Apparel Decoration Method
Sublimation
What is Sublimation?
Sublimation uses an ink that is a solid and when heated it turns into gas and cools when it encounters the shirt. It is a transparent ink. It works best on white polyester shirts. Every other apparel color or type is a compromise.
What types of garments are typically Sublimated?
Items that are most commonly sublimated include: Wicking T-shirts: White or other light colors like sand, pale yellow or baby blue. Material is 100% polyester.
Sublimation Strengths and Weaknesses
Feel and Durability
Sublimation has no feel- the design is perfectly breathable. When dried at high temperatures, it will slowly fade over time. The ink is immune to abrasion and will not ever chip off. Washing does not effect the ink at all – only high temp drying effect it.
Use Case
Sublimation is perfect for outdoor apparel where one want to maintain the wicking material breathability. It’s also perfect for situations where the shirt is exposed rubbing like when backpacking.
The Sublimation Process
We take any design and output it to a sublimation printer. Once it’s printed, then the printed paper is placed on the garment. A hot press is used to sublimate the ink from the paper to the shirt. Once the correct temperature is reached, the hot press is lifted. The paper is pulled away and the shirt is decorated.
Transparent Inks
Sublimation uses only CYMK and the ink is transparent – just like a laser or inject printer. When printed on a color garment the “white part of designs becomes the color of the garment. The other colors are all effected by hte base shirt color. As the shirt color gets darker – all the inks either disappear or turn to black.
The ClassB Difference
ClassB® has earned the Boy Scouts of America® Quality Licensee award every year it has been available - more than any other BSA® licensee! Our high regard for quality is another reason why ClassB® is the best choice to makeYour Sublimated Apparel
