Sublimation Printing: A Fascinating Science Detour

Let's take a moment for a quick, painless—and incredibly cool—science detour into the world of sublimation printing. When we typically think of inks, we imagine them drying into a solid form. However, sublimation refers to the unique chemical process where a solid is directly converted into a gas without passing through the liquid stage. Sublimation inks are specially formulated to first dry into a solid state on a transfer film. This film image is then placed on top of the garment, such as custom t-shirts from Wichita print shops, and heated in a press. This is where the magic of local t-shirt printing happens. When heat is applied, the solid sublimation inks transform into a gas, which permeates the “pores” of the fabric, bonds with it, and then returns to a solid state, becoming an integral part of the shirt. The colors produced are brilliant and more permanent than any other type of transfer print, leaving fabrics soft and supple.

One of the unique benefits of sublimation is that, unlike traditional screen printing companies near me, which often print only on confined parts of the garment’s front and back, sublimation allows images to wrap all the way around the garment—a first in shirt printing technology. This makes it ideal for creative design t-shirts and custom sports apparel near me.

However, there is one drawback to this process. Sublimation doesn’t work on all fabrics. The ink will only bond with plastics or polyester fabrics—a limitation of the chemistry behind the process. But for polyesters, prepare to be amazed by the stunning images that are possible with this process, whether you are looking for custom screen printing near me or embroidery in Wichita, KS.

Heat Transfer Printing Art Files: Best Practices

When it comes to heat transfer printing, understanding the best practices for art files is crucial. Color types play a significant role in this process. When you print a vacation photo from your computer, the colors in the image are usually defined in terms of RGB (the amounts of red, green, and blue that make up each color) or CMYK (the amounts of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black used to create the color).

A third option often used in transfer printing is Pantone colors. Pantone colors are created with 13 base pigments and assigned a specific number for each hue. This means you need to know the Pantone number of each color in your design. Don’t worry, there are plenty of Pantone colors available; it’s just a different way of describing them to some of the computer programs used in garment printing. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call. Our customer service representatives are here to help with everything from custom t-shirts in Wichita, KS, to corporate logo apparel and promotional giveaways.

Whether you are looking for local vs. corporate uniforms printing, custom apparel near me, or screen printing companies in Wichita, KS, understanding these processes and best practices will ensure you get the best results for your custom screen-printed shirts, custom youth baseball uniforms, and other customizable apparel needs. From Wichita shirts to branded promotional materials, the possibilities are endless with the right printing services in Wichita, KS.