FULL COLOR IMAGERY, PERMANENTLY EMBEDDED INTO NUMEROUS SUBSTRATES Your first thought.... What is Sublimation Printing? Your second thought.... What are it’s advantages? Two commonly asked questions. Two easy answers. 1) Sublimation is the process by which ink is permanently embedded into a substrate such as plastic, metal, wood, cloth, ceramic,leather, etc. 2) This process enables us to print in multiple colors, with photographic quality imagery, up to 24” x 20” in short and long runs. Sublimation is much more durable than screen printing. Sublimation is the process of transferring an image, through a computer, unto another surface such as plastic, metal, wood, polyesther,glass, etc. This is different than materials such as “T-Shirt Transfers,” which basically melt a sheet of plastic onto the surface.Sublimation produces its image by causing gases to be absorbed directly into the surface, not laying on top. Dye Sublimation, as a process is really very simple. It is the method of applying an image to specially coated ceramics, metals and polyester cloth, using three main ingredients: sublimation ink, heat and pressure. Sublimation ink is unique in its ability to convert from a solid to a gas without going through a liquid form. (Just like dry ice.) The conversion is initiated by heat and controlled with pressure and time. Hard items such as ceramic, fiber board, metals, etc. requires a special coating to accept the sublimation inks. You must purchase the mugs, tiles, metals, etc. with the coating already on them, it is not something you can coat yourself. We carry a full line of these sublimatable blanks. When you apply to 100% polyester (ie: our mouse pads and puzzles) you do not need any coating, it is applied directly to the 100% polyester fabric. Tags Frames Coasters T-Shirts Patches Magnets Flags Mugs Mouse Pads Key Chains License Plates & Frame   Sample Designs Switch Plates Clipboards