By Cassandra Balentine
For print service providers (PSPs) well versed in producing signage, soft signage is one notch in the belt of capabilities. However, dye-sublimation (dye-sub) is also well suited for apparel. We discuss both applications below.
Soft Signage
Soft signage is a main application for dye-sub and therefore plays a big role in the implementation and popularity. “It offers vibrant, high-resolution prints that can be leveraged as eye-catching banners, flags, and trade show graphics. Output is durable, ensuring longevity even with frequent handholding or laundering,” shares Lily Hunter, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America.
“Go to any trade show, stand in the middle of the exhibition floor and look up. All of the exhibitors’ hanging signs are created using a sublimation transfer process to polyester fabric,” suggests Josh Hope, director, marketing, Mimaki USA, Inc.
Simon Daplyn, product and marketing manager, Sun Chemical, agrees, noting that soft signage is one of the main drivers of dye-sub’s success, given that the majority of sign and display materials are composed of polyester. “2023 saw strong growth in printed output for soft signage, in part due to a high number of major exhibitions using backlit polyesters and display fabrics. In the U.S., the market share of sign and display within digital textile printing is approaching 25 percent, so any fluctuations in demand can significantly impact the amount of sublimation printing.”
Dye-sub is the primary technology for trade shows and convention display graphics, which is a massive industry in itself. “The advantage of producing soft signage via dye-sub versus something like latex or UV inks is that when the signage becomes dirty it can be removed from the frame and washed. Printing signage with something like latex, as the piece becomes dirty or smudged it will require a reprint; dye-sub introduces a sustainability aspect, which is essentially becoming a requirement these days,” offers Michael Litardo, marketing manager, Mutoh America, Inc.
Paul Edwards, VP, digital division, INX International Ink Co., believes the increased popularity of dye-sub in signage is driven by the fact that polyester substrates have a greater advantage over previous vinyl-based options. “This is in relation to vinyl waste, the reduction in weight and transport costs, and the nicer appearance of polyester as opposed to vinyl signage. Dye-sub and printing systems for textiles are much more common and available, and the products are more widely viewed. This is likely a reason why its popularity is increasing,” he adds.
Apparel Applications
While soft signage is a good segue for traditional print providers, there is opportunity with apparel.
The customized and personalized apparel industry experienced rapid growth over the last few years, and digital textile printing has helped fuel the fire. “With dye-sub, PSPs can easily handle incoming orders with a lower minimum and quick turnaround to meet the consistently changing demand of the apparel industry. Print shops can expand product offerings to personalized apparel without the worry of meeting an order minimum. Customers can place orders for custom socks with their dog’s face printed on, or a blanket for grandma with photos of the grandkids. These gifted items are driving the personalization industry and therefore driving the implementation of dye sub,” comments Hunter.
“The process of dye-sub and digital printing combined certainly means this is an ideal medium for the creation of customized and personalized apparel,” agrees Edwards. “One-off designs can be printed and delivered in very short order.”
Daplyn sees apparel as a growing trend for dye-sub printing, particularly in the area of sports apparel and athleisure where polyester is a dominant fabric, and the majority of print output is made using sublimation printing. “The trend of apparel customization has been growing steadily since the pandemic brought a rise in the web-to-print business space—a segment which benefits from the simple, dry process of sublimation printing.”
The custom apparel market such as kits for sports teams will ensure the sublimation transfer portion of digital textile printing continues strongly, says Hope.
On top of the extreme durability and washability, dye-sub ink, specifically Litardo says MUTOH DH21, has amazing density and very bold colors that are ideal for creating apparel. “Not only can you individually customize each piece for the same cost across different run sizes—we all know how quickly burning screens can add up, but the wide color gamut of the ink also allows for a greater design offering to customers.”
Anne de Brouwer – Veldman, product manager, SPGPrints, says sublimation transfer printing is widely used in fashion and sportswear. Especially in sportswear, which is growing year on year in popularity. “Two developments caused sports brands to seriously consider digital sublimation printing. First, technology developed rapidly. Nowadays, the ink migrates much further into the fabric during sublimation, improving the through print but also the wash fastness. Secondly, many of today’s products from major sports brands are used as fashion items and those do not have to go through so many washing cycles as sports items.”
Learn more about dye-sub in our August feature article, Trusted for Textiles.
Sep2024, Digital Output
