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INTRODUCTION
KEEP THIS MANUAL FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
Congratulation on the purchase of your Countertop SubliPro-Ct sublimation oven!
Sublimation is defined as the process of change from a solid to a gas state without
passing through a liquid phase. When heated, sublimation dyes bind permanently
with the molecules of the substrate. Under the right pressure and temperature
condition, the substrate molecules open up and allow the gaseous dye molecules to
become trapped upon cooling. This color “trapping” results in a nearly undetