There are several well-known printing techniques for t-shirts, including DTG, sublimation, and heat transfer. When selecting the printing method, there are many things to take into account because it might change the printing and t-shirt quality.
Sublimation printing is one of the well-known techniques, among many others. Due to its brilliant and bright colors, the majority of print owners favor it.
However, buyers frequently complain about how dull their sublimation prints are. This article will provide you with some of the common reasons of why does your sublimation look faded.
Why Does My Sublimation Look Faded?
Particularly when it comes to printing on T-shirts, sublimation has become a popular type of printing technology. The fact that sublimation dyes can last for many years is one of the main reasons why both individuals and companies use this method of printing. However, some users still complain about their sublimation looking faded, and the reason might be one of the following:
Sun Ultraviolet Discolouration:
Many enthusiasts wonder why their sublimation fades after spending a lot of time in the light. You must be aware that dyes are transformed into a vapor state as part of the sublimation process. As a result, when exposed to UV rays directly, the dyes start to change back to a vapor state due to the strong heat, which enables them to separate from the fabric’s threads and disperse in the air.
This does not imply that wearing sublimation-printed clothing throughout the day is prohibited.
Washing:
Washing is one of the main causes of sublimation print fading. Contrary to other printing techniques, while using sublimation, the dyes turn into vapors and imprint on the fabric. So when the cloth is periodically cleaned, the threads start to loosen, and the sublimation dyes start to mingle with the water, which causes the dyes to fade.
Solution:
Therefore, the best approach to prevent sublimation from fading after washing is to reduce the frequency of cleaning. Additionally, choose cold water rather than boiling water to avoid the inks vaporizing and combining with the water.
Low-Quality Material:
Sometimes the procedure itself causes problems rather than the surroundings. Many beginners would choose sublimation paper and poor-quality prints to keep costs down. It fades more quickly than usual since the dyes weren’t made to last longer or the paper didn’t transfer the print properly. Better printing materials are the simple approach to stop it from happening.
Do Not Apply Polymer Coating:
The polymer coating may be the main cause of faded printing in the case of materials other than fabric. Most sublimation users, especially newcomers, are unaware that the majority of hard surfaces, including wood, ceramics, and others, already have a layer of polymer coating on them.
As a result of the excessive stacking, while sublimating with a second layer of polymer coating, the ink fades significantly more quickly. With additional polymer coatings, sublimation frequently takes longer. Therefore, make sure to examine whether the material already has a polymer coating before applying a layer for sublimation.
Also check: Can You Sublimate On Glass? Step By Step Guide
Conclusion:
The article will provide you the four reasons that could be possible for your sublimation as looking faded. Try to avoid all four reasons so that your sublimation prints can look a lot brighter.
