Sublimation is an emerging printing process. The process printing method is divided into two parts: transfer film printing and transfer processing. The transfer film printing adopts halftone printing (resolution up to 300dpi), and the pattern is printed on the surface of the film in advance. , The printed patterns are rich in layers, bright colors, ever-changing, small color difference, good reproducibility, can meet the requirements of pattern designers, and are suitable for mass production.
The transfer process transfers the exquisite pattern on the transfer film to the surface of the product through a heat transfer machine (heating and pressure). After forming, the ink layer and the surface of the product are integrated, which is vivid and beautiful, which greatly improves the quality of the product.
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1. Classification of sublimation
▪ The difference between the two:
2. How to choose sublimation
3. Features of sublimation
4. Advantages of sublimation
▪ Simple printing
▪ Not damaged
▪ Accurate location
▪ Picture printing
▪ Professional application
▪ Multiple printing
5. Disadvantages of sublimation
6. sublimation related information
7. sublimation analysis
1. Sublimation Classification
sublimation is divided into Yihe sublimation (a printing method suitable for large quantities) and digital sublimation (suitable for small quantities, make your own special products)
The difference between the two:
sublimation production process:
The first step. Make high-resolution pictures;
The second step. According to the size of the picture, make a dot-type intaglio electro-engraving plate;
The third step. Install the intaglio plate on the printing machine and print it on the PET polyester film to print it into a sublimation film, which can print thousands of meters of finished patterns in one hour.
The fourth step. Install the sublimation film on the sublimation hot stamping machine for printing. The operation is simple, and the pattern is formed at one time without color registration.
A sublimation hot stamping machine can print tens of thousands of products in 8 working hours a day.
It can be applied to ABS, PE, PP, EVA, leather, stainless steel, glass, wood, and coated metal.
Digital heat transfer production process:
The first step. Make high-resolution pictures;
The second step. Print the pattern on the sublimation paper through the sublimation printer, hundreds of meters in an hour;
The third step. Use hot stamping machine and other ordinary machinery to print the pattern on the product, the operation is simple, the pattern is formed at one time, no color registration is required;
One machine can print thousands of products in 8 working hours a day.
Can be applied to ABS, PP, leather, ceramic coated cups
2. how to choose
Why choose sublimation for large quantities? Should I choose digital sublimation if the quantity is small?
Because sublimation requires the production of electric engraving, while digital sublimation does not require the production of electric engraving. In contrast, the cost of sublimation is relatively high, but why do people choose sublimation when the quantity is large? In addition to quality issues, the most important issue is productivity. sublimation can print thousands of products in one hour. , But digital sublimation can only print about a hundred products in one hour. So if it is just making some commemorative gifts, people will choose digital heat transfer, but if the manufacturer needs to print, they will all choose heat transfer.
3. Sublimation features
Overview
1). The pictures are exquisite, which can be completed with ordinary hot stamping machine and sublimation machine.
2
). The application of inktrk sublimation ink does not require coloring, and the pattern is formed at one time without color registration.
3
). With C-AW sublimation paper, you only need to print it out, with simple operation, exquisite printing work and low production cost.
4
). Small product loss, high added value, and strong decorative craftsmanship.
5
). High covering power and strong adhesion.
6
). Comply with green printing standards, no environmental pollution.
feature
What is sublimation? sublimation is a new method of printing patterns on products of various materials, and is particularly suitable for producing a small number of personalized and customized products, and printing patterns containing full-color images or photos. The principle is to print the digital pattern on a special transfer paper with a special transfer ink through a printer, and then use a special transfer machine to accurately transfer the pattern to the surface of the product at high temperature and high pressure to complete the product printing.
