Sublimation Paper, Light Transfer & Dark Transfer Paper - Dye Sublimation Supplies

T Shirt & Garment Printing - Sublimation Paper, Light Transfer & Dark Transfer Paper - Dye Sublimation Supplies

What paper should I use to print designs onto t shirts and other fabric garments?
Today we’re going to talk about printing designs on to t shirts and other garments using different transfer methods with different transfer papers.
As this is the Dye Sublimation Supplies Channel we will assume to start with that you have a sublimation printer such as a Ricoh or an Epson and are using SubliJet-R or SubliJet-HD inks from Sawgrass. So the first paper we’re going to talk about is the Jet Stream Digital F-35 sublimation transfer paper. When using sublimation printing on t-shirts and other clothing ideally you will need to be printing onto polyester, preferably 100% polyester though you can use blended fabrics as long as the polyester count is high; we would usually recommend above 60% polyester to get a good image reproduction because dye sublimation ink works best when it has a polymer to bond to. The Jet Stream Digital F-35 sublimation transfer paper is the one we use for all of our sublimation printing; there are other sublimation papers available on the market. We find it is a good balance between quality and cost and works well for our printing needs. The down side to using sublimation printing for t shirts and garments is that you are limited to using predominantly man-made fabrics and due to the ink being transparent you are limited to using either white or light coloured fabrics as you would be unable to see the colours either at all or well on darker coloured fabrics. Dye sublimation printers also don’t print white so you would be unable to print white designs onto dark t shirts or clothing. Luckily there are other printing methods available that would allow you to be more versatile.
If you wanted to print onto a cotton t shirt, clothing item or even a canvas bag you can do so using our Reiver Media Transfer Paper for Light Garments, which is what we use for light coloured natural fabrics. This transfer paper has layers of transfer so once you have printed your design you would need to cut it out, as the layer you print onto will then adhere to the t-shirt or item of clothing. Because of the side of the paper which the adhesive is on you will need to mirror your image before printing. Once you have printed your image on to the transfer paper and cut it out you then place it face down onto your item of clothing and press for approximately 25 seconds. Once pressed you can remove the backing transfer to reveal the design. Compatible with the Silhouette Cameo cutter but you can also cut the designs out by hand.
If you would like to print on dark cotton t-shirts you would need to use the Reiver Media Transfer Paper for Dark Garments. As with the Transfer Paper for Light Garments, they are available in A4, packs of 100. The printing method is slightly different from the light garment transfer paper as you don’t need to mirror your image as you take off the release paper before you put the transfer onto the t-shirt or garment and the adhesive is on the back of the transfer rather than the front (if that makes sense!). The transfer paper itself is white which would enable you to print white onto dark t-shirts. There is a slight texture to the transfer when it has been pressed. We have tested the wear and wash-ability of the transfer by taking a printed jumper home to be worn and washed.

http://www.dyesublimationsupplies.co.uk/

http://www.dyesublimationsupplies.co.uk/consumables/Dye-sublimation-Paper

http://www.dyesublimationsupplies.co.uk/consumables/fabric-transfer-paper