What is Sublimation?

Sublimation is a printing process that involves transferring a design onto a material using heat and pressure. It's a popular choice for creating high-quality, permanent prints on a variety of items, including clothing, drinkware, and promotional items. The process involves printing the design onto a special sublimation paper using specialized ink, and then transferring the design onto the material using a heat press. The heat and pressure cause the ink to vaporize and bond with the fibers of the material, resulting in a permanent and vibrant print that won't fade or peel over time. Sublimation can produce full-color, photographic-quality prints with fine details and gradients, making it a popular choice for businesses and individuals looking to create custom, high-quality items.

Sublimation on hard surfaces like tumblers has become increasingly popular in recent years as it allows for the creation of custom, personalized drinkware. The process involves printing a design onto a special sublimation paper using sublimation ink and then transferring the design onto a specially coated tumbler using a heat press.

The first step in the process is to create the design using specialized software and a sublimation printer. The design is printed onto sublimation paper, which is then placed onto the tumbler. The tumbler is coated with a special polymer material that is designed to accept the sublimation ink.

Once the paper is in place, the tumbler is placed into a heat press, which applies heat and pressure to the tumbler, causing the ink to vaporize and bond with the polymer coating on the tumbler. The result is a vibrant and permanent print that won't fade or peel over time.

One of the advantages of sublimation on tumblers is that it allows for full-color, photographic-quality prints that can cover the entire surface of the tumbler. This means that the design possibilities are virtually limitless, allowing for the creation of unique and personalized tumblers that are sure to stand out.

However, it's important to note that not all tumblers are suitable for sublimation. Only tumblers that are coated with a special polymer material can be used for sublimation. Additionally, the tumbler must be made of a material that can withstand the heat and pressure of the heat press.

In summary, sublimation on hard surfaces like tumblers is a popular printing method that allows for the creation of personalized and unique drinkware. Its ability to produce full-color, photographic-quality prints that are permanent and won't fade or peel over time make it an ideal choice for creating custom tumblers.