Once you have started sublimation printing, you might come up with way too many problems. Worry not, problems are a part of it and today in this article, we will tell you about some of them.
But before moving on to the problems, we need to understand what sublimation really is.
WHAT IS SUBLIMATION?
When a solid changes from a liquid state to a gas state, the process is called sublimation. However, there is no liquid state needed for the process to take place.
When solid changes from a liquid to a gas, it undergoes a transformation known as sublimation. It is also called vaporization. Here are some common forms of the process. Read on to discover the simplest examples of sublimation.
The process of sublimation is driven by the absorption of heat through solid materials. The heat excites the constituent molecules, which escape the attraction of other molecules. The same mechanism also drives the evaporation of liquids into gasses.
COMMON PROBLEMS IN SUBLIMATION PRINTING
There are many common problems with sublimation printing. If the color and design aren’t as accurate as you would like, or the image is not as crisp as you would like, the printer may need to adjust its temperature or pressure.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to minimize these issues and make the process run smoothly. Here are a few ways to do just that. You can also try to increase the speed of the press.
Washing Sublimated Shirts
Since these printed shirts are not like all other shirts therefore they require some sort of care during washing. While washing such types of shirts, you need to follow the proper sublimation laundering instructions. Otherwise, the printed design will be ruined.
So to avoid such circumstances, you need to be careful while cleaning and washing sublimated shirts.
Color Mismatch
Another common problem with sublimation printing is a color mismatch. This issue occurs because the computer monitor displays colors in RGB and the printer prints in CMYK. In order to correct this problem, a different pressing process must be used.
For instance, the colors displayed on your computer screen may not match those that are displayed on your printer’s output. This issue is caused by the fact that the computer monitor is using RGB mode while the printer prints in CMYK mode.
Use of Wrong Material
Aside from color mismatch, the main problem with sublimation printing is the use of the wrong material. This can lead to issues such as ink not being dry and causing a dark or light line. In such a case, you need to buy the right kind of transfer paper. For this, you should buy a bright white paper or an off-white one.
For the best results, you should run the transfer paper through a color correction program.
Not Good Print Quality
People tend to choose cheap solutions to overcome their temporary workload but these are not worth it at all as they are going to be a one time purchase.
Getting good print quality while you are sublimating on any surface like glass or mugs can be very important.
If your printer does not provide enough quality, your printed design will not look good and it will also fade away with the passage of time.
In such cases, it is always recommended to use a good quality printer from a well renowned brand such as Epson.
They have been in the printers field for a long period of time and are performing pretty good . Epson produce the best sublimation printers which can provide you best print quality and can also save you upto 80% on ink replacement cost.
Banding
Another common problem with sublimation printing is banding. This occurs when the ink is not as bright as you had expected. In order to avoid this problem, make sure that the paper is bright white.
If the ink is not as bright as you wanted, it will result in banding. To prevent this, you should try to print on off-white paper instead. This is a common problem with sublimation transfers.
Final Verdict
The materials of a sublimation printing system are the most crucial part. The press needs to be placed correctly to ensure that the image is as bright and vivid as possible.
This is why transfer paper and substrate are so important. If the inks are not dry enough, the paper will shift, resulting in a blurry image. While it might not seem like a big deal at first glance, this problem is often a major problem in sublimation printing.
In fact, every piece of equipment has a vital role in sublimation printing and you cannot just compromise on any of it. If you want to get the best results out of it, you have to dedicate a proper budget and time to it.
Happy Printing!
Have any questions? Feel free to ask down below.