Yes. A sublimation heat press can be used for Vinyl. Sublimation heat press machines are basically used to generate the print for design on t-shirts, mugs, caps, trousers, book pads, laptop covers, and to customize so many things.
To use for heat pressing machine, you have to use the special papers for using upon heat on the product surface.
When you are going to print your garments with sublimation, you need to use more ink or pigment, but for a flat print of garment put on fabric, surfaces are necessary to use heat and pressure.
A vinyl machine contains more function than sublimation. For best experience, you can use both, Sublimation and vinyl.
In this article, we are giving you an alternate way to use a sublimation heat press for vinyl.
How to Use a Sublimation Heat Press for Vinyl
In that case, you need to know about the sublimation method very well. Whether you are going to use sublimation as a proxy for vinyl, you have to draw your projected plan first.
The drawn design has to be printed onto a transfer paper first. That kind of paper is called heat transfer paper which’s a part that is attached with glue. Heat and a sufficient amount of pressure will ensure the printing is successful.
With (310 – 330) degrees Fahrenheit temperature, 10-12 seconds of holding on to the fabric are enough for print. Fancier studio Power Heat press is known as used machines for that purpose.
The design will receive dry air from the atmosphere and will get to normal temperature slowly. After it cools down, you can remove the paper from your product to see the final printed product.
Sublimation Press vs Regular Heat Press
Both press machines have their own criteria and limitations for printing. Come comparison is shown in this article below based on 5 basic features:
1. Printing Recovery by Nature
Sublimation’s recovering ratio is very poor. Moisture, absorbency, reaction with alkaline with polyester, gas form, etc. are the main drawbacks to sublimation.
Besides, heat press machines pressing depend on a printed element, such as rubber or dye print, and that’s removable.
2. Printing Thickness Issue
If the dye thickness isn’t correct it’s not going to be worth it for your material to print. Sometimes its image transparency is lower than vinyl.
But regular heat press doesn’t depend on that. A regular heat press can make a print at any thickness.
3. Production Efficiency of Sublimation vs Regular Heat Press
More than customized, Sublimation is efficient for bulk or industrial use. Higher the ink and pigment injected to use on polyester, lower the price, and more sustainable.
The regular heat press can use for customized and production both. But in cotton fabric, it’s more impactful.
4. Temperature Tolerance
Sublimation should not do with high temperatures in polyester or nylon material. They have lubricant properties.
The regular heat press is suitable for high heat and dry surfaces of the printing method.
5. Ability to Insert Pigments
Oily ink may drop out or faded from the printed surface. Instead, it needs average heat temperature and is only effective with synthetic fiber-made garments or fabrics (Nylon, Polyester, or blend with nylon and polyester).
The heat press may fade if the pigment is very dilute, otherwise, its press and heating technology penetrate dye in fabric normally.
Why Use Sublimation? Benefits of Sublimation
Sublimation print is one of the best soft and comfortable prints. That printed fabrics aren’t shrinkage on printed areas.
Moreover, against washing detergent, sublimation printing has excellent fastness. Sublimation can offer unlimited design color combinations that vinyl can’t.
Decorated items, glass, cloths, garments for business and customize, mug, bed sheet printing, trouser, plate, ladies items all rely on submission printing.
In some cases, we care about vinyl press machines, but sublimation’s role has a huge marketplace on our daily life.
Sublimation Disadvantages
Sublimation’s recovering ratio is very poor. Moisture, absorbency, react with alkaline with polyester, gas form etc, are the main drawbacks to sublimation. If the dye thickness isn’t correct it is not going to be worth for your material to print. Sometimes its image transparency is lower than vinyl.
More than customized, Sublimation is efficient for bulk or industrial use. Higher the ink and pigment injected to use on polyester, lower the price and more sustainable.
Sublimation should not do with a high temperature in polyester or nylon material. They have lubricant properties. So that oily ink may drop out or faded from the printed surface. Instead, it needs average heat temperature and is only effective with synthetic fiber made garments or fabrics (Nylon, Polyester or blend with nylon and polyester).
Read More Articles On Heat Press And Others Textile:
How do you fix a heat press that won’t turn on
How to Make Heat Press Transfers for T-Shirts
Heat Transfer vs. Screen Printing & What The Difference?
Screen Print Vs. Vinyl T-shirt Printing & Which One and Why?
