Know The Difference Between Dye Ink And Sublimation Ink

Dye and sublimation inks are commonly used in inkjet printing. Contrary to what many people believe, there’s a great difference between the two inks.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit our website.

Here is a look at the main features of dye and sublimation inks:

Dye Ink

Before we get to the advantage and disadvantages of using dye ink, it’s important to talk about what dye ink actually is.

Dye ink is the standard ink used in inkjet printers. It is made from water and colorant. The colorant gives the ink ‘color.’

Pros and cons

Dye inks typically come in a variety of colors, which makes them suitable for decorative or artistic use. The ink can easily stick to textile fabrics, print paper or any other appropriate medium.

Due to its small molecular size (1.5–4 nanometers), dye ink can produce vibrant colors. Another advantage of using dye ink is that it’s more economical than other inks, such as pigment ink.

On the other hand, the biggest downside of dye ink is that water or excessive heat can ruin the quality of printed products. When you are using dye inks for printing, be very careful that the final product does not come into contact with water. A few drops of water can make the ink flow across the paper.

When should you use it

Dye ink is a good option if you need to print documents and photographs. It is much more economical than pigment ink.

Dye Sublimation Ink

Dye sublimation ink is a dye that is printed onto specific items, such as t-shirts, mugs, plaques, coasters, and more, via heat and pressure. Heat and pressure help convert the dye into a gas state, without turning into liquid.

Link to EastsignRecommended article:
What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of Disc Screen Separator

Pros and cons

Dye sublimation ink is high quality, water-proof ink. The ink does not smudge because of high temperature. In addition, dye sublimation ink lasts longer than other inks.

As the imprints are dye-based rather than ink-based, the dye becomes part of the product. Dye sublimation ink has greater print accuracy and performance and delivers stunning results. Sublimated products will not crack, peel off or wash off.

Sublimation ink is used for textile printing or personalized or promotional items. However, the ink can be used on specific materials, such as polyester and polyester-coated substrates. Other materials like cotton will not withstand the heat during printing.

When should you use it

Dye sublimation is the perfect ink for transferring graphics onto pre-coated ceramics, metals, plastic or polyester t-shirt printing. Interested in buying premium quality dye sublimation ink? Look no further.

When it comes to creating your own custom merch, certain terms might be confusing, especially if this is your first time! In this article, we're breaking down the differences between dye sublimation and heat transfer so you can be informed when selecting your merch and decoration methods.

What is Dye Sublimation

Dye sublimation is actually a form of heat transfer! However, each decoration method uses different film and equipment. In dye-sub graphics are digitally printed and then heated to transfer the dye onto your material on a molecular level. Because the design is bonded on a molecular level it will never crack or peel. However, Dye-sublimation also comes with some limitations as well. Dye-sub can only be done on white or light-colored fabrics. Additionally, dye sublimation is limited to polyester in terms of fabrics but is also used on hard surfaces like custom water bottles or personalized pens.

Dye Sublimation Explained

What is Heat Transfer?

Heat transfer designs can be applied to a much broader range of fabrics and colors than dye sublimation designs, although they work best on cotton. Heat transfer printing is not quite as durable as dye-sub, but it is more affordable and is typically the go-to decoration method for small run custom T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies.

Heat Transfer Explained

Check out our complete Custom Decoration Methods Guide to find the perfect decoration type for any application or contact us for more information!

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Dye Sublimation Consumables.