Most Common Sublimation Problems and Mistakes: How to Avoid Them?

A substance is sublimated when converted directly from a solid state to a gas state. This substance does not go through its liquid form. The most common sublimation problems take place at a specific temperature and pressure.

Another popular process is sublimation printing. It involves printing on a unique piece of paper and then transferring the printed image from one to another material using polyester.

The ink is then melted, which attaches to the fabric or any substance you are printing. It generally forms a permanent impression of the image of that particular substance.

Printing is not a very difficult process. It is used worldwide to produce new designs and styles for daily items. But along with this, the sublimation process also shows some significant problems.

These problems are very common. Therefore, every printing press comes across these problems. However, every problem has a solution. Thus, these most common sublimation problems themselves have solutions discovered.

First, we will discuss all the problems you face during sublimation. Then we will discuss their best solutions. So that this thing never interrupts you in your work.

Most Common Sublimation Problems and Mistakes

This sublimation process can lead to several problems. Below, we’ll explain the most common mistakes and problems associated with sublimation. You can easily print anything you want with their solutions.

Avoiding Common Sublimation Problems

1: The Moisture Problem

The moisture issue is considered one of the most significant issues during the printing process. Most of the local presses go through this problem. Sublimation involves a heating process, which is mainly responsible for this.

When you are about to melt the heat into your material, you heat the ink by increasing the temperature. 

When the temperature reaches about 400 degrees, it causes the moisture of the substance/material to be changed in steam. As a result, no ink can correctly be printed in the substance.

This leads to certain color losses in your substance. Ink transfers unevenly from the printer to the material. Therefore, the image of the substance is not adequately produced.

Talking about the metals, they are impossible to get moisture. Therefore, you can’t print anything on their surface. Their strong and rigid body also protects them.

How to Avoid this Moisture Problem?

The first thing that you should do is to keep your paper sheet dry by protecting it from moisture. For this purpose, zip bags do not allow the paper to get moisture.

Secondly, if your paper has moisture on it, then the best thing you can do is to warm them a little. So that the humidity can be converted into steam, this leaves you a fine dry paper for printing.

If you use materials like fabric, remove moisture from them by heating them. Temperatures should not be raised too high.

At last, you should provide the paper with a significant environment. Such as with a good temp and pressure. The perfect temp for protecting the paper from moisture is about 70-80 F.

2: False Use of the Output Colors

When your image is formed, selecting the color of that print is important. The better the color, the more attractive will be the look of the printed material. Many devices have this problem. But thankfully, their solutions are available.

Computer functions are responsible for this. When printing the images, the computer adds the colors according to its operations. As a result, the output color produced is not the final color. 

To solve these most common sublimation problems, there are several methods available. First, you have to get your computer on RGB mode. At the same time, the printer is in CMYK mode. 

However, the final product would not be of your choice. There will be many language errors during this process.

After this, you have to press the image again and then select the colors of your own. So that you can produce the final printed image with your color of choice.

A solution to this Problem

If you are using the saw grass printer, then it provides you with full-color control functions. While if you are using a PC, you have to install the power drivers. That provides you with color control functions.

If you are a MAC user, it will be best for you to install the print drivers. On the other hand, several more software can help you print the best image with your favorite colors.

These software programs include a color manager and creative studio print. In contrast, famous graphics include photoshop and some others.

3: The Issue of Banding

The banding issue is one of the biggest problems all printing companies face. The misprinting of lines on the images during the printing is known as banding.

Damage to pinhead nozzles is the leading cause of this problem. It is common for pinhead nozzles to have ink inside—these inks dry over time when they are not used—banding results from this.

When you use your printer daily, the ink in them does not dry. However, if you use the printer for a long time, the ink in it completely dries. You are making it impossible to be shifted on the paper.

Using a saw grass printer, you do not need to worry. This is because these printers provide you with the best features. Such as this ink-storing feature.

Avoiding Banding Problem

This problem can efficiently be dealt with, with simple methods. You can easily change or refill the ink in the printers daily. As a result, your printer would not get dried out frequently.

You can also buy printers that automatically change the ink—protecting it from drying out. It includes saw grass ones. In comparison, manual printers, which have the Epson ones, are also available.

There are various software programs also available for this solution. These software packages allow printers to change their links automatically. 

4: The Ghosting Problem

Next on the list is another popular issue that every printing press faces. Ghosting is recognized as double printing on a single side of the paper. This double printing makes the printed image more blurry.

The print is perfect when the paper and ink are strongly bounded together. This allows the printer to transfer the image to the image quickly. But sometimes, the printed image is not perfect and steady.

This occurs when ink and paper are not perfectly bounded together. Therefore, the image created has a blurry appearance. 

Preventing Ghosting Problem

This problem needs to be overcome. The use of heat-resistant tape is always recommended. These tapes allow the best bounding of the paper to the ink in the printer.

As a result, without any hindrance, the ink is easily transferred, and a perfect image will be created. This image will not have any double print or blurry appearance.

It is also possible to accomplish this by using the perfect sheets. These sheets are placed between paper and ink. As a result, these sheets allow the transfer of ink from the heating plates straight into the paper.

5: Dark Image Problems

Another common sublimation problem in the printing process is dark image formations. The best quality pictures are those that are bright. 

The main reason for forming these dark images is that the printers do not have suitable pressure and temperature. As a result, when the temperature increases to a high level, the ink melts fast, and the image formed on paper is dark.

Pressure also plays a great part in forming these dark images as the ink melts to a great level. It is shifted straight to the paper. As a result, the image on the paper does not have any brightness and is dull.

Countering Dark Image Problem

These problems need to be addressed. It is always recommended to buy the best printers having a suitable temp and pressure management system. This will always protect your printers from making dark images.

The temp and pressure will not allow the ink to melt to a greater level. As a result, the image formed will be bright and can be easily seen.

6: The Printer Settings

Next on this list is the printer itself. As we know, the printer has various features. If any of them is not working correctly, it is impossible to create the perfect quality printed images.

All the features of the printer are important in making the best images. However, the coloring feature is known to be the best in the business. 

Suppose you can perfectly control this feature. Your ability to make high-quality images is undeniable.

Solving Printer Problem

This problem is easily solved by installing the ICC profile with your sublimation printer. The coloring features can be controlled by yourself by using this method. As a result, you can produce the perfect quality, bright images.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do dots appear on the printed images?

The images produced during printing have some dots in them. This occurs due to the excessive moisture present in the printers.

How can we overcome the moisture problem in the sublimation printers?

The easiest way to overcome the moisture problem is to cool the printer’s temperature. Then press the ink on the paper usually.

Why sometimes does the ink not bound to the paper?

The ink usually does not attach to the paper because it has no support. Certain materials help in sublimation printing. These include Polyester materials and their coatings.

What is the best time and temp required for printing?

The best time and temperature for the printing process is 375 F for 45 seconds. This will provide the best quality sublimated images.

Conclusion

We tried our best to inform you about the best solutions to all the printing problems.

All this information is now yours to use as you see fit. This will surely assist you in overcoming all your problems. Thus, you can print out the best and fine quality images using these sublimation printers without any hindrance.

Mark Bryant