Sublimation Ink vs Dye-Sublimation Ink: What’s the Difference?
When you are on the sublimation supplies shopping, there are two terms that might mislead you as they sound quite similar, sublimation ink and dye-sublimation ink. Do these mean the same thing? The brief response is yes- the two are used interchangeably as they describe the same kind of special type ink used in sublimation printing.
Nevertheless, knowing the essence of terms like these, the science of the functioning of sublimation ink and the difference between the quality sublimation ink and regular printing ink might allow you to make better purchases and improve the results of your work on a new level.
This all-encompassing guide will clear any misunderstandings regarding the terminology used to describe sublimation ink, explain the various types you can use and assist you in settling on an ink that suits your precise requirements. No matter whether you are a newbie or a professional printer, there are important tips you can get here to learn how to make a better sublimation.
Understanding Sublimation Ink Terminology
The words sublimation ink and dye-sublimation ink describe the same thing. The reason behind the confusion is that different manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers define different terminology on their packaging and marketing base.
This type of ink is more popularly known as “sublimation ink” when will be used in daily speech and in products. It is shorter, less cumbersome to pronounce, and goes to the point. The more technical and comprehensive name is however the dye-sublimation ink which is the name that describes the coloring element (the dye) and the process itself (the sublimation).
The reason why some manufacturers prefer use of dye-sublimation ink is that the ink stands out among other kinds of ink and conveys to someone the scientific process immediately. Some will prefer to remain with sublimation ink due to simplicity and SEO reasons because it is the term that most people search on the internet.
You may find such words as sublimation dye ink, transfer ink or heat transfer ink. Though all these are common similar products, when it comes to sublimation specifically on the dye-sublimation process there exist special features of ink specific to that process in comparison to generic heat transfer inks.
The Science Behind Dye-Sublimation Ink
In order to have a clear idea of what it is about, sublimation ink, you must understand some science behind sublimation process. Sublimation is a phase transition in which a solid phase substance goes directly through into the gaseous phase omitting the liquid phase the way dry ice turns into vapor.
Dye-sublimation ink contains special dyes that are solid at room temperature but become gaseous when heated to approximately 350-400°F (175-200°C). When you apply heat and pressure using a heat press or sublimation oven, these dyes vaporize and penetrate the molecular structure of specially coated substrates or synthetic materials like polyester.
When the material cools down the dyed molecules recoil to become liquid again but this time completely embedded into the material and not separating on the surface. This forms lively, lasting images which are not going to peel, crack or fade with routine use.
The main distinction between sublimation ink and regular inkjet ink is related to the nature of the colorants the molecular structure. In regular inks, the pigments or dyes that are utilized cannot penetrate the surface of the materials as they are essentially designed that way, whereas, the sublimation dyes are created in such a way that they can specifically be bonded at the molecular level to the synthetic polymers.
Types of Sublimation Ink Systems
The knowledge of the differences between sublimation ink and dye-sublimation ink is more applicable when you think of different delivery systems and formulations that are present in the market.
Desktop Sublimation Inks
Sublimation operations Home-based businesses and small manufacturers most often use desktop inkjet printers converted to sublimation. Such systems normally employ CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) ink cartridges or continuous ink supply systems (CISS).
Desktop sublimation inks are created to be used on particular printer models such as Epson EcoTank series, Canon PIXMA series or special sublimation printers. They have consumer grade print head and feeding mechanism optimized viscosity, drying time and density of color.
One point that you will find when buying desktop sublimation ink is that both sublimation ink and dye-sublimation ink are used to describe the same product. Compatibility with your model of the printer, the color accuracy and the reputation of the manufacturer are the key things to keep in mind.
Commercial Sublimation Inks
Sublimation inks in large-format and commercial systems are formulated to take full advantage of the high volume aspects of production and industrial usage. Such inks are usually available in larger quantities and sometimes even in other than standard CMYK colours set.
There is usually enhanced color consistency, quicker drying as well as stability during a long print run with commercial dye-sublimation inks. They are designed to be compatible with wide-format printers such as those of Epson, Mimaki and Roland, and Mutoh.
These terminology differences became more significant in commercial areas where the technical specifications of the sublimation ink and the exact chemical compositions are more important as far as industrial requirements are included.
Specialty Sublimation Inks
Other manufacturers make custom formulations that are specific to either an application or substrate. These may be fluorescent colors, metallic effects or inks made specifically to be used on specific material such as ceramics, metals or textiles.
Technical products sublimation inks Sublimation inks can have more technical names added, such as including the term “dye-sublimation”, to show their specialist use as opposed to standard formulations.
Quality Factors That Matter More Than Name
Instead of thinking about the existence of the word sublimation in the name of a product (labelled as sublimation ink or as a dye-sublimation ink), think of these quality indicators, which do influence your printing outcomes.
Color Accuracy and Vibrancy
Good quality sublimation inks deliver bright and screen accurate colors that do not fade off following the heat press stage. Find inks with decent color gamut coverage, and good repeatability between batch to batch.
The color-tested labels printed on the best sublimation ink and most contain Profiles in ICC (or color management advice) to assist you in getting predictable Other manufacturers will use color charts printed on different substrates to show the performance of their ink.
Clogging Resistance and Printer Compatibility
The beasts are that the sublimation inks need to flow correctly through the printer nozzles and not to dry up even after prolonged non-use. They have good formulas that contain relevant humectants and stabilizers to inhibit early drying in print heads.
Compatibility is not measured by the simple mechanics of fitting in your printer: the ink must also be developed to suit your particular printer heating, droplet or jetting patterns, and feeding techniques without breaking them or rendering warranties void.