A digital printing machine that can print on any relatively flat materials such as leather, textile fabrics, plexiglass, metal, plastic, crystal, wood products, copperplate paper, etc., one-time multi-color, arbitrary complex color, transitional color printing, it does not require plate making , Chromatography and complex exposure procedures will not cause damage to the material. Since the product went on the market, it has been highly praised by people in various industries, and the number of factory customers for secondary purchases has increased.
sublimation technology can also use a variety of different transfer materials to achieve different printing effects, the most important ones are film transfer and sublimation transfer.
Film transfer
The transfer paper transferred by the glue film contains glue, and then the glue pattern is printed on the surface of the product by means of high temperature and high pressure. Imported transfer paper and ink, the printed glue patterns are very thin, breathable, non-sticky, non-cracking, washable and non-shedding; unlike many domestic transfer papers, the printed glue patterns are thicker and often There are shortcomings of stickiness and cracking. 100% cotton clothes are printed using film transfer technology.
Sublimation transfer
Sublimation transfer is a new generation technology, using special sublimation ink and sublimation transfer paper. The pattern printed on the product will not produce glue. If it is transferred to the clothes, the ink is directly sublimated into the clothes fiber, the durability is the same as that of cloth dyeing, and the color is sharp, which is more suitable for colorful patterns. For example, quick-wicking shirts and physical comfort shirts use sublimation transfer technology.
Products that can be thermally transferred
Not all products can be printed with sublimation printing, which involves factors such as the heat resistance and smoothness of the product. Due to the continuous advancement of technology, products that have been maturely developed using sublimation technology include: clothes, cloth bags, hats, pillows, mugs, tiles, watches, mouse pads, coasters, calendars, medals, pennants, etc. Hundreds of commodities.
Textile transfer
Common textile transfer technology is film transfer and sublimation transfer. (1) Sublimation transfer: The technology is mainly only suitable for clothes with polyester fiber (polyester) on the surface, such as quick-wicking shirts and physical comfort shirts, and white clothes are the best (the position of the printed pattern is white, but the position of the clothes is white. Other parts can be other colors, such as color sleeves). After the colored clothes are digitally sublimated, the ink and colored fibers will merge, which will make the color of the pattern different from the original, so it is not recommended. (2) Film transfer printing: The technology is mainly used for clothes with extremely high cotton content. Adhesive film transfer can be used in all colors, but dark clothes need to use higher-priced "dark clothes special transfer paper", which has heavier glue and unstable quality.
Ceramic transfer
Ceramic products use sublimation transfer printing. The ink is sublimated onto the product at a high temperature of about 200 degrees Celsius, with sharp colors and high pattern reliability. However, ordinary mugs cannot be directly transferred, and the pattern can be transferred only after a special treatment of a coating (coating).
4. Advantages of Sublimation
The ability to obtain such a strong market feedback is all expected, because the machine has the following advantages:
Simple printing
--It does not require the steps of plate making, printing, and repeated color registration, and no tools and materials of various types required by screen printing and thermal transfer methods. To use a universal printer, you only need to prepare an ordinary computer. A machine operator can perform printing operations completely independently, saving manpower and material resources, and the method is simple, which is immediately desirable, and requires low experience of the operator, as long as they understand simple image processing software.
Not damaged
--It can not only be printed on tough crystal, stone, metal, glass and other materials, but also on soft leather, cloth, cotton and other materials; it can be printed on inorganic materials or on The composition is complex and varied in organic matter. It has more and better compatibility with materials, avoiding the problem of selecting materials for screen printing and water transfer, and also avoiding the damage of organic materials such as leather, cloth, cotton and so on by thermal transfer. It caters to the diversified needs of the market and can better provide users with more comprehensive production services.
Accurate location
Avoiding the problem of positional deviation encountered in manual printing-universal printers no longer use traditional printing modes and methods, and are no longer simple manual operations and manual printing in the past. It is combined with high-tech computer synthesis and automatic control technology. A better organic combination can be used to accurately align the area and position to be printed, avoiding the problem of position offset encountered in manual printing. Since it is a one-time multi-color printing, there will be no problem of color registration. These advantages can also be very effectively combined with engraving and etching, printing beautiful pictures in the engraved area, or performing precise etching after printing, etc., which can also make a good breakthrough in the engraving industry.
