When speaking to users of dye sublimation technology, you find it can mean drastically different advantages to different businesses. To some, it means the ability to produce high-value, photo gift products. To others, it means styling custom performance apparel where the entire garment – from neck to hem – can be a zone for sublimation decoration. Hundreds of other businesses use dye sublimation in unique ways. Arguably the most versatile technology available to the product decorator today, sublimation allows for the creation of thousands of full-color, true photo quality products in numerous markets such as apparel, gifts, awards and recognition, promotional products, signage, recognition pieces, tile murals and much, much more. Whatever your business' primary focus, dye sublimation allows for a wide interpretation of product solutions across many market segments.
When investigating the products and equipment for the first time, businesses seem to have the usual questions: How does the dye sublimation process work? What types of products can be decorated? What equipment makes up a sublimation system?
Before we explore these answers, we need to know exactly what is meant by the term dye sublimation? Other decorative technologies such as rotary engraving, screen printing and embroidery are part of the general lexicon. Most everyone you speak with has some idea of what each of these technologies entails if only on a basic level. Even vinyl cutting and laser engraving are somewhat intuitive. Unfortunately, the term sublimation not only describes a decorating technology, it also describes a scientific process.