Why Sublimation Paper is Essential for Fabric Printing
Created on 08.25
We must use sublimation transfer paper (as opposed to regular paper or other transfer papers) for fabric printing because it is specifically engineered to be a temporary, high-performance carrier for the solid sublimation ink. Its unique properties are essential for a successful, high-quality transfer.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of why it's necessary:
1. It's Designed to "Hold" the Ink, But Also "Release" It Completely
This is the most critical function.
- Special Coating: Sublimation paper has a thin, engineered coating on one side. This coating is slightly porous and is designed to hold the liquid sublimation ink from the printer just long enough for it to dry, without allowing it to soak too deeply into the paper fibers.
- Complete Release: During the heat press process, the ink must convert from a solid directly to a gas (sublimate). The paper's coating allows ≥90% of the ink to release as a gas and transfer onto the substrate. Regular printer paper would absorb the ink too deeply, trapping most of it in the paper fibers and resulting in a faint, spotty transfer.
2. It Prevents Ink Bleeding and Ghosting
- Precision: The coating controls the spread of the liquid ink, ensuring that fine details, sharp lines, and text print crisply. If you used a non-coated paper, the ink would wick and feather outward (like a water droplet on a paper towel), causing blurred edges and a loss of detail.
- No "Ghosting": Because the ink sits on the surface of the coated paper, it doesn't bleed through to the other side. This prevents the reverse side of the paper from contaminating your heat press or other items, and ensures all the ink is facing the fabric for a efficient transfer.
3. It Manages Moisture and Drying Time
- Moisture Control: Sublimation paper is manufactured to have very low moisture content. Why does this matter? Any moisture in the paper will turn to steam under the intense heat of the press. This steam can interfere with the sublimation process, causing blurred images and uneven color transfer.
- Fast Drying: The paper is designed to allow the water-based sublimation ink to dry quickly on its surface, which prevents the paper from curling or warping excessively before it goes into the heat press.
4. It Withstands High Heat and Pressure
- No Burning or Scorching: During the transfer process, the paper is subjected to high temperatures (typically 380°F - 400°F / 193°C - 204°C) and significant pressure. Sublimation paper is formulated to withstand these conditions without scorching, burning, or sticking to your heat press or your product.
What Happens If You Use the Wrong Paper?
To truly understand why sublimation paper is necessary, consider what goes wrong with alternatives:
- Regular Copier/Printer Paper: The paper fibers are too absorbent. They will soak up the sublimation ink, trapping it. During pressing, only a small fraction of the ink will gasify and transfer, resulting in a very faint, dull, and washed-out image. The image will also feel rough because you're feeling the paper fibers that have been fused to the fabric.
- Inkjet Transfer Paper (for Light Fabrics): This paper has a polymer coating designed to melt onto a t-shirt. You are transferring the entire plastic-coated layer, which creates a noticeable, often stiff, feel on the fabric. With sublimation, only the ink gasifies and bonds with the polyester fibers; the paper is thrown away, leaving no feel on the fabric.
- Dark Transfer Paper (for Inkjet): This is also a plastic-like transfer that sits on top of the fabric, creating a thick, rubbery feel. It is a completely different process.
Key Properties of Good Sublimation Paper:
- Weight: Typically between 29-120 gsm. Heavy enough to feed through printers without jamming but light enough for efficient ink release.
- Coating: A high-quality, consistent coating on one side only.
- Curl: Minimal natural curl to ensure smooth printing and handling.
- Moisture Resistance: Resists absorbing atmospheric moisture to ensure consistent results.
In a Nutshell: The Analogy
Think of sublimation paper as a non-stick baking sheet.
- You put your raw cookie dough (sublimation ink) on it.
- The dough doesn't stick permanently to the sheet.
- In the oven (heat press), the dough cooks and transforms.
- You then peel away the baking sheet (the paper), and you're left with a perfect, finished cookie (the printed product) with no residue from the sheet left behind.
Regular paper would be like using a porous wooden board—the dough would stick to it, burn, and you'd never get a clean, complete cookie off of it.
Conclusion: Using sublimation transfer paper is not a suggestion; it is a fundamental requirement of the dye-sublimation process. It is the critical link that ensures the precise, vibrant, and permanent transfer of ink from your printer into polyester fabrics or polymer-coated substrates.
Ray
Ferrill
Evelyn