Direct Print involvesprinting inks directly onto a coated fabric substrate rather than usingintermediate paper. Because of the coating, the underside tends to be a littlebit more rigid. In dye sublimation, an image is "etched" into thefabric by converting the solid ink into a gas through a paper transfer process.This "carves" the pattern into the fabric. The application of imagesvia DTG printing and sublimation are accomplished through two very distinctprocesses.
Printing usingsublimation requires a unique type of transfer printing, which must becompleted in advance. After that, the print is heated and pressed onto thedesired material, which sublimates and bonds the ink that is contained withinthe print to produce the final product. On the other hand, to print using DTG,the fabric or material must first be pre-treated, and then it must be printeddirectly through the printer. Because of this, the ink is held firmly in placeon the surface of the material.
A hot press processthat is very similar to the curing process is also used to cure the ink. Theprint's ability to last for a long time is yet another benefit of thesublimation printing process. Because printed dyes do not quickly fade and areembedded in the fibers, your image will be able to withstand repeated washesand will continue to look great for years, which will please your customers.Printing small runs of less than 20 shirts can be done efficiently andaffordably with sublimation printing, much like direct-to-garment (DTG)printing.
The popularity ofdirect-to-garment (DTG) printing is second only to screen printing, and itenables you to create designs that are both colorful and detailed. Thedifference, however, is that a DTG printer is intended to print directly ontot-shirts and other garments using water-based inks that are absorbed by thefabric. This makes it distinct from other types of printers. The image isinfused into the material during the dye sublimation process, whereas it isprinted on the surface of the material during the digital printing process. Ifyou are accustomed to printing your pictures on photo paper using thetraditional organic method, this may be an excellent alternative for you.
If you want to createa masterpiece, it will be easier for you to select the appropriate format ifyou are familiar with the differences between dye-sublimation and digitalprinting. The process of dye-sublimation printing is very similar to that ofdirect-to-garment (DTG) printing. First, the images are printed on transferpaper using a specialized digital printer. Next, the paper is placed in a heatpress over the garment. This heat press transforms the solid ink into a gas,which then permeates the fibers of the fabric. The term "flatbedprinting" refers to this particular method of printing. The ability toretouch and color correct a photograph before printing it has been one of themost game-changing aspects of the advent of digital printing in the photo printingindustry.
Both direct printingand dye-sublimation are beneficial as printing methods for your fabrics,textiles, and other substrates; however, they each offer a unique set ofbenefits to their respective users. The process of printing an image usingsublimation involves first printing the image on specialized paper and thentransferring the image from the paper to the garment. The fabric is subjectedto a pre-treatment with chemicals to increase the likelihood that the vaporizedink will stick to the fabric during the printing process. In comparison to DTGprinting, dye-sublimation is an excellent choice for your company if you wantto improve both the overall quality of the product as well as the quality ofthe designs you produce.
Because of the easewith which direct printing processes can print on materials up to 16 feet wide,these processes can accommodate larger backgrounds that are seamless or havefewer seams on backgrounds that are significantly larger. On the other hand,using this method requires more patience, and in addition to your sublimationprinter, paper, and other supplies, you will also need to purchase a heatpress. Because you first have to print the image on the transfer paper and thenplace it on the t-shirt, the sublimation printing method is a moretime-consuming process than the direct-to-garment printing method (DTGprinting). There are many different printing methods available, giving theproprietor of modestly sized garment customization business options.
Printing has reachednew heights thanks to the advent of digital printing, which makes it possibleto perform printing magic on a variety of different materials. Direct print anddye sublimation are two methods of digital printing that are very differentfrom one another but both are very effective.
How are the two typesof printing distinct from one another? Which printing method would be mosteffective for the materials that you need to be printed? You don't need to beconcerned because the top-notch creative team and print experts at Ironmark alreadyhave the answers you're looking for.
Direct printing is amethod that necessitates the utilization of large-format ink-jet printingmachines. These machines have several fine nozzles that squirt minute dropletsof ink onto rolls of pre-treated fabric and textiles. The process is known as"direct printing." Following the pretreatment of the fabric, whichhelps to bond the print to the fibers, the fabric is then post-treated by beingsubjected to high heat pressing to permanently embed the dye into the fabric.In its most basic form, direct printing entails the utilization of a digitalprinter to digitize an image before printing said image directly onto textilesand fabrics.
Given that theprinting process can print onto materials up to 16 feet in width, directprinting processes can accommodate larger backdrops that are seamless or havefewer seams on an extra-large backdrop. This is because the printing processcan print onto materials of any width. The image or design is first loaded intoa specialized piece of print software, and then it is sent to the printer to betransferred onto the textile or fabric. These processes are quick andrelatively straightforward.
Printing on fabricusing direct digital technology enables the production of multiple colorwaysand designs that can be contained along or within a single roll of textile orfabric. This enables a rapid turnaround time as well as small run sampling,reprints or reorders, rush orders, printing large runs and placement,engineered designs, and more.
Direct printing makesit simple to reproduce intricate artwork, photographs in full color, andartwork with a high number of colors. Direct printing is the method to chooseif you need a complicated design printed and you want the work to be of high quality.If you want to get your job done, ask that it be done with direct printing.
When compared to otherdigital fabric printing methods, such as dye sublimation, the image definitioncan sometimes be less clear and sharp when using direct printing. This could bedue to a combination of factors, including the type of ink used, the texture ofthe fabric or textile being printed on, a pre-treating agent, or eventemperature.
Because the quality ofthe print on the fabric can diminish over time as a result of excessive washingand wear, aftercare and maintenance of the fabric or textile can bechallenging. Because of this, particular care will need to be taken to keep theprint vibrant and long-lasting.
The ink, theequipment, the maintenance, and the research and development are all priceycomponents of direct printing. A 600-milliliter ink cartridge,
Dye sublimation is aprinting process that involves the use of specialized heat-transfer paper. Thispaper is then subjected to heat and pressure to transfer the print from thepaper onto polyester fabrics and polyester resin-coated products. The transferpaper is produced by a digital printer, and the ink is heated to the pointwhere it boils. This changes the ink from a solid to a gas and etches the imageor design into the fabric. The use of 100% polyester in this process yields thebest results. You have the option of printing on hard or soft substrates, suchas apparel, soft signage, customized ceramic tiles, tote bags, blankets, mugs,keychains, socks, ornaments, snowboards, clocks, and ornaments.