Sublimation Tumbler,
Mugs and Ceramic Tiles
The Sublimation Process:
I love being able to put my art on to items such as mugs, tumblers, ceramic tiles and metal prints. I create each illustration using pencil, pens and alcohol inks. After the artwork is scanned, it is printed on to a special transfer paper via a dedicated sublimation printer and special inks. The paper is then adhered to pre-treated aluminum, tile, glass, mugs, puzzles or any surface that sublimation can be used on. The item is then put into a heat press or tumbler press where the temperatures reach between 350-400 degrees.
While being subjected to extreme heat and pressure, the dyes from the transfer paper turn into a gas, are pressed on to sublimatable blank surfaces such as tiles, tumblers, etc. and then solidify into those substrates. This is where the sublimation heat transfer occurs.
The transfer process takes between 2-10 minutes per press. Once it is taken off the press, the substrate cools and the process is complete. There are no additional coatings or laminates applied because as the dyes cool, they are permanently infused beneath the surface of the blank substrate.
Dyes are infused beneath the exterior coating through the sublimation process. This makes it more durable than traditional paper and canvas imaging because it cannot be peeled off the surface.
Dye sublimation technology allows for the creation of vibrant, long-lasting colors that are resistant to fading and discoloration over time. Deeper and richer colors are thanks to the inkjet pigments. Here are a few samples of what I can add my art to.
Sublimation Tumbler, 20 oz. & 15 oz. Faux Leather Luggage Tags
Comments