What is Polyester?

Some polyesters are plant-based from naturally occurring chemicals, although they are in the minority. Some of these naturally occurring polyesters, and a few synthetic ones such as polybutyrate, are biodegradable, but most are not.

Some polyesters are “thermoplastics,” and these are the type used in polyester fabric.

Polyester fabrics are used extensively in the apparel industry, furniture manufacturing, bedding – sheets, blankets, and coverings – as well as in the graphic advertising universe.

The fiber is also used in ropes,

Dye Sublimation Printing is an innovative print processing that is an upgrade to the conventional screen printing of graphics onto fabric substrates. I have written several posts about dye sublimation specifically on making custom fabric banners, and most discussions are based on frequently asked questions. Basically, this is an online guide for those who want to know more about fabric banners and dye sublimation printing.

Dye Sublimation Fabric Banners versus Vinyl Banners and Others

Fabric banners printed using dye sublimation differ from other types of banners,

Question: I was told by a vendor that dye sublimate printing is the same as laser printing.  Is this true?

If by laser printing, they were referring to inkjet printing, the answer would be partially yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that.

Inkjet printers, such as those manufactured by Mutoh, Roland, Mimaki, Canon, or Epson, among many others, are generally known to print such items as vinyl (PVC) banners, vinyl stickers, and even fabric that has been treated to accept ink.

Question: This is probably a pretty basic question, but I was wondering what a dye sublimation printer is characteristically used for?

Actually, this is a good question, and while I’ve written a lot on this topic, I enjoy continuing to do so because it keeps me sharp and learning more about dye sub printing and new developments in this arena of printing, which has some similarities to inkjet printing, and some significant differences.

Inkjet Printers

An inkjet printer in our business is typically at least 30 inches wide,

Some clients have asked what the advantages or disadvantages are to a dye sublimation printer or printing, so I am addressing this topic today.

Dye Sublimation Printing

Dye sublimation printing is, by definition, the sublimating of dye in fabric. The way it works is like this. First, a transfer paper is printed on a digital printer that is set up with CMYO dye cartridges rather than your typical CMYK inks.

Question: Can you please describe how dye sublimation printing works? What kind of printer is used? Is it the same as heat transfer printing?

Wow! All very good and related questions to the dye sub and heat transfer printing of fabric, one of my favorite ways to print fabric and other items, although this answer will deal mostly with polyester fabric.

First, there are two types of sublimation printers. One uses ribbon so transfer color to a transfer paper,

Question: I need to know how to assemble and hang a dye sublimation printed fabric banner. Can you help me out with this?

Also, can I illuminate a hanging sign or banner?

Without knowing specifically what you’re hanging other than a banner, I’ll give you a few ideas and hopefully one of them will work for you.

Dye Sub Fabric Banners with Grommets

If you have a standard dye sub printed fabric banner,

Question: How are dye sublimation printed fabric structures/signs installed or hung?

There are many different apparati for utilizing dye sublimation printed fabrics.

Hanging with Simple Tools

The simplest method is, of course, to hang a print similar to how you’d hang a banner – by tacking it to a wall or hanging it from grommets and using screws or nails to attach it to a wall.

Hanging with a Rod

After that,

Question: In what commercial applications are dye sublimation printed cloth or fabric used?

There are quite a number of applications for dye sub printing on fabric/cloth, most of which are commercial at some level, although some products like shirts end up on retail store display racks and shelves.

Commercially, though, where an end user is using the actual printed fabric, there are still a lot of applications we can talk about. However, for those who are new to this discussion,

Question: I can’t think of the term that you call a large piece of fabric with a design or designs on it. Can you help me out?

I’ll give it a try. There are a lot of options here we can talk about, with a lot of ways to put designs on a large piece of fabric, or we can make a large piece of fabric using lots of pieces to make a design.