Is dtg and sublimation the same?

While sublimation dyes permeate the surface to recolor it from the inside out, DTG inks add color to the substrate's surface on top. As a result, the chemistry of the two processes is very different since DTG relies on adherence to the surface while sublimation relies on molecular bonding.

Is dtg and sublimation the same?

While sublimation dyes permeate the surface to recolor it from the inside out, DTG inks add color to the substrate's surface on top. As a result, the chemistry of the two processes is very different since DTG relies on adherence to the surface while sublimation relies on molecular bonding. Images are applied using two very different techniques in DTG printing and sublimation. Special transfer printing will be done previously for sublimation printing.


The ink inside the print is then sublimated and bonded to the target material by heating and pressing the print onto it. DTG, on the other hand, needs the fabric or material to be prepped before printing before going directly into the printer. Ink has efficiently adhered to the material's surface in this way. A similar but much faster hot press procedure is also used to cure the ink.


Both approaches are effective in producing high-quality goods that satisfy even the most discerning clients. However, bear in mind that the finest printing method for intricate designs and pictures is sublimation. However, this process takes more time, and in addition to your sublimation printer, paper, etc., you will also need to buy a heat press. They inject a water-based, environmentally friendly ink directly into the shirt's surface.


Remember that a paper transfer is created by the sublimation printer and applied to the garment afterward. Put the t-shirt(s) directly into the printer when using DTG. A digital t-shirt printer called a "direct-to-garment printer" uses inkjet technology to print directly onto objects. Similar to how your desktop inkjet printer would operate in a store.


It's loaded with a blank t-shirt that you carry around as you're loading paper into a home printer. As the ink from the home printer creates an image on the paper, the ink is then sprayed onto the shirt. People converted office-style inkjet equipment or graphics into ones that were suitable for clothes in the early days of DTG t-shirt printing. However, all of today's digital garment printers are now custom-made.


If you wish to improve the quality of your ideas and the finished product over DTG printing, dye-sublimation is ideal for your company. The consumer will be happy with the outcome and the durability of the patterns despite the lengthy process. The only drawback to printing with white toner transfer is that you can feel it. Although there is no texture or feel with DTG or sublimation, you can tell that something has been done to the garment.


Another type of digital printing is sublimation, in which graphics are produced on big sheets of transfer paper before being heated up and transferred on white shirts made of 100% polyester. If the shirt is supposed to be red, a red paper must be used for printing; once heated, the color will transfer to the shirt without leaving any hand prints. Be aware that some spots won't transfer completely, leaving a white patch around the seams and under the arms. In the end, the decision between DTG and sublimation printing depends on your requirements.


Purchasing DTG or sublimation printing equipment would be a wise investment whether you plan to launch a new company or grow your existing one. DTG printers are a long-term investment that can create several chances for a business because they are fully functional printing stations. In the technique of dye sublimation printing, a design is printed on unique paper and then applied to a shirt or other item of clothing. There are many different sizes of printers, allowing, if necessary, nearly twice the print area of DTG printers.


Although inkjet DTG printing also creates bright images, it falls short of sublimation's subtle tones. There are some significant distinctions between the two most common printing techniques, DTG (direct to garment) and sublimation printing, that you should be aware of. A procedure known as sublimation printing involves printing an image on a unique piece of paper before transferring it to a piece of clothing. DTG printers can produce stunning and vivid prints on white shirts made of 100% polyester, just like sublimation.


If your company wants to be able to design beautiful illustrations for clients that want items in lower quantities, like shirts under 20, DTG printing is ideal. A DTG printer, on the other hand, uses water-based inks that are absorbed by fabric to print directly onto t-shirts and other apparel. Expect comparable price ranges for the same job if you're printing something with a DTG or sublimation printer. Compare the ColDesi DTG G4 to the Epson F2100 or the Roland VersaStudio, for example, to see how different DTG printers stack up.


Since sublimation t-shirt printing doesn't use white ink, if you try to print on a dark shirt, you get a soiled, yellowish mess.


Custom digital backgrounds are one of the goods we provide. The customer submits the artwork as a digital file, and we print it onto fabric or mesh before sewing it into a gorgeous backdrop. Yes, occasionally for the tours of well-known recording artists like Kenny Chesney, but frequently for a production at a school or church, a particular occasion, or...


Direct print and dye sublimation are the two main kinds of digital printing. Customers frequently inquire as to what distinguishes the two. What distinguishes one approach from another?


The inks are produced directly onto a coated cloth substrate in direct print. The coating makes the backdrop a little bit firmer. With dye sublimation, an ink gas is created using a paper transfer method, which "etches" the image into the cloth. A dye sublimated backdrop typically tends to be a little softer and more flexible because the cloth substrate is not coated.


Which is better, then? Depending on the specific job. Larger seamless backgrounds or fewer seams on an extra-large backdrop are possible with direct print because it can print onto fabric up to 16' wide. Contrarily, dye sublimation can only print onto the fabric that is up to 10' wide, so anything wider would need seams. However, the image typically has more vibrant colors and superior resolution. Not sure which option will serve your project the best? We can assist you in determining the best print technique and substrate for your requirements and price range.

Charlotte Miller
Charlotte Miller

A lifelong online enthusiast. extreme master of Twitter. Freelance fan of popular culture. A typical trailblazer in travel. independent musicologist with total expertise in music. Direct-Garment- In high school, I worked in printing and fell in love with t-shirt design.

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