The Difference Between Direct Print and Dye Sublimation Printing

There are the two primary methods of digital printing – direct print and dye sublimation. In many cases, you may ask, what is the difference ? What makes one method better than another?




Dye sublimation uses a heat-generated printing process in which heat is used to transfer dye onto paper or fabric. The dye is transferred from a solid to a gas onto the intended medium. The dyes used are intended to bond most effectively with polymers, so the higher the polyester content in the substrates used, the more the dye will bond to the material. The result? A crisp, well-defined and brighter image that keeps consumers coming back for more.

      

        Sublimation Printing Art with Sublimation Paper & Ink

With Direct Print, the inks are printed directly onto a coated fabric substrate. Due to the coating, the backdrop tends to be slightly stiffer. With Dye Sublimation, a paper transfer process is used to convert the ink solid into a gas, which then “etches” the image into the fabric. As the fabric substrate is not coated, a dye sublimated backdrop tends to be a little softer and more flexible.

So, which is better? Depends on the individual project. Direct print can be printed onto fabric up to 16’ in width, allowing larger seamless backdrops or fewer seams on an extra large backdrop. Dye sublimation, on the other hand, can only be printed onto fabric up 10’ wide, meaning anything bigger would require seams. However, the image tends to have better resolution and color vibrancy.

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