Sublimation  

Sublimation printed business, promotional and advertising gifts use transfers that are computer generated on a wide-bodied digital printer.

Although, this is the best all purpose method transfers can be printed on any offset litho press though this method will need the usual printing plates for each colour be they paper, poly or metal...and here you are up against the usual drawback with offset or screen printing ie a plate for each colour as well as a separate pass; hence CMYK.

When sublimation transfers are used on a substrate the temperature is around 180°C/200°C and this temperature causes the dye to change state to a gas from a solid and then impregnate the substrate...the gas then reverts to a solid.

For perfect sublimation results it is desirable that the substrate is 100% polyester or that the substrate is coated by a 15-25 micron clear polyester paint.

Sublimation printed business, promotional and advertising gifts using this technique can be produced in any quantity from one upwards...sublimation produces brilliant prints on aluminium, ceramics, plastics, glass and textiles...a truly remarkable process.

In fact, some business, promotional and advertising gift manufacturers use no other process as on some items the results are unsurpassed and these includebadges, name  badges, promotional coasters, award plaques, paperweights and desk name plates.

Nevertheless, there are still some applications where sublimation is not at its best for instance on any dark textile substrate which means black, dark green, navy blue and other similar colours. However, on white or light coloured fabrics the results are usually quite splendid and in many cases peerless. 

If you are buying business gifts it will be helpful if you know about digital printing, die stamping, embroidery, engraving, etching, off-set ltho, tampo (pad printing), screen printing, sublimation printing, transfer printing and weaving.