FAQ

Q: What is sublimation paper?

A: Sublimation paper is a specialized type of transfer paper used in the dye-sublimation printing process. It is designed to temporarily hold dye-sublimation inks, which are then transferred onto a substrate (such as polyester fabrics, ceramics, or polymer-coated materials) using heat and pressure. During the heat press process, the inks on the paper turn into a gas and bond with the substrate, creating vibrant, durable, and high-resolution prints.

Q: Factors to consider when choosing sublimation paper?

A: * Ink Absorption and Release: The paper should have excellent ink absorption to prevent smudging and ensure vibrant colors. It should also release the ink efficiently during the heat transfer process.
* Drying Time: Quick-drying papers improve workflow efficiency and reduce the risk of smudging.
* Compatibility: Ensure the paper is compatible with your printer (inkjet or laser) and the type of dye-sublimation ink you use.
* Weight and Thickness: Heavier papers (e.g., 120g) are more durable and less prone to curling, while lighter papers (e.g., 90g) are more cost-effective for small projects.
* Size Options: Choose a paper size that matches your printer and project requirements (e.g., A4, A3, or roll formats).
* Eco-Friendliness: Some papers are designed to be environmentally friendly, using sustainable materials and coatings.
* Cost: Balance quality with your budget, especially for high-volume printing.

Q: Can you use regular ink on sublimation paper?

A: No, you have to use sublimation ink.

Q: What is sublimation paper used for?

A: Sublimation paper is used to temporarily hold dye-sublimation inks, which are then transferred onto a substrate (such as polyester fabrics, ceramics, or polymer-coated items) using heat and pressure. During the heat press process, the inks on the paper turn into a gas and bond with the substrate, creating a permanent, high-quality print.

Q: What is the applications of sublimation paper?

A: * Apparel and Fashion: Custom T-shirts, sportswear, fashion design, etc.
* Home Textiles: Cushions, pillowcases, curtains, drapes, tablecloths, runners, bed linens, etc.
* Promotional Products: Mugs, drinkware, Phone cases, keychains, coasters, Tote Bags, backpacks, etc.
* Soft Signage: Banners, Flags, backdrops, wall art, trade show, graphics, etc.
* Personalized Gifts: Photo frames, puzzles, ceramic plates and tiles, mouse pads, coasters, etc.
* Industrial Applications: Product labeling, custom packaging, industrial signage, etc.

Q: Can you use sublimation paper in any printer?

A: Sublimation paper is designed to work with dye-sublimation printers, which use dye-sublimation inks. These inks are specifically formulated to turn into a gas when heated, allowing them to bond with polyester fabrics or polymer-coated substrates.

* Inkjet Printers: Sublimation paper can be used in inkjet printers, but only if the printer is modified or designed to use dye-sublimation inks. Standard inkjet printers using regular inks will not work for sublimation.
* Laser Printers: Sublimation paper is not compatible with laser printers, as laser printers use toner instead of liquid ink, and the heat from a laser printer can damage the sublimation paper.

Q: What is the types of sublimation paper?

A: Sublimation paper is a specialized type of paper used in the sublimation printing process, where designs are transferred onto various materials (like fabrics, ceramics, or metals) using heat and pressure. The paper holds the ink and releases it when heated, allowing the design to transfer onto the substrate. There are different types of sublimation paper:

* Fast-Drying Sublimation Paper
Best for: High-speed printing and large-scale production.
Features: Dries quickly, reducing smudging and improving workflow efficiency.

* Instant dry Sublimation Paper
Best for: Having high requirements for drying speed.
Features: Extremely fast dry.

* Sticky Sublimation Paper
Best for: Preventing ghosting or shifting during the transfer process.
Features: Has adhesive surface that holds the paper in place on the substrate during heating.

* Industrial light Sublimation Paper
Best for: Soft fabrics and textiles.
Features: Thin and flexible, allowing for better transfer on stretchy or delicate materials.

* A3/A4 Sublimation Paper
Best for: Specific shapes and sizes.
Features: Comes pre-cut for standard sizes or shapes, saving time and effort.

Q: Do I have to use sublimation ink with sublimation paper?

A: Yes, you must use sublimation ink.

Q: What's the difference between Heat transfer paper, screen printing, and sublimation printing?

A: Heat transfer paper and screen printing sit on top of your surface, whereas sublimation printing vaporizes the sublimation inks and embeds them onto the polyester surface, so you can't feel the design sitting on top, it's part of the surface. This is why sublimation printing is used commercially because it is very hard-wearing.

Q: Does sublimation printing give permanent results?

A: Yes, it is dishwasher safe, washing machine safe, and UV resistant.

Q: Can I use my inkjet or laser printer to print on sublimation paper?

A: No, sublimation printing only works with special sublimation inks, regular inks won't work on the paper. Some people do convert their new inkjet printers to sublimation printers but this can only be done when the printer is brand new and has not printed anything yet. It still requires sublimation inks.

