Transfer Printing |
| Process | It uses a special type of ink, transfer paper & the heat press to make it happen. | It uses a white Toner Transfer Printer with toner cartridges. |
| Substrate/ Compatible Material | It is somewhat choosy. It works best with polyester or polyester-coated material. | It is versatile. It can be done with various materials like cotton, polyester & various blends. |
| Ink Infusion | Sublimation ink infuses onto the molecular level of the substrate. | It infuses onto the top layer of the fabric. |
| Feel | Sublimated products give you a smooth and integrated feel. | It gives you a less smooth feel as the ink infuses the top layer of the material. |
| Longevity | The design will last long without cracking or fading. As ink sticks at the molecular level. | This design sticks onto the top layer of the substrate. So it is prone to cracking, fading or chipping. |
| Cost | It requires a high initial investment. As it requires special type ink, Special Transfer Paper, Heat press and also the substrate used will be labelled as the sublimation blank | It is more budget-friendly to start. |
| Complexity | It is complex compared to Heat transfer printing | It is beginner-friendly. It is a simple, straightforward method with the good resultsProvide flexibility in design placement |
| Works best for | PolyesterPolymer-coated items | Wide range of materials |
You may also check – Sublimation Vs Screen Printing
Conclusion:
I hope you get all the clarity about both methods. In my opinion, both methods are the best. But the choice between the two will always depend on the application and what you want in the form of the final result. If you ask me, I tried both methods. But sublimation always works best for me. So I suggest you go with all the details I give you in this article. Decide your application and choose the best which suits your application best.
With that, Happy Printing!