The dye-sublimation process has a seamless, soft feel ideal for products like baby blankets. Photo courtesy of Epson

Even as apparel trends evolve, economic conditions fluctuate and new technologies emerge, dye-sublimation continues to prove its reliability in the textile industry.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen interest in DTFilm printing grow, as compact systems offer many advantages for apparel decorators. DTFilm involves printing designs onto a designated film, applying a TPU adhesive DTFilm powder and then transferring thes image using a heat press onto virtually any fabric. Among the advantages of DTFilm over DTG, in which a design is printed directly onto the garment being decorated, is the fact it can be used to decorate a wide range of fabrics and doesn’t require the same pretreatment use with DTG.

While DTG and DTFilm are driving the businesses of smaller apparel decorators—many of which started during the pandemic—in the coming years, as these businesses grown they will undoubtedly look to expand their solution offerings. With this in mind, apparel decorators can easily weave dye-sublimation into their current workflow and reap its benefits, including impressive versatility, expansive color gamut and low maintenance requirements. For many small shops, it can significantly enhance business operations and increase ROI.

Setting Up Shop

Like DTFilm, dye-sublimation printing involves a transfer process; unlike DTFilm, dye-sublimation ink dyes the polyester fibers of the fabric, rather sitting on top. Each design is printed on a transfer paper that is then applied to the fabric through a heat transfer process; this is where the magic of

A reliable heat press, like the Hotronix ProPlace IQ, goes a long way to achieve amazing sublimation results. Photo courtesy of STAHLS’

sublimation begins. The heat and pressure placed on the transfer paper initiates a chemical reaction that turns the ink into gas that dyes the fabric. It is also here where the colors bloom and become more vibrant.

Note: because of the chemical reactions that are integral to this kind of decorating, sublimation can only be used with polyester fabrics or on polyester surfaces. Also, because sublimation dyes become a part of the fabric or surface they’re decorating, and not covering them up, as is the case with, say, DTFilm, it can only be used on white or very light-colored surfaces.

For apparel shops looking to invest in dye-sublimation, there are two critical pieces of hardware—the printer and a compatible heat press. If a business is already offering DTFilm or DTG, they most likely already have at least one compatible heat press. However, if an apparel decorator is interested in a wide-format dye-sublimation printer, a bigger calendar-style heat press is needed for larger applications and bolt fabric orders will be an essential part of the wide-format print process.

For apparel decorators using DTFilm and DTG, dye-sublimation ink follows the same regulations. For example, OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT is one testing recognition that is applied to all textile-based inks and certifies inks are not harmful to human health. This is essential when creating apparel, especially for infants and children.

Expanding Apparel Decorator Applications

Dye-sublimation is extremely versatile and can greatly expand an apparel decorator’s business. Unlike DTFilm and DTG, dye-sublimation offers an

Supercharge your business’s productivity with the high-performance SureColor® F9570. Photo courtesy of Epson

expansive realm of printer sizes, ranging from desktop to 76-inches and above. By adding sublimated polyester textile offerings, textile applications expand to include full-size athletic wear, dri-fit apparel, loungewear (such as yoga pants), swimwear and more.

Because the dye-sublimation process is one in which the ink is fused into the fabric, textile output has a seamless, soft feel and primarily maintains its original hand feel. Sublimated fabrics also have a high rub resistance, and the colors will not rub off onto you or another layer of clothing. This is ideal for applications such as dri-fit shirts, exercise towels, yoga wear and blankets that come into direct contact with the body. These applications would not be a good fit for DTFilm, where its surface texture is noticeable.

When looking to invest in a dye-sublimation printer, consider its versatility and ink technology. Dye-sublimation requires exceptional color saturation and high contrast, so it’s ideal to invest in technology that offers a high-density black to ensure output has outstanding tonal transitions and grayscale. In addition, some printers offer spot colors, including fluorescent options, which are ideal for creating on-trend athleisure, safety wear and can produce textiles for new and emerging trends, such as tie-dye and neon clothing.

Pending printer size, dye-sublimation can further expand output opportunities outside of apparel to include soft signage, home décor, personalized gifts, photography applications, promotional items and more. Note this includes items such as plates, mugs and other drinkware.

Fitting into a DTFilm and DTG Workflow

For apparel decorators, dye-sublimation is a valuable addition to their toolkit, offering vibrant, long-lasting prints on polyester and specialty products.

Epson’s new SureColor F9570H offers advanced dye-sublimation transfer printing for sports and other decorated apparel. Photos courtesy of Epson

Adding dye-sublimation to an existing DTFilm workflow allows the apparel decorator a choice of which print method to use based on the incoming order and customer request. For textile orders that require an all-over print, large graphic, soft hand feel, or polyester or dri-fit material, dye-sublimation is a better solution. For low-run, personalized cotton shirts with smaller graphics, or 3D textiles such as hats and shoes, DTFilm is the more ideal and efficient solution.