Picture printing
--Traditional printing methods, such as silk screen printing, cannot achieve the transition of all colors according to the picture, so the effect of silk screen printing will have a clear color boundary. Between the two colors, it is difficult to reflect the color transition according to the picture itself. However, many products require high-precision and high-complexity patterns such as printing trademarks and logos. The gifts and handicraft industries are more widely used. Universal printers can perfectly meet this demand and fully demonstrate the strong market potential. It has broken through the bottleneck caused by screen printing, thermal transfer printing and other printing methods, and found new profit growth points for customers.
Professional use
--Universal printers can change the content of printing at any time, change the effect of printing, and can perform one-to-one digital printing without the tediousness of plate making. Many products have product codes on the metal nameplates, and each group of codes corresponds to each Taiwan products; for example, factory employees’ badges and work permits can also be printed according to one-to-one numbers, and avatar photos can also be added. The production procedure is simple and the cost is low.
Multiple printing
--As far as the printing industry is concerned, there are more professional industry divisions, such as traditional printing in the leather industry: screen printing has a single color and simple transition colors; large leather printing machines are expensive and require high materials; thermal transfer will destroy Material. The traditional printing method in the crystal industry is the crystal film process. The plexiglass industry uses screen printing, while the metal industry uses thermal transfer printing. So once you have a universal printer, you will have a stronger competitive advantage than your peers.
There are two types of thermal transfer: flat transfer and curved transfer. The flat transfer can only transfer flat things, while the curved transfer achieves a breakthrough in transfer, realizing that any object can be printed. The curved surface transfer equipment of Meilun Vision realizes the function that can be customized for any specification, breaking the bottleneck of the transfer industry.
5. Disadvantages of thermal transfer
Professional thermal transfer equipment is required. For ceramics, metals and other items, thermal transfer coatings are required on the surface.
First. The pattern feels hard to the touch and has poor air permeability. It will become softer after washing, but the air permeability is still relatively poor.
Second. When the thermal transfer T-shirt is pulled horizontally, the pattern will have small cracks corresponding to the fabric fibers. This is caused by the characteristics of the thermal transfer itself and cannot be avoided.
Third. The color of the T-shirt will change after being pressed at high temperature, for example, the white will turn yellow. This is caused by the evaporation of the moisture in the T-shirt
Fourth. Thermal transfer Use sublimation ink to print the picture on the transfer paper first, and then transfer it to the surface of the medium. There are several difficult problems: color deviation and positioning deviation. The finished picture is also easier to scrape off and is firm. The performance is poor, and it is generally necessary to spray a layer of protective film. In addition, the transfer of special media also requires flexographic printing.
Fifth. Skilled printing technicians with many years of rich experience are required.
6. Heat transfer related information
As long as a computer, a printer equipped with thermal transfer ink, and a heat transfer machine, images can be printed on any solid object or any curved surface at will. The pattern is clear, the color is bright, the effect is realistic, and the adhesion is super Strong and other characteristics. Accept a variety of personalized customization, on-site production, a wide range of applications, and everything!
1). Personalized daily necessities: large and small, all aspects, fashion and personality make a big change!
Personalized patterns can be printed on cups, blank T-shirts, mobile phone cases, mirrors, keychains, pens, pen holders, desk calendar stands, photo frames, rackets, cosmetic boxes, etc.
2). Fashionable bedroom supplies: One print, transform into a stylish home!
Personalized patterns can be printed on sofas, coffee tables, kitchen cabinets, chandeliers, ashtrays, vase decorations, lithographs, glass paintings, pots and pans, etc.
3). Indoor building materials such as business and home: highlight the extraordinary fashion choice!
Personalized patterns can be printed on doors, windows, floors, handles, wall panels, business card boxes, etc.
4). All kinds of electronic products: personality propositions are everywhere!
Personalized patterns can be printed on telephones, video recorders, DVDs, televisions, air conditioners, speakers, remote controls, mice, clocks, etc.
5). Auto supplies: Out of the ordinary, it is fashion!
Personalized patterns can be printed on dashboards, tissue boxes, teacup holders, tape holders, mirror frames, handles, car locks, etc.
defect
More colors will change colors, such as thin lines becoming thicker, color leakage, etc. In addition, problems such as blue and red dots will appear during the printing process. Depending on the color of the product, different colors will have an impact on the difficulty of the process. Due to the defects of domestic printing equipment, it is difficult for thermal transfer printing to be as clear as paper printing, because the material itself also has texture. Compared with traditional screen printing technology, the cost is higher than in mass printing.
7. Sublimation analysis
There are many types of clothing sublimation. Common sublimation methods are mainly divided into two categories:
(1) Sublimation heat transfer
(2) sublimation heat transfer
Simply put, sublimation heat transfer is to print (or print) disperse dyes (or sublimation inks) on a specific paper in advance with a machine, and then use this paper to transfer the patterns on the paper to the printing material using high temperature and high pressure. Go up the fabric and complete the entire sublimation printing process.
However, with the development of science and technology, the industry has made some refinements, allowing transfer printing methods to emerge in an endless stream. The most prominent is that paper is also used as a transfer printing carrier, but the printing method uses gravure printing presses to print disperse dyes as the mainstream.
In terms of market demand for transfer printing, the printing methods with the most uses are as follows:
(1) The advantages of gravure printing machine for printing disperse dyes are: low cost of printing paper, exquisite pattern expression, strong layering, and full pattern. Suitable for mass transfer printing production. The disadvantages are: high cost of plate making, insufficient competitiveness for small batches of personalized products.
(2) The offset printing machine prints the offset printing sublimation ink, and the printer prints the sublimation ink. After it dries naturally, use this decal paper to transfer to the fabric to be printed. Advantages: Because it uses ps printing, the printing cost is low, and the printing cost is also low, which is suitable for printing small batch products. Disadvantages: The color depth after printing is difficult to be well controlled. If you want to make clothing sublimation, you have to think about it. Because any piece of clothing is made of at least two pieces of cloth, just imagine: before and after the clothing When the color of the pieces is quite different, how can this dress be sold? How to wear it?
(3) Digital sublimation, advantages: The pattern expression is more delicate than any transfer printing, the layering is very strong, the pattern is unusually full, and because of the non-plate printing, the inaccuracy of the color registration caused by other printing methods is completely eliminated Or the shortcomings of the Cypriot version. Disadvantages: Although there is no printing fee, the cost of printing ink and paper is high. So far, it is only suitable for small batches of personalized products for transfer printing.
(4) Silk-screen sublimation ink. This transfer printing method has low cost of plate making, and the sublimation ink is not expensive. However, because the printing plate is a silk-screen version, burrs are generated on the edge of the pattern, which is not suitable for delicate patterns such as figures and landscapes. print.
Heat transfer
Different from the sublimation heat transfer printing method, the printing material does not produce sublimation (vaporization) like the sublimation dye. The printing material will not print high temperature and high pressure to cause the slurry to penetrate into the fabric fiber, although it can also be pressed with a transfer machine , But what is "printed" on the surface of the clothing is like a layer of "plaster" attached to the surface of the clothing.
Its main feature is: the base material used is mostly pet sheet. After printing patterns of various colors on the pet sheet, hot melt adhesive must be applied to the back of the pattern. It is this hot melt adhesive that combines the pattern with the pattern. The clothes are firmly combined, the pet waste film is removed, and the heat transfer process is completed.
The advantages of sublimation heat transfer: low cost of plate making, full pattern layer, beautiful color. Disadvantages: The air permeability is poor after being transferred to the garment, and the hand feel is not as soft as the sublimation heat transfer.
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