You can use sublimation ink to print onto various substrates, including t-shirts, mugs, banners, and other polyester and poly-coated items.
Sublimation ink produces vibrant and sharp prints on polyester fabric and poly-coated items such as mugs, cups, and tiles.
It is widely used for dye-sublimation printing, which is a process that uses heat to transfer dye onto items.
Although you can use sublimation ink for regular printing, it is not recommended. The results will not be as good as those you would achieve with inkjet printer ink.
Read on to understand whether you can use sublimation ink for printing.
Is Sublimation Ink Suitable For Regular Printing?
Sublimation ink is not designed for standard inkjet printers or recommended for printing documents or photos.
The ink is created for a unique transfer process that involves heat and pressure to transfer it onto a substrate.
This process results in bright, vivid colors that are difficult to achieve with standard inkjet ink.
Below are the reasons why sublimation ink is not suitable for regular printing
Printed Colors Are Dull
The colors appear duller when you use sublimation ink to print on standard printer paper. Sublimation inks are specifically designed to be used with sublimation papers that is treated with a special coating that helps the dye bond with the paper.
When printing on standard paper, the inks will not bond properly and therefore not transfer as much color to the paper, resulting in duller colors. When you use sublimation ink for regular printing, the colors will not only be dull, but the ink will also bleed.
It is not cost-effective.
Using sublimation ink for regular printing is not cost-effective because the results are often not as good as you hope. The colors often look washed out, and the print quality is not as good as regular ink. Additionally, you must purchase special sublimation ink, which can be expensive. Therefore, sublimation printing is not recommended if you are looking for a cost-effective printing method.
Bleeding
The standard paper does not have the necessary properties to handle sublimation ink. Sublimation paper is specially coated to allow the sublimation ink to bond with the substrate during the sublimation process.
In contrast, regular paper has no polymer coating. Therefore, it cannot hold the ink properly. Standard paper is a thin sheet of fibers, usually made from wood pulp. It is typically treated with a sizing material to create a smoother surface for writing and printing but does not have a polymer coating. Therefore the sublimation ink will soak into the paper, and the colors will bleed while the ink is still wet during the printing process.
How Sublimation Printing Is Different From Regular Printing
Sublimation printing uses specialized inks, typically dye-based, and heat to transfer an image onto a substrate. Unlike regular printing, which utilizes liquid inks to bond with the paper, sublimation printing involves a transfer process that bonds the ink to the substrate. It uses heat and pressure to convert the dye-based ink to a gaseous state. This process allows for full-color, photographic-quality prints as the inks are absorbed into the substrate.
Sublimation ink is more efficient and cost-effective for sublimation printing. It is also much faster, as the ink is absorbed into the substrate and does not require drying time. This makes it an ideal choice for high-volume sublimation prints, as the turnaround time is much shorter.
However, sublimation ink is unsuitable for regular paper, as the ink will not bond with the paper. Instead, sublimation ink is best used on substrates specifically designed for sublimation printing, such as polyester, polycarbonate, and other similar substrates.
Understanding Whether You Can Use Sublimation Paper and Ink For Regular Printing
You may wonder if you can use sublimation paper and ink for ordinary printing. Well,
sublimation paper is not designed for standard printing because it uses a unique transfer process to produce images with vibrant colors that are highly durable. Sublimation printing requires a particular printer, ink, and transfer paper. This paper is embedded with dye crystals that are heated and pressed into the printed item. This process prints on mugs, t-shirts, mouse pads and other similar substrates.
Traditional printing, on the other hand, does not require these special materials and processes. Standard printing is best done on regular paper designed for normal printing.
Conclusion
You can use sublimation ink for regular printing, but the results will not be satisfying. Sublimation ink is designed for a specific purpose and is not ideal for general printing. Its intended purpose is to transfer images and artwork onto polyester fabrics and other similar substrates.
Therefore, it’s unsuitable for paper or cardstock, and the results will be poor. It’s best to stick to regular ink specifically designed for printing on paper or cardstock if you want good results.
FAQs
Can I use sublimation ink for regular printing?
Yes, you can use sublimation ink for regular printing. However, the results will be far from satisfying since sublimation ink is specifically designed for use with sublimation printers and unsuitable for regular paper printing.
What is the difference between sublimation ink and regular ink?
Sublimation ink transfers images onto specially coated surfaces. Regular ink is used with inkjet printers on regular paper or other media.
Is sublimation ink more expensive than regular ink?
Sublimation ink is generally more expensive than regular ink due to its specialized nature. Additionally, sublimation printing is more expensive than regular inkjet printing because it uses specialized inks and printers. The inks used in sublimation printing require more heat to transfer the image onto the substrate, whereas regular inkjet inks do not require heat. Sublimation printing also requires specialized media, such as special papers and fabrics, that are not used with regular inkjet printing.
Is sublimation ink water-resistant?
Sublimation ink is water-resistant, meaning that when it is printed onto a material or substrate, it will not fade or run when exposed to water. The ink has a special coating that helps it adhere to the material and prevents it from coming off when exposed to moisture or other weather elements.
Can I use sublimation ink on any type of surface?
No, sublimation ink is designed for specially coated surfaces. Regular ink is designed for paper or other media, not for sublimation printing.