For apparel decorators currently using DTG or DTFilm, integrating dye-sublimation should be a simple transition since they already have knowledge of apparel decoration, as well as experience using a heat press. This allows them to both fill the gap and expand their product offerings with minimal time and investment. After the initial investment, as the dye-sublimation portion of the business grows, apparel decorators can determine if a larger heat press is needed to meet incoming demand.

Decorators can mix and match technologies to make unique garments. They can use dye-sublimation to create a large, seamless design on a garment and personalize it with unique features added with DTFilm.

Furthermore, adding dye-sublimation allows customers to increase orders. If an apparel decorator has a loyal customer who continuously orders team T-shirts, that customer can now add matching tumblers, sunglasses straps, headbands, lanyards, keychains, practice bags and team banners. This not only increases order size and ROI but also strengthens customer loyalty and retention.

Maximizing ROI and Futureproofing

Integrating dye-sublimation into an existing DTG or DTFilm workflow should be an easy transition with an abundance of benefits for an apparel decorator. With a minimal first investment, apparel decorators can start filling the gap within textile offerings and potentially expand outside of textiles, growing their shop and tapping into new markets from sportswear to promotional products and personalized home textiles and gifts.

Again, in addition to textiles, there are boundless opportunities to sell personalized products and gifts, including custom laptop bags, tote bags, wood décor photo panels, smartwatch bands, and award plaques. Promoting personalized gifts for occasions like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas and Hanukkah provide even more opportunities to drive sales and maximize ROI.

Starting small still offers expansive opportunities for an apparel decorator, and as the demand grows, so do the opportunities for larger orders with higher profit margins.

Lily Hunter is a product manager at Epson overseeing the SureColor F-Series and SureColor G-Series printers, a portfolio encompassing over a dozen direct-to-garment, direct-to-film and dye-sublimation printers. With over 25 years in the industry, she is responsible for product development, go-to-market strategies and managing cross-functional teams.

The post Weaving Dye-Sublimation into Apparel Workflows for Success appeared first on Impressions.

Dye sublimated apparel is produced via a printing technique that transforms the dye into a gas that is then embedded directly into fibers comprising the garment in question, allowing for vibrant, detailed and durable prints.

Dye Sublimated Custom Apparel

According to the report, “The increasing demand for personalized and unique clothing items makes dye sublimated apparel necessary for both personal use and professional settings, such as team uniforms and promotional merchandise. Key applications comprise sportswear, corporate apparel, casual wear, event merchandise and the fashion industry.”

The report goes on to say, “End-users include individual consumers, sports teams, corporate entities, fashion brands, retailers, and event organizers…market growth is influenced by the demand for customization, technological advancements, eco-friendliness, and durability.”

On the downside, 360iResearch say it believes that among the challenges currently facing the industry are “intense market competition,” the continuous need for technological upgrades, and fluctuating raw material costs.

According to 360iResearch, areas for innovation and research [include] advanced printable fabrics, sustainable inks, enhanced printing technology, and customization software.

“The dye sublimated apparel market is characterized by creativity, high customization demand and sustainability trends…Significant growth opportunities are driven by customization and durability, although technological demands and market competition pose challenges,” the report says.

For more information, or to obtain a complete copy of the report, go to 360iresearch.com/library/intelligence/dye-sublimated-apparel. For more on 360iResearch, click here.

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Since its founding in 1999, STS has built a robust history of producing quality digital printing inks, establishing itself as a key partner in the global printing industry, the company says.

STS Inks entered the U.S. market in 2005 with a manufacturing facility in New York. It relocated to Boca Raton in 2009 to accommodate its expanding operations.

Dye Sublimation, Custom Apparel Decoration

“As a world leader in the wide format, industrial, promotional, textile and apparel digital ink markets, STS is recognized for applying cost-effective and cutting-edge technologies to streamline processes and transform ideas into reality,” said company CTO Shahar Turgeman.

Today, capping off a quarter-century in the business, STS offers a comprehensive range of products and services, including:

• Plug & Print: an innovative ink-matching technology that allows users to replace certain OEM cartridges with STS compatible ink replacements, seamlessly ensuring no noticeable difference in color or print quality while saving time and money.
• STS DTF Modular Systems: Developed in collaboration with Mutoh Japan, the system simplifies the creation of custom T-shirts and apparel, offering a cost-effective and hassle-free solution.
• Dye-Sub inks: Catering to the growing textile and personalized products market, these high-performance inks improve prints on polyester fabrics and other receptive substrates, ideal for vibrant, durable, and washable prints.
• Printer Accessories and Tech Support: A wide range of accessories and replacement parts designed to ensure optimal printer performance, along with comprehensive tech support and customer service.

