Thermo sublimation printing

We check and process your design data and then print your design onto a special type of paper in digital printing. This process does not require printing rollers or screens, making it very flexible. Changes can easily be implemented and setup costs are low.

In the next step, the graphical design is transferred onto the final carrier film via special presses – either as individual unit or in a continuous process – using heat and pressure. During this process, the color pigments of the base paper diffuse into the film and are thus securely anchored in the depths of the material. In other processes such as screen-printing or painting, the ink is applied to the surface and tends to peel off or to tear as soon as the backing material is deformed. In contrast, sublimation colors remain unaffected and are not damaged. This deep drawing ability is one of the great advantages of this technology.

Further advantages:

  • Color fuses directly into the plastic. Graphic design and the optical effects are not affected if the surface is damaged. 
  • Translucency of Colors 
  • High flexibility process compared to screen-printing (lower set-up costs especially if smaller number of units are involved)

Disadvantages:

  • Special colors (metallic, neon) are not possible 
  • Use of opaque colors is limited 
  • Color white cannot be used

For optimal protection of your design we recommend sublimation on the back of the film. If the film is to be bonded on the printed side in a next process step, the print should be sealed with a migration-free paint, resin, or coating system to ensure there is no floating of colors.

For FIM or IMD applications we generally recommend sublimation on the front side of a film. Especially in the case of opaque films sublimation has to be from the top. For this purpose we use specially dyed coex films with transparent surface coating that are highly suitable for the reception of sublimation ink and ensures brilliant reproduction of colors. 
We offer you sublimation printing in continuous process procedures (in a highly cost-efficient manner with low processing times) as well as in discontinuous process procedures via sheet sublimation presses (high flexibility for small batches).

Suitable materials
Materials used for this method need to have sufficient heat deflection temperatures.
There may be some efflorescence or blurring effects of the pigments in the film.
Especially PA and PBT films are highly suitable for sublimation printing while this type of printing is not recommended for TPU films.
Our experiences with PP films have been varied.

Isosport is your expert for individualized sublimation design
Based on our long-time experience in the print competence center we provide our customers with printed films according to their design specifications from one source. Please see our brochure for further Information.

Downloads:

Your contact:

Christian Angerer
+43 2682 703 950
c.angerer@isosport.com