Transfer Efficiency and Wash Fastness
The best sublimation inks print easily at normal settings (temperature and time) and give a color image that does not fade, bleed or wear out after several washes. This is of special concern to apparel and textile applications.
Search out inks which have been tested to industry standards such as AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists) test methods.
Application Considerations
When you take into consideration particular applications and substrates, the differences between different sublimation ink formulations become clearer.
Textile and Apparel Sublimation
To be used in clothing and fabric applications, sublimation ink and dye-sublimation ink (it technically is the same thing) need to work well seeping into polyester fibers and keeping their colors bright after laundering and other abuse.
Inks used in textile applications are able to offer increased dye concentration and generated optimised transfer temperatures. Other producers use textile formulas that give superior hand feel and lasting on fabric.
Hard Substrate Sublimation
Hard goods such as mugs, phone cases, metal prints and others need sublimation inks that are capable of bonding to different polymer coatings. Such applications usually require greater color concentration and greater control of temperature.
Having a coating on the hard surfaces is important in the adhesiveness of the sublimation ink and the brightness of the finished colors. Good inks are versatile in their compatibility in various coating and in various substrates.
Promotional Products and Gifts
Sublimation printing is essential in the promotional items business where the customization of the products is an important element. Ability to use non-colored ink at different batches is vital when making high orders or frequent buyers.
The usage of ink is a standardisation feature in professional sublimation as there are many brands and formulations of inks that are designed to maintain consistency within a variety of product lines or a long sustained process.
Storage and Handling Best Practices
Even though you may be using an ink that states it is sublimation ink or dye-sublimation ink you will find that the storage and handling of the ink will have a great bearing on the print quality and the life of the ink.
Environmental Factors
Store sublimation inks in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and temperature extremes. Ideal storage temperatures range from 60-80°F (15-27°C) with relative humidity below 70%.
Color may change when exposed to heat, light or humidity, prematurely break down or experience viscosity shift which is likely to influence the print quality. The best protection towards storage is through the original packaging.
Shelf Life and Rotation
Standard shelf life of most sublimation inks are 12-24 months when used within unopened containers. After opening, they should be used within a time frame of 6 to 12 months depending on how they are stored and handled.
Apply first-in, first-out rotation method in case you have a lot of ink stocks. Write the date of purchase or opening, and bottles to monitor age and the products not to use.
Contamination Prevention
Refill ink containers and do not reuse them without containing them and ensure that no foreign bodies are allowed to enter the ink containers. Apply clean funnels, syringes or other means of transfer exclusively intended to work with ink.
Mis-mixing of one ink brand with another may lead to unexpectations in color and quality in your print.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
The appreciation of the characteristics of sublimation ink assists in identifying the seemingly common printing issues that both newbies and advanced users experience and resolve.
Color Accuracy Problems
When you print colors that are not the same as they are on your screen, then it is not necessarily the problem with your ink but color management, printer configuration, or even the substrate. Quality sublimation ink ought to create similar colors when other factors are held constant.
Before blaming the ink, check all the color profiles and the monitor calibrations as well as transfer parameters to the printer. At times changing between different “sublimation ink” and “dye-sublimation ink” of other manufacturers may enable one to isolate manufacturer specific issues.
Transfer Quality Issues
Improper temperatures, pressure and timing are often the cause of poor results of transfers, not poor ink. This is most frustrating since a problem in temperature, pressure or timing is hardtoget. Nevertheless, cheap inks might invite different settings as compared to what you are used to.
Store record of successful transfer conditions of various ink/substrate/combinations. This record will prove to be very useful in case of problem solving or during operator training.
Printer Maintenance Challenges
In case you regularly have issues when your printer cannot print or start clogging, you should also think about the cleaning process and about the quality of ink. Even some sublimation inks contain superior anti-clog additives and do not clog up or work evenly after idle spells.
The schedules of maintenance are more relevant in case of sublimation inks compared to regular inkjet because of different chemical structure and usually the larger intervals between print jobs in most operations.
Making the Right Choice for Your Needs
As a consumer, choose to be practical and not to phrase differences when choosing between the product with such labels like sublimation ink and the dye-sublimation ink.
Take note of your printer compatibility, common substrate materials, production volume and quality requirements. Check up reviews by those using similar applications and do not mind asking samples or even undertaking small scale trials first without taking big orders.
Cost should be taken into consideration not only in terms of price of the ink but also printing per cartridge, batch to batch consistency, cost of reprinting in case of print quality problems.
Develop good relations with suppliers who are known to be reliable in terms of technical assistance and ready stocks. As your business expands, so will the expectations of customers; this is why it helps to have a sure supplier of sublimation ink.
Maximizing Your Sublimation Success
Attention to detail and your materials is key to success with sublimation printing. Keeping the same set of the processing variables and quality supplies will go a long way even though, it might not be sublimation ink, or dye-sublimation ink, it still will always be a successful sublimation printing experience.
Learn how to manage use of colors properly, control temperature and prepare the substrate. Such abilities can influence your outcome more than the slight variations of inks of different formulations by well-known brands.
Keep yourself updated with new advancements in sublimation technology, type of substrates and techniques to be used. The industry is constantly developing at a rapid pace, and new opportunities in terms of imagination and better outcomes keep arising.
You might look at joining a sublimation group, on-line discussion or any professional organization that may provide interaction with other experienced sublimators and keep up-to-date on techniques and tip-offs.
Keep it in mind that sublimation printing is both a science and an art, science gives you a base but it is creativity and experimenting that results in unique applications and business opportunities.