SUBLIMATION
Sublimation is ideal when you’re looking for a small quantity of shirts or gifts with a personalized photo or full color design. Examples include a photo t-shirt, personalized Christmas ornaments, wine stoppers, magnets, keychains, mouse pads.
sublimation photo gallery
Learn About the Dye Sublimation Process
A behind-the-scenes peek at the process — how your image becomes part of the shirt or gift item
Special Sublimation Paper
The process begins in pre-press where one of our artist adds your photo and design to the template area for the item, then adds your personalization.
Next, the final approved artwork is printed using special ink on a special paper. Notice that the printed design appears muted at this point.
Making Sublimated Gifts
The process is the same whether we’re making sublimated ornaments, wine stoppers, mouse pads, or keychains. The special imprinted paper is placed on top of the blank base material. Then a specific amount of heat temperature and pressure is applied for an exact amount of time. The heat activates the brilliant, full color image.
When finished, the item is very hot so a spatula lifts it off the heated surface and cools on a granite surface. If there’s an imprint on the other side the process is repeated.
Creating a Sublimated Shirt
The process begins by placing the white polyester shirt on the heat press platen. The special imprinted paper is placed face down on the fabric and a precise amount of heat is applied. The heat temperature, pressure and time is very precise to avoid burning the garment.
When heat is applied, ink gas is discharged and the design has brilliant color and becomes part of the fabric. You don’t “feel” the imprint because the design is now part of the fabric. White garments are recommended for accurate color.