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Dye sublimation printing has the ability to reproduce high-end photographic prints of any picture or graphic art. The inkjet printers, for example, embed tiny dots of shades onto a blank sheet and can press designs onto stickers or banner displays. However, it is incomparable to dye sub printing which can create that continuous tone the inkjets just aren't capable of producing.
Everything commences with how the process is done. This type of printing makes use of the CMYO dye set that includes cyan, magenta, yellow, and an overprint. These shades are digitally pressed onto a substrate just like any other inkjet inks. Also, this makes use of a particular paper called the heat transfer or dye sublimation transfer paper.
The paper is placed onto a polyester fabric and then pressed onto the heated (400F) rollers of the dye sub printer. As this process takes place, the pressure and heat converts the dyes into gaseous state, the fabric's pores open, and then the gas form of dyes fill into the pores.
When the fabric goes off the rollers and cools down, the pores tend to close, permanently embedding the dyes into the cloth in a continuous tone of photographic print. I would always choose this option if available.
Materials Unsuitable for Dye sublimation Printing
Any material that is not treated with a polymer solution won't work with this kind of print processing. The polymer enables any item to be imprinted through this method. The item can be a piece of wood, mugs, glass, or snowboards.
On one hand, natural fibers can't be printed as well because their pores are not polymer-based. This includes linen and cotton. Polymeric fabrics include orlon, nylon, and polyester.
The process of this printing method as describe above won't be possible for unsuitable materials because the pores won't open where the gas form of dye would fill in. With those suitable items, their plasticity enables pressure and heat to open up their pores to accept those gaseous dyes.
Hence, anything that is polymer-based, or treated with polymer, should be suitable for printing, and not those natural fibers.
Is it true You can't Use Dye Sub Banners Outdoors?
Anyone who would ask this probably doesn't know anything about dye sublimation at all. The short answer to the question is NO.
For example, one of the famous usages of this printing is on snowboard items. One other is display on light poles. There are also a lot of printed fabrics that can be displayed outdoors as a trade show exhibit.
One other way of exposing them is on gazebo covers. You can have any design you want on top edges. It can last for long even when placed outdoors.
Flags can also be imprinted with this method. Nylon and polyester flag banners are quite common for outdoor display, particularly those you see on standard poles with company logos below them.
And so, there you go. Fabric imprinted through dye sublimation can be used outdoors. In fact, they are the perfect displays for outdoor use. They can last up to more than 30 years and you can wash them without having the dyes to fade. Plus, they're pretty much resistant to fading caused my sunlight.
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