Q: Do you need a heat press to press the sublimation paper?

A: Yes, you need a heat press to be able to reach the high temperatures required for sublimating.

Q: Can you sublimate onto any surface?

A: No, sublimation only works on surfaces with 60% or more polyester content or polyester, sublimation-coated surfaces. These polyester-coated surfaces are often called sublimation blanks and include t-shirts, photo frames, key chains, puzzles, tumblers, ceramic cups, and more.

Q: Does the sublimation printing reduce the quality of the product?

A: The biggest advantage of sublimation printing is its permanent feature. It also offers a wide color gamut. Sublimation printing allows the ink to permeate the surface of the item being printed and correspondingly the ink does not adhere to the surface of the fabric. Thus, images on fabric won't crack, fade or peel. The colors will stay vibrant even after multiple washings.

Q: Can we sublimate on dark fabrics?

A: Unfortunately No. Printing dye sublimation inks onto darker fabrics is still an issue. You cannot sublimate on dark fabrics because these materials are already colored. If you want to sublimate on any colorful fabric other than black, you can use a darker ink-like black and make your printing visible. DTF/ DTG can be used on dark fabrics.

Q: How can I save the sublimation ink?

A: The first thing is to run your printer regularly and don't turn off your printer. It is necessary in terms of providing regular ink circulation in print heads. If your printer automatically activates the cleaning process, turn your machine on and run it a few times a week. A small amount of ink will be enough to do this process.

When you do not use the right transfer paper, the paper will absorb a huge amount of ink than required and a large amount of the ink will stay on the paper without transferring. So, using high-quality coated paper is crucial for efficient ink consumption. Thus, the paper absorbs the ink at the optimal level and ink will be transferred to the fabric at the highest rate possible.

Q: How should I store sublimation paper?

A: Store unused paper in a cool, dry area, out of direct sunlight with the original packing.

Q: Is heat transfer paper sensitive to humidity in the air?

A: Sublimation paper holds an enormous amount of moisture and humid air is not great for it. Exposure to humid air causes the sublimation paper to absorb it like a sponge. This results in image bleeding, uneven transfers, and color shifting.

Q: How can I choose the right transfer paper?

A: The right transfer paper is unconditionally a necessity and it helps you reduce both ink consumption and production costs. The right transfer paper you should choose depends on the type of application, printer, and ink that you will use as well as the transfer rate of paper, drying time, transfer productivity, and coating chemistry. Depending on your application type and printing modes, coating features of the paper and grammage of the paper will vary. If you use high-density sublimation ink, you can prefer thicker transfer papers, whereas you can go for thinner papers for high-speed printing needs. The type of printer becomes significant when you choose the paper. Your transfer paper must be designed in a way that perfectly works with the printer brand and model. Similarly, your transfer paper must harmonize with the ink because it is one of the key factors in terms of print production.

When choosing the right transfer paper, get information about the technical features of the paper. A high-quality transfer paper provides higher transfer productivity, fast ink absorption, and drying. The coating formulation of your transfer paper is another vital issue. A fine coating formulation is the most significant part of transfer paper production and it is the core of the business for many manufacturing companies. A transfer paper with a high-quality coating will help you reduce ink consumption and costs, yielding high-quality dye transfer.

Q: How can I avoid moisture issues in sublimation printing?

A: Moisture can cause negative effects on the sublimation process and yield unwanted results such as color shifting; color loss accuracy, bleeding of the image, and uneven transfer of solid-filled areas of design. When you do not adopt high-quality transfer paper, the sublimation transfer paper curls because of high humidity scratches the print heads, and damages the heads. To minimize the effects of moisture, the first thing you need to do is to keep the printing room and storage space at stable moisture. Make sure that you store your transfer paper in a dry place. 50-60% of indoor humidity will be ideal for sublimation printing.

If your transfer paper has excess moisture, you may encounter unwanted problems during pressing. To avoid it, it is important to prevent the paper from moisture absorption. Several methods can be applied. First, you can leave the printed paper in the heat press room or nearby area so that the moisture will evaporate. Additionally, you can opt to press the garment to remove the excess moisture caused by printing.

Q: How to solve the wrinkle problem of sublimation paper transfer?

A: Wrinkling sublimation paper transfer issues can be caused by a variety of factors, including paper quality, environmental conditions, equipment settings, and more. Here are some possible solutions:
(1) Paper handling. Make sure the sublimation paper you use is of good quality and avoid using paper with a moisture content that is too low or too high, as this can cause the paper to curl or be too soft, causing wrinkling. At the same time, keep the paper flat and avoid curling the edges.
(2) Environmental control. Control the ambient temperature and humidity during transfer. The room temperature should be controlled at 20~30℃, and the relative humidity should be controlled at 40%~60%. This helps maintain the moisture content of the paper and reduces wrinkling caused by environmental changes.
(3) Operation skills. During the transfer process, a few heat presses should be applied periodically to evaporate the moisture from the cotton lining. Replace dry padding material promptly to reduce wrinkling caused by moisture.
(4) Avoid ghosting. Take steps to reduce ghosting, such as reducing the rise speed, using special sticky transfer paper, or adding tape to the corners of the transfer paper to increase stickiness.
(5) Machine maintenance. Regularly maintain and inspect equipment to maintain lubrication of important parts and reduce printing wrinkles caused by loose machine parts.

