Our Processes - Shirts
Here at Wayward Gifts we have two main processes for creating our shirts.
The first, and main method, is called Sublimation. Below is a Shirtspace.com explanation of Sublimation processes.
WHAT IS SUBLIMATION PRINTING?
Sublimation is the process of printing sublimation ink onto sublimation transfer paper using a special sublimation printing machine.
This is an alternative to traditional inkjet transfers in that sublimation ink actually becomes a part of the substrate (or the t-shirt surface) you print on, whereas inkjet transfers use a carrier sheet to print the ink on top of the shirt or item.
HOW DOES SUBLIMATION WORK?
When the ink from your special sublimation transfer paper is heat pressed onto your substrate (t-shirt, fabric, mug, mousepad, keychain) and reaches a certain high temperature, the ink is transformed into a gas. This occurs because the heat not only releases the gas from the sublimation ink, but it also opens up the pores of the polyester, polymer, or polymer-coated item you’re heat pressing onto.
Once your sublimation printer presses the transfer paper onto your item and then releases your pressure, the temperature is allowed to cool, at which point the sublimation ink turns back into solid form and the pores permanently close — thus encapsulating the ink within the polymer coating of your substrate.
Pretty cool, right? And it has some great advantages too.
ADVANTAGES TO SUBLIMATION PRINTING
One huge advantage to this process, if done correctly, is that the image you transfer onto your item won’t fade or disappear over time — so long as your substrate isn’t damaged. Not only that, you can look forward to an extremely smooth finish that’s quite soft to the touch given that the ink becomes one with the substrate. Science is so cool, right?!
Another major advantage to opting for the dye sublimation process versus traditional screen printing is that you don’t immediately have to turn down a customer when they ask you to print 4 shirts that consist of 37 colors each. Using this process allows for you to print full-color transfers and heat press them onto 100% polyester shirts instead of making and setting up 37 screens for a measly 4 shirts.
LIMITATIONS OF SUBLIMATION PRINTING
Now that I’ve hyped up the sublimation process, I should mention some limitations that come along with it.
First, this process can only be used on 100% polyester apparel or substrates that have a special polymer coating.
What does this mean for you? Unfortunately, you won’t be able to pick up closeout mouse pads from Office Depot or an adorable coffee mug from Target to use for your upcoming gift exchange.
But don’t fret — there are plenty of substrates that are made for this exact process and have the polymer coating that is required to sublimate onto. One incredibly helpful and knowledgeable company that not only offers sublimation support but sells the equipment you need and the substrates you want, is Condé. They’re incredible!
One other limitation to keep in mind is that the sublimation inks used in this process are transparent. Because of this, you should plan on printing on white or light-colored substrates, as your image will not transfer properly onto dark garments. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
SUBLIMATION: PROS AND CONS
As you can see, the dye sublimation process is a pretty cool one with lots of pros and a couple of cons. Here’s a quick summary:
Pros:
- The image doesn’t fade or disappear
- The final product is smooth and soft to touch
- Full-color printing is fast and easy
Cons:
- Sublimation only works on polyester fabric or special polymer coats
- Not a great option for dark garments
- Cannot print white ink
Secondly, we also purchase Screen Prints from a few select vendors. The screen prints require different shirts, and is a different process to create. Because we do not create these in house, we're often limited on the designs we have on hand, and these shirts may have a longer turn around time. This information will be clearly stated on the products page.
These images do better on cotton shirts, and will generally show up better on darker fabrics. These can also come in white ink, depending on the design.