The two most popular techniques in the world of garment customization are sublimation and screen printing. However, if you want to try to decide and get some information about the difference, you need to learn more about sublimation vs screen printing.
This is because the two techniques have their processes and characteristics. In this article, you will find out the main differences between sublimation vs screen printing. However, before you know the difference, first know the definition of the two:
What is Sublimation?
The sublimation method uses heat and pressure to chemically bond dye the color to the fibers in the synthetic fabric. The way it works is that the press releases extreme heat and will sublimate the dye on a special transfer paper.
Then, the dye turns into a gas and infiltrates into the shirt fabric. The heat generated from this method is useful for opening the polymer fibers in the polyester fabric. So, the gaseous dye inside the actual fabric fibers.
When you remove the shirt from the press, the ink cools and returns to a solid form. Then, the ink is already bonded to the fabric at the molecular level so that the sublimation print is durable on the shirt fabric.
What is Screen Printing?
If you want to know the difference between sublimation vs screen printing, you should know the definition of screen printing. The screen printing method is one of the oldest printing arts because it has been used for centuries.
Screen printing involves a squeegee and stencil to squeeze the ink through the screen, then layer the design on top of the fabric. So, the first process of how screen printing works is to take an image, text, or logo and separate it into its color components.