KingJet KJ-1908 Large Format Industrial Sublimation Printer

Sublimation printing is a digital printing technology, also known as thermal transfer printing. The working principle is to use heat energy and pressure to transfer dyes to different materials.

For sublimation printing, you will need a sublimation printer, sublimation ink, paper designed for sublimation, and roller heat press machine.

Sublimation printers produce prints that are more durable and less prone to fading than inkjet printers.

Sublimation printing transfers the dye into the substrate rather than depositing it on the surface, so the resulting image is more permanent.

Sublimation printing works by converting solid dyes directly into a gas when exposed to high temperatures, and then ejecting the gas onto the print medium.

So when the fabric is heated, the dye sublimates turns into a gas, and fuses directly into the fabric. When the dye is embedded in the actual fibers, it creates a permanent print that won’t crack or peel over time.

1. Material Application Range
The dye sublimation printing technology is mainly suitable for light-colored or white polyester fabrics. The more polyester content, the brighter the color printing effect.

DTF printing technology can print on almost all types of fabrics, including natural and synthetic fiber materials such as cotton, polyester, nylon, etc.

2. Print Quality
Sublimation printing technology directly penetrates the dye into the fabric fiber through high temperature and pressure, and the printed image has high durability and is not easy to fade or peel off.

DTF (direct-to-film) printing technology prints the image on a PET film and then transfers the image to the fabric by heat pressing. The print quality may be slightly inferior to sublimation technology, but the color of DTF-printed images will be more vivid.

3. Printing Efficiency
The sublimation printing process requires precise temperature and time control, so the printing speed may be slow.

The process of DTF printing is relatively simple, supports fast printing and batch printing, and is very suitable for large-scale production.

4. Touch
The pattern printed by the dye sublimation printer is integrated with the clothing, and it is almost imperceptible that an image is attached to the surface. It feels soft and breathable.

Although the DTF printer printed area feels relatively soft, its breathability may be slightly worse than thermal sublimation printing.

5. Applicable Market
Dye sublimation printers are particularly suitable for occasions that require high-quality image printing, such as sportswear, swimsuits, yoga clothes, and other clothing with good breathability requirements, as well as banners, flags, jerseys, and home textiles.

DTF printers are more suitable for the clothing printing market, especially on occasions that require fast, efficient, and high-quality printing.

Yes, a roller heat press machine is required for sublimation printing, and the image output is better and more durable after being processed by the roller heat press.