What is Sublimation ?

Sublimation in its simplest form is a process where ink that is printed on paper using a high speed inkjet printer is then transferred into fabric using heat and pressure. 


In short, Digital Sublimation is the process where dye ink is heated at over 400° into a gas then transferred onto fabric creating a bond, then the dye cools and becomes solid once again. This allows for a smooth transition from what you see on your screen to what is seen on fabric. There is almost no limit to the amount of colors with this process and this allows for the natural wicking materials to remain breathable and also maintain its strength and durability.  Since dye sublimation inks become part of the fabric, the images will not fade, crack, or peel. Unlike heat transfers or silk screen, the dye sublimation process allows Performance fabric to maintain its breath-ability.  Since every square inch of your garment can be sublimated, with you individual colors, logos, number and names it is safe to say that our sublimated garments  are the only "true" full custom garments available.


Sublimation Inks

Sublimation ink is unique in its ability to convert from a solid to a gas without going through a liquid form.  If you think back to your physics class this seems to defy logic. You only need to think of an ice cube and its normal process of being a solid, then melting into a liquid and then further melts into a gas and evaporates. Sublimation ink bypasses the liquid phase when it is heated going directly from solid to gas. What is even stranger about this unique and wonderful ink is that it starts life as a liquid which is what is used to print onto paper.  Sublimation ink therefore goes from liquid to solid to gas instead of solid to liquid to gas.  Don't try and figure it out just enjoy the result -  the best looking, best performing uniforms and apparel in the world.

 

                  

During sublimation transfer process the ink becomes a gas, absorbing into the fibers, becoming part of the fabric. This is totally different from screen printing, where the ink is deposited on the surface of the fabric, suffocating the technical fabric’s characteristic ability to breath. Sublimation, on the other hand, allows the garment to maintain its technical characteristics, continuing to breath and wick moisture away from the body.  The fabric, which absorbs the dye completely, remains soft. Your design is permanently infused into the fiber of the fabric and does not crack, peel, or wear off.


Kiian Inks - the worlds finest

As you might expect, there is a huge variance in the quality of inks used in sublimation.  We use on Kiian Hi-Pro inks which are the world's finest.  Kiian inks offer unsurpassed color vibrancy, saturation, durability and color fastness.  These inks are also some of the most expensive in the world costing as much as 10 times what lower grade inks cost. These inks were the first from a major ink supplier to receive Nike certification under the restricted substances list and are approved for all garment manufacturing. The Nike certification is rigorous and extensive and shows our commitment to use only the very best products available.  Additional certifications are as follows:

ADIDAS 01

CLEAR TO WEAR

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD

NIKE RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES STANDARD

Kiian Hi-Pro inks, in addition to maintaining the certifications above, are water based inks and as a result are safe for all youth garment manufacturing.


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