What is sublimation ink?

Sublimation ink is a specialized ink used in a unique printing process called dye-sublimation. This process involves printing an image onto a special sublimation transfer paper with sublimation ink and transferring the image onto a substrate (usually polyester-based items such as clothing, ceramics, or plastics) using heat and pressure.

Sublimation ink is formulated differently from traditional inkjet ink as it needs to have lower viscosity to be able to disperse onto transfer paper quickly. It also uses heat to enter a gaseous state and bonds with the polyester material, resulting in a vibrant, long-lasting, and high-resolution image.

Sublimation ink comes in a range of colors, including cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and sometimes light cyan and light magenta. It can be purchased in bottles or cartridges, which are compatible with specific sublimation printers.

It is worth noting that sublimation inks are generally not suitable for use in standard inkjet printers or on non-polyester materials. This is because sublimation ink requires high heat (around 380°F) to transfer onto a substrate, which can damage the printer head or cause the ink to clog if used incorrectly.