Q: My final printed sublimation design has white dots or specs.

A: These are likely caused by dust/ fiber particles on the paper or surface before printing. To avoid this in the future use a lint roller on any fabrics before sublimating and for hard surfaces you can wipe with alcohol to remove any residues or dust.

Q: What is the difference between 95GSM, 100GSM and 120GSM sublimation paper?

A: GSM stands for Grams per Square Meter and is a term used to describe paper weight or thickness. So the larger the number the thicker the paper. Thicker paperweights like the 120GSM can absorb more sublimation ink, this makes them a more premium paper with a higher transfer rate. The thickness of the paperweight is often a preference thing. Some people prefer the thinner 100GSM paperweight as it may be easier to manipulate around a curved surface like a sublimation-coated mug. Others pressing onto t-shirts may prefer a heavier-weight paper so it is less likely to move during pressing. If you are not sure what is right for you, you can always order a sample to test it first.

Q: What is the difference between tacky transfer paper and non-tacky transfer paper?

A:There are two types of paper in the market now: the Non-tacky Transfer Papers and Tacky Transfer Papers. You can use regular coated transfer paper for standard fabrics. But make sure that you use tacky transfer paper for more elastic fabrics like sportswear products. During the heat transfer process, the paper will firmly adhere to the fabric and it will prevent the paper from moving and yield high-quality prints.

The drying speed of a sublimation paper depends on its coating surface. The amount of the coating on the surface of the base paper and its content has an impact on drying time. A high-quality tacky transfer paper should feature fast drying speed and high ink transfer with reliable productivity. So, choose the right tacky transfer papers according to your printing requirements. When you prefer tacky paper, be careful about the humidity level of fabric, paper, and printing/heat-press environment.

Q: Do you need to mirror your design before sublimation printing?

A: Yes! This is very important. If you do not mirror your design things like the lettering will be the wrong way around and unreadable.

Q: Can you print white colors using sublimation printing?

A: No, you can't print white. Any white area in your design will print as transparent so the base color will show in the areas of your design that are white.

Q: How do I tell what side of the sublimation paper to print on?

A: The backing is normally a light pink. You can print on the white side. Another type of backing is that you can customize your logo on the back to help you distinguish the front and back.

Q: Do you need to cut out your sublimation design before printing?

A: No, this is the beauty of sublimation, you do not need to weed or cut around the design unless you desire it. Any area without ink will be transparent on the design once printed.

Q: Do I need to use heat-proof tape when pressing sublimation designs?

A: No, but we recommend it. Heatproof tape helps hold your design in place while pressing, without it, your design may move more during pressing and won't be as perfect as you want.

Q: Can I put a sublimation t-shirt in the washing machine and dryer?

A: Yes, you can, follow the garment manufacturer's recommended washing instructions. Do not use bleach on your sublimation garment. You can tumble dry your sublimation garment on low heat.

Q: Is sublimation paper recyclable?

A: Yes, blank unprinted, or pressed paper is recyclable. Printed paper with ink should be thrown in the trash. The cardboard envelope package is also recyclable. The clear plastic slip protecting the paper can be reused or should be discarded in the trash (not recyclable).

Q: What kind of role does the heat press play in high-quality sublimation printing?

A: If you've invested in a high-quality sublimation print, you will need a heat press that helps you run high-volume production simultaneously. A good heat press can work for many years and can continue operating in line with the increased production capacity of your business. Before you add a heat press to your production line, make sure you are well aware of your production requirements.
Heat press plays a vital role by allowing the ink to permeate the fabric appropriately. However, if the heating temperature fluctuates too much or the correct pressure value is not maintained, you can get low-quality or inconsistent results. As a result, the color of some areas seems light, while some areas result in darker colors. To eliminate such problems, you need to invest in a high-quality heat press. Otherwise, you will end up with higher costs and waste of time

Q: Do I need daily printer cleaning to eliminate the problem of clogged print nozzles?

A: It absolutely depends on the requirements of your printer. Some printers automatically make daily cleaning, whereas you sometimes need to start the cleaning process manually. When your printer initiates cleaning automatically, don't forget to leave the printer powered up. If you have to do it manually, you need to either print every day or make your printer's daily maintenance by using additional software. The amount of ink required for circulation in such a maintenance process is very small. So, the best option is to run your printer a few times a week to avoid clogged heads.