“We take pride in our strong relationships with OEM customers, ensuring a thorough understanding of their requirements and delivering support throughout the product lifecycle,” said STS Inks CEO Adam Shafran. “Our manufacturing principles are based on continuous improvement and efficiency.”

Today, STS’s impact extends globally, with distribution in over 160 countries across North America, Europe, South America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. This extensive network highlights our dedication to providing high-quality products and exceptional service worldwide. For more information, visit stsinks.com.

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The new SureColor F9570 and SureColor F9570H deliver a new space-saving design for improved usability and easier installation, an expanded ink set, and the ability to produce high quality images on textiles and hard goods such as promotional products and photo panels.

Replacing the SureColor F9470 and F9470H, the new models are purpose built for round-the-clock productivity, allowing print shops to consistently deliver high-quality, sellable goods. Designed from the ground up to deliver worry-free reliability in high-volume environments, the new models offer advanced dye-sublimation transfer printing for sports apparel and fashion, home décor, promotional and personalized products, and soft signage markets.

“Print service providers are looking for versatile and productive dye-sublimation printers that will deliver quality work for their clients and help them gain a competitive edge,” says Lily Hunter, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc. “These new SureColor F-Series printers deliver high-speed production without sacrificing high-quality results, allowing businesses to boost performance.”

Decorated Apparel Sublimation Features

SureColor F9570H. Image courtesy of Epson

The SureColor F9570 and SureColor F9570H feature a new compact footprint and an advanced, user-replaceable 2.6-inch PrecisionCore® Micro TFP printhead with Nozzle Verification Technology to deliver outstanding-quality prints at high speeds up 1,590 ft2/hr. 2 UltraChrome® DS ink technology delivers exceptional color saturation and contrast. The SureColor F9570H offers an expanded 6-color ink set with multiple configurations, including CMYK plus either Light Cyan and Light Magenta for enhanced smoothness, Fluorescent Pink and Fluorescent Yellow for added brightness, or Orange and Violet for an expanded color gamut.

The SureColor F9570 and F9570H enhance usability with a 4.3-inch touchscreen and a high-capacity, hot-swappable replaceable ink pack system with 1.6L per ink pack to maximize efficiency and minimize downtime. Delivering consistent, high-quality output for production print shops, additional features include:

– Seamless workflow – Includes Epson Edge® Print, featuring Adobe® PDF Print Engine; compatible with popular RIP software
– Low user maintenance – Fabric head wiper and easily accessible maintenance area help ensure consistent performance
– Fleet productivity with Epson Cloud Solution PORT®3 – Provides live monitoring of printer status, including production rates and printer utilization
– Peace of mind – A one-year standard Epson PreferredSM Limited Warranty that includes toll-free advanced telephone access Monday through Friday and usually next business-day on-site service in the unlikely event of any hardware failure; extended service plans available up to a total of 5 years of continuous coverage

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As a sublimation specialist, my job is to make those lessons easier for decorators. I am lucky to be part of a team that, through years of trial and error, has accumulated a bag of tricks for successful sublimation. Here are 10 tips passed down to me —  and now to you — to help you better perform this process.

1. Prolong transfer printer life

To ensure a long printer life span, leave it on at all times. It is a common misconception that this will waste more ink when, in fact, the opposite is true. Leaving the printer on will allow it to perform short maintenance cycles to keep ink flowing and prevent clogged print heads. If you shut the printer down every night, it will do a more extensive, thorough cleaning the next time you turn it on, using a larger amount of ink.

2. Use sublimation ink or lose it

A printer’s sublimation inks have a shelf life. Leaving them in the printer too long will cause issues such as color shifting, head clogs and banding. Many people agree that you can print past the “use-by” date without any issues, but a good rule of thumb is to use the cartridges within six months of installing them. It is not recommended to print past six months of the use-by date. Marking the cartridges with the date on which you installed them is a good way to keep track of their life span.

3. Invest in a good sublimation press

If properly maintained, a quality heat press can last 10 or more years. Look for an industrial-grade press that recovers quickly between pressings and also has a digital display so you can see temperatures rise and fall. Investing in a digital pyrometer, a device that reads the heat of your press, can ensure the accuracy of its temperature reading.

4. Know your sublimation substrate

Certain substrates require additional accessories or a specific press type for successful sublimation. Consult with your distributor about product instructions and specs to ensure you have the required equipment.

5. Always have extra blank garments on hand

When sublimating, always have extra pieces, especially when working with a new product. Mistakes will be made, whether human or mechanical errors, that will affect your production process. Therefore, it’s always good to have backups.

6. Use everyday items to successfully sublimate 

You can use some common household items to successfully sublimate. Paper towels without a textured pattern or print can be placed underneath hard substrates to help evenly distribute pressure and catch any ink blowout.  Substituting butcher paper — also known as end-roll paper — for Teflon sheets will keep double-sided items, such as apparel, clean during production.

Use a lint roller on apparel to remove any stray fibers remaining from the production process that can cause permanent blue dots on the finished product. Finally, lighter fluid can be used to remove fingerprints and adhesive residue from hard substrates, resulting in a clean finish.

7. Choose the best adhesive

Use heat tape on hard substrates and repositionable spray on apparel. However, the latter comes in handy on double-sided, hard substrates when sublimating both sides simultaneously.

8. Hone your decorated apparel design skills

For some, the hardest part of sublimation is using design software, so take time to learn these programs. Just knowing the basic navigation tools can save you time and headaches. Start small and build on your skill set.

9. Take advantage of sublimation resources

Check with your distributor for available resources such as how-to videos, webinars, product templates and specs, design software tutorials and technical support.

10. Set the right price for your decorated apparel

There is no special formula for pricing sublimated goods. Start by figuring out your production costs. Always remember that a personalized item’s value depends on what it’s worth to the customer.

Colin VanLint has been with heat press, decorated merchandise and signage specialist JDS Industries since 2015. This article was updated on May 12, 2024

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Why aren’t my transfers coming out vibrant?

There are a few reasons why your transfers could be coming out less vibrant than expected. First, make sure that you are printing on the correct side of your sublimation paper, which is typically bright white. The other side is generally off-white. If you’re printing with a Sawgrass Virtuoso SG400 or SG800, the bright white side will load face-down in the tray. Next, ensure that you are printing through the correct color correction program.

Why is my sublimated image ghosting?

If you are seeing a second version of your transfer, like a shadow, slightly to the side of your image, you are experiencing what is known as ghosting. Ghosting occurs when the sublimation transfer paper shifts during the sublimation process, such as when you open or close your heat press. For this reason, it is recommended that you tape down your hard substrates to the sublimation paper using thermal tape. For fabrics and T-shirts, we recommend an adhesive spray to prevent the paper from moving. After pressing, make sure you remove the transfer paper immediately. For sublimation, we also suggest avoiding using an auto open press as these tend to pop open too fast, causing the paper to shift if not taped down well enough.

Why is my substrate not accepting sublimation ink?

It is important to note that not all products accept sublimation ink. For dye-sublimation to work, your product blank needs to have a polyester coating (or be made of a polyester material). For fabrics, we recommend 100 percent white polyester for the best transfer. It is not possible to sublimate on 100 percent cotton – and your transfer will wash away in the first wash cycle. You can sublimate on poly/cotton blends, but the transfer will appear less vibrant and give a vintage look. In general, the higher level of polyester, the better.

Why am I getting ink from a previously transferred image onto a new blank transfer?

Sublimation ink has the tendency to bleed onto the bottom and top platens of your press during heat transfer, which is why it is very important to protect your press with the proper material. To prevent ink from getting onto your top or bottom platen, we recommend using a Teflon wrap for each platen, as well as a Teflon sheet. Teflon is completely reusable, and all it takes is wiping away the excess ink after each press. You may also use silicone-treated sheets that can be discarded after use.

Why am I seeing small dots in my transfer?

If you’re noticing small dots on your finished product, this is likely due to excess moisture. We recommend pre-pressing most substrates to ensure you get all moisture out. Then, let the substrate cool down, place your transfer on, and press like normal.

Why are the transfers blurry?

If you notice blurring in your image when you pull the transfer paper off, this may be because your substrate received too much time/temperature in the heat press, and now the image has started to bleed out. If this happens, we recommend reducing your time and attempting again.

Why are my images coming out faded?

Image fading is usually caused by too much time and temperature, and/or pressure. We suggest double-checking the recommended settings from the company where you purchased your sublimation blanks. Every heat press is different, which is something to bear in mind. Another suggestion is to double-check the temperature of the top platen on your press to make sure it aligns with the stated temperature; for this, we recommend heat strips.

Jamie Wisdom is the premier account representative for Coastal Business Supplies. This article was updated April 12, 2023.

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Of course, there are more than 1,000 sublimation-ready products in the marketplace from a variety of dealers, so that gives you plenty of options if you spend some time searching online. But what happens when you can’t find that special item that will really get your customer excited, or perhaps possibly open the door to a line of new and unique products for your business?

During the past few years, there have been some products released in our industry that will allow you to add sublimation to surfaces that weren’t originally compatible with the application. Some work well, while others are mediocre at best. Some work on fabrics, but not hard surfaces. Others are compatible with hard surfaces, but not so great for fabric.

I must admit that I haven’t tried them all; but of the ones I have tried, my hands-down favorite is EasySubli, a product that was created through a joint venture between Sawgrass and Siser. The latter supplier produced a vinyl to which sublimation ink can bond, and Sawgrass created an ink formula specifically for Siser’s vinyl product. Thus, you can produce high-quality, full-color sublimated images on heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) with this product.

Sublimation Custom Apparel Decorating Applications

Some decorators may not be excited about the prospect of sublimated vinyl, but it really is an effective application for sublimating on substrates that currently aren’t compatible with the process. You still have to use a heat press, but as long as the product will fit into the press and not melt or discolor at 310˚F, then everything should be fine.

EasySubli comes in printer-ready sheet sizes. First, print the image with a sublimation printer, then contour-cut it with a cutter. You can use scissors, but you’ll hate yourself when you’re done. Weed away excess vinyl as needed. Then, press the material onto your product.

Even though that’s an abbreviated version of the process, the takeaway is that it’s easy and gives decorators a lot of opportunities for sublimated-product diversification. Let’s start with a look at apparel applications.

If you’re already a sublimator then you know sublimation works best with polyester, as that’s the fabric to which sublimation dye bonds — not cotton or any other type of fabric.

Poly-blends can be used, but the images may appear somewhat dull or washed out, the degree of which is based on the percentage of polyester in the fabric. Remember, however, that this effect can be useful when you need a faded or retro look for an image. With sublimatable HTV, you can apply sublimation to virtually any fabric, which means sublimated cotton shirts now are possible for your shop.

Another factor with sublimating fabric — or any product, for that matter — is surface color. White is the most compatible color, as sublimation dye has a high degree of transparency, meaning the surface color can affect the image color. It can work on light-colored items, but when it comes to dark fabric, a sublimated image will be almost invisible.

The EasySubli vinyl is white, so when sublimation is applied to it, it is being printed on a white background. This essentially creates a white barrier between the image and the surface such that the color of the surface will not affect the color of the ink. Suddenly, dark colors are within the realm of what you can decorate with your sublimation system.

Sublimation Decorating: Other Products & Applications

At this point, you’re probably thinking: “It’s vinyl, not sublimation, which means a heavy ‘hand.’” Traditional sublimation has no hand because the ink bonds at a molecular level with polyester; think of it as infused color. Vinyl, on the other hand, is a physical material on top of the fabric. So, yes, you will feel it when you touch it.

However, like many other new-age HTV materials, sublimatable vinyl has a light feel, so it’s not bulky like some other vinyl products. It’s a trade-off, but don’t write it off because it’s vinyl. It still can provide you with excellent results.

Moving past fabric, the EasySubli product can be used with all kinds of hard-surface products, too. Because it bonds with a heat-activated adhesive, it can be used with almost any material. Remember to experiment before you offer anything for sale, but you will be pleasantly surprised with the new options available by using this material.

Let’s look at a few hard-surface product concepts and ideas.

Sublimatable signage already is available in multiple materials, shapes and sizes. All too often, however, you have a potential order that requires a specific material in a specific size and shape for which there is nothing available that’s sublimation-friendly.

For example, think about all the types of wood — pine, oak, walnut, cherry, teak and mahogany, to name a few. They are readily available in stores such as Home Depot and can be shaped to order using woodworking tools. But without a proper polymer coating, you are wasting your time with sublimation. However, sublimatable HTV makes decorating on any type of wood a possibility. As an added bonus, if you’re good with carpentry, this can lead to unique products that none of your competitors can offer.

Plaques and awards are big business in the sublimation world and there are a lot of great products to choose from in the marketplace. Once again, if you can’t find the right option, then you may lose sales opportunities. Think of the convenience and peace of mind you could have when walking into a craft or hobby store and finding an off-the-shelf item that would satisfy customers’ needs and knowing you can sublimate it.

Removing the Limits for Sublimation

Now, you might be asking yourself why not just use standard HTV and not bother with the sublimation version. Standard HTV involves a solid-color product, which means you’ll have to inventory a lot of vinyl in order to have a wide range of colors at your fingertips.

With products like EasySubli, you only need to stock one color: white. That’s because you can use sublimation to produce virtually any color, even those not found in the HTV world. For example, rather than “getting close” to a team’s colors or business’s logo, you can match it exactly.

With sublimation vinyl, you also aren’t limited to solid colors. You can print shapes, patterns and multicolor images. You even can produce vinyl with photographic images, full-color logos and more. This takes your creativity to a higher level than ever before. If you want to expand your business and your market reach, this is a very affordable option. Just think of all the preciously unsublimatable products that now are sublimatable.

Award-winning author and international speaker Jimmy Lamb worked in the decorated-apparel industry for more than 30 years. He has worked for many industry suppliers, including Hirsch Solutions and Sawgrass Technologies. In addition to authoring hundreds of articles, he also has been a speaker at Impressions Expo trade shows and owned his own decorated-apparel business.

Updated May 22, 2025

The post Sublimation Apparel and Merch Decorating Spreads Its Wings appeared first on Impressions.

The technology delivers stunning visual impact along with a few bonus features that help ensure customer satisfaction. Often, consumers of sublimated products become both fans and cheerleaders for your business.

This also can apply to small signage. ChromaLuxe products, in particular, can have a profound impact on sublimated point-of-purchase (POP) signage. The following are a few different ways you can use these photo panels to meet signage needs. First, though, let’s explain the nature of the sublimation process.

Sublimation Explained
Sublimation imprinting is a unique and low-cost way to transfer vivid, full-color photos and designs onto an exciting selection of blank substrates, ranging from polyester fabrics and wood plaques to metal panels.

It starts with printing a photograph, design or logo via a sublimation printer (e.g. Sawgrass SG500, Sawgrass SG1000, Epson F570, etc.) onto sublimation release paper. Next, you place the blank imprintable substrate, printed transfer and protective paper — which I like to call a “sublimation sandwich” — in a heat press and press for the recommended time, temperature and pressure for that specific product.

Heat will cause the dispersed dyes in the sublimation ink to change from a solid state to a gas. When this happens, the dyes transfer into the oil-loving molecules found in polyester fabric and those substrates that have had a polyester coating applied to their surfaces. Pressure is important because it provides proper contact between the printed sublimation transfer and the substrate, ensuring vivid, crisp image quality across the substrate’s entire imaging area. The result is an amazing, eye-popping and high-value personalized product.

ChromaLuxe Panels
Produced in a range of precut sizes (and large sheet stock for fabricating with a computer numerical control (CNC) router), ChromaLuxe aluminum photo panels are an exciting dimensional display/mounting option for photographs and full-color signage.

The 0.045-inch-thick panels are available with a white or clear imprintable coating, feature rounded corners, and are ultraviolet- and scratch-resistant. The metal is fabricated by Universal Woods by applying a thick, high-tech, optically clear sublimation coating onto the metal’s surface. The coating — along with the sublimation process — delivers some exciting features when used as full-color POP signage.

The final image becomes encapsulated inside this hard and non-porous coating that is antimicrobial and resistant to abrasion, chemicals and graffiti. The resulting products are ideal for hospitals and restaurants, where continuous cleaning is the norm.

ChromaLuxe, Dry-Erase Markers & Chalk
ChromaLuxe’s ultra-smooth surface can be easily drawn or written on using dry-erase markers. It’s as simple as leaving a white or light-colored area in the transferred design.

Easily imaged with standard sublimation equipment, decorators can transfer full-color, photo-quality designs onto the textured panels to create one-of-a-kind dry-erase boards with a rustic, modern, industrial or shabby-chic aesthetic. I recently noticed ChromaLuxe signage in a local restaurant, and the manager raved about it, saying it held up perfectly under the constant cleaning and sanitation necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Universal Woods recently added an exciting new textured option to its selection of sublimatable hardboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and metal photo panels. Contrasting those products with an ultra-smooth finish, the textured finish provides a unique tactile feel for sublimators wanting to offer customers more variety.

For POP applications, one of the best characteristics of the textured products is that they’re compatible with colored chalk. These types of signs are fun to write on, easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth and provide lots of indoor signage options for homes and businesses.

Smaller sizes can be used in the kitchen for recipes, notes and shopping lists, while larger sizes can be used in classrooms, churches, meeting rooms, restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Larger chalkboard signs also can be used as one-of-a-kind wedding or baby-shower signage with plenty of room for handwritten messages.

Stacked Metal
An excellent way to add value to sublimation metal is to stack a smaller piece of imaged aluminum on top of a larger piece. Sublimate the larger piece with an appropriate background image and place your foreground photo on the smaller piece. Then, using a spacer block, mount the smaller piece of metal onto the larger one.

This approach produces a stunning POP sign at little additional cost. Decorating options can include multiple layers — a larger background piece with multiple foreground pieces. You also may vary the types of metal by having a matte background finish and a glossy foreground finish. This stacked-metal approach — sometimes called 3-D aluminum — is a standard offering in many photo gift shops and works well as high-value signage.

A Desktop Printer & Heat Press
In the sublimation world, the largest substrate that can be produced is determined by the printer and heat press’s size. For example, a Sawgrass SG1000 printer (with its optional bypass tray attached) can print a 13″ x 21″ transfer and a Geo Knight DK20S heat press can press substrates up to 16″ x 20″. This popular printer-and-heat-press combo can, therefore, produce substrates up to 12″ x 18″ with full coverage.

If you consider this to be a small size when it comes to POP signage, rest assured there is a way to make larger pieces using desktop equipment. Often, POP signage easily can be designed with an area left over for customization. For example, you can decorate the upper portion of an 18″ x 24″ panel and leave the lower half blank for use as a dry-erase sign or chalkboard.

Alternatively, you can print the image in two sections and transfer them in two separate pressings. This is only recommended for artwork that easily can be broken up into separate pieces.

Employees as Walking Billboards
Although small, ChromaLuxe name badges are ideal for a company’s employees to project a professional image and promote a specific product or service. For example, using a ChromaLuxe 2″ x 3″ metal name badge, place the person’s name and title on the top two-thirds of the badge and place advertising for new products or special deals on the lower one-third.

This approach provides more value for your customers and keeps them coming back with replacement orders once there’s a new product or special deal to promote. Always remember to sublimate your company’s name and reordering information on the back of the name badge for easy reference.

David Gross is president of Mobile, Alabama-based Condé Systems Inc. For the past 26 years, he has devoted himself to advancing sublimation decorating technology. He recently co-authored a book with J. Stephen Spence titled “The Road to Sublimation Success: Cashing in on the ChromaLuxe Revolution.” It is available from Condé Systems and Amazon. For more information or to comment on this article, email David at dgross@conde.com.

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Gaiters have been the subject of a lot of speculation lately as the nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and find safe ways to protect citizens against it.

Researchers at Duke University tested 14 different face coverings, including N95 face masks, surgical masks, bandanas and gaiters, to see how effective each was in keeping droplets from escaping. In the study, gaiters performed poorly, leading many consumers and decorators to question the protective qualities of the product category at large.

Study Details
While media reports referred to the gaiter as a “neck fleece,” Martin Fischer, an associate research professor at Duke who helped perform the study, says it was made of polyester mixed with a little spandex, not cotton fleece.

“You can see the material was pretty thin,” Fischer said in an interview with the Raleigh News & Observer. “So if you stretch it out over your mouth, it gets even thinner.”

Fischer says the researchers tested only one type of neck gaiter. In fact, he said, the study was never meant to be a comprehensive test of all masks and mask materials.

“The focus of the study was to develop a simple technique for mask testing that people could duplicate and set up themselves,” he said. “This is, as far as we know, by far the simplest and easiest way to do this. We set this up on a weekend with stuff that we had lying around in the lab.”

Where Do You Go from Here?
Here are some things to consider when evaluating the gaiter product category:

Select a gaiter made of thicker fabric. Many promotional gaiters are thin and lightweight (80-110 GSM). This weight is not ideal for PPE. Find a gaiter with 130 GSM or higher.

Length matters. Some gaiters are longer so they can be doubled and layered when worn. This provides double the protection and acts as a two-layer product.

Knit construction is important. Different knits impact the fabric’s ability to act as personal protective equipment (PPE) Fabrics that include mechanical stretch can be lighter in weight but behave like a heavier fabric.

Quality Counts
There are so many different types of gaiters on the market. Many are too thin to be effectively used as PPE. However, there are other products on the market that weigh about 130-140 GSM, and that has a real impact on effectiveness.

Christopher Bernat is chief revenue officer and co-founder of Vapor Apparel. He speaks on sublimation and apparel topics for Impressions Expo, PRINTING United Alliance , FESPA and other events, and serves on the executive board of directors for PRINTING United Alliance. For more information or to comment on this article, email Chris at chris@vaporapparel.com.

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Don’t fall into that trap. Successful companies are rarely — if ever — the cheapest options. Thus, the question should be: “What is the most I can charge for my products?”

You’re probably thinking, “That sounds nice, but how am I supposed to do that when my competitors are undercutting me everyday?” First, reevaluate what you sell and to whom you sell it. Any sublimator can put a logo on a mug; thus, its value decreases because it’s so readily available.

In fact, it becomes nothing more than a mug with a graphic. Thus, the customer’s perception is that it doesn’t have a high value and that, in turn, sets the expectation of what he should pay for it.

Your job is to raise the perceived value of everything you sell. A big part of that comes from how you position products when communicating with potential customers. To better illustrate my points, let’s do some quick perception tests.

Put a Spin on It
What do you see in Figure 1? A sublimated coffee mug? It’s actually a billboard for promoting a business. Put simply, it’s advertising.

We often don’t place the appropriate emphasis on what we sell. A simple mug can seem boring; the form of decoration means nothing to the customer. Advertising, on the other hand, is an essential part of growing a business or promoting an organization.

Marketers call this “spin.” In other words, you’re elevating an everyday item to superstar status. Customers need a good reason to spend money with you, so you must give them one. Simply stating that you produce quality products at a great price usually isn’t an exciting sales approach.

For example, I could walk into a tackle shop and tell the owner, “Hi, I’m Jimmy and I own a sublimation business. We easily can put your business name on a variety of products, including caps, shirts, jackets, etc. We have great quality and competitive pricing.”

How exciting is that? You just said the same thing any decorator would say, but you didn’t give the customer any real incentive to learn more. Everything you say and do must be focused on one thing: filling a customer’s need.

Getting in the Spirit
What do you see in Figure 2? A sublimated mouse pad? Actually, this is considered a spirit product, which sounds much more interesting than “printed school stuff.”

Spirit merchandise is big business, as students, parents, family, friends and alumni freely spend money on products that showcase their school or team spirit. Your creativity in promoting the concept will determine the success of your sales efforts. It’s a proven fact that this is a thriving marketplace, but the trick is how you get involved.

Remember that schools have few dollars available for purchasing spirit products. Thus, offer a fundraising program to support groups — the PTA, athletic and band booster organizations, etc. — that involves selling spirit products at sports functions and special events. You provide the product while they sell it.

Selling Personalization
At first glance, you may see a sublimated photo panel in Figure 3, but it’s actually a personalized product. Such products are all about capturing and preserving life’s important moments and priceless memories.

This is an important sales and marketing concept called “packaging.” If the ordinary is elevated to the extraordinary, coupled with a touch of emotion and excitement, the perceived value — and profit margins — are increased.

Melanie Coakley of Signature Designs understands this concept all too well and applies it to everything she does. “I had a customer come in one day who wanted a poem that her husband had written to her about their unborn baby girl embroidered on a piece of fabric, which would be framed and hung in the [baby’s] nursery,” she recalls.

The job wasn’t terribly difficult and, if priced based on the idea of simply being a decorated piece of fabric, she could’ve charged a mere $15. However, Coakley recognized the poem’s deep emotional meaning, which was almost to the point of being spiritual. Thus, the job wasn’t about decoration; it was about preserving an important moment in the customer’s life.

What would you have charged for this job? Coakley priced the job at $150 and got it.

The idea of packaging your products so that the value is enhanced applies to everything you do. This, in turn, can have a profound effect on whether you are regularly gaining or losing jobs.

Here’s the relevant point: You sell products that use embellishment to deliver a message and enhance value. Everything you do in terms of sales and marketing should focus on increasing their perceived value.

To do this well, you must fully understand the markets you serve so that you also can understand their needs. This enables you to choose the right products and pitches that will support your pricing.

Also, remember to avoid describing your products in mundane terms. Get the customer excited by being excited. Always focus on presenting your products in the most unique way.

For example, never refer to a poly-performance T-shirt as just a T-shirt. Unfortunately, most consumers have a low perceived value of T-shirts. That’s because, at some point in their lives, they probably bought a lightweight 50/50 T-shirt with single-color printing for $6. By comparison, a poly-performance T-shirt usually has a wholesale price of about $6, just for the blank shirt, which is a problem.

The solution is to avoid initially using the word T-shirt when describing the product. Focus on the term “performance product.” Talk about the shirt’s moisture-wicking properties and the fact that sublimation will not fade, crack or peel when laundered. Use terms or brands that are synonymous with high value — like Under Armour. What you say will have an effect on how customers perceive the product and hopefully will make them more comfortable with your pricing.

Your pricing markups will be driven by one simple premise: customer perception of value. Markups are not a formula, although one can be used to calculate them once you understand your customer. Everything revolves around the client’s perception. If you don’t know your customer and market, you always will struggle with markups.

Consider focusing your efforts on specific markets rather than trying to be a jack of all-trades. More than any other method, this will get you where you need to be faster and more effectively. Remember this simple phrase: Your product is only worth what someone will pay for it.

Award-winning author and international speaker Jimmy Lamb has more than 25 years of apparel-decoration experience. He currently is manager of communications for Sawgrass Technologies, Charleston, S.C. For more information or to comment on this article, email Jimmy at jlamb@sawgrassink.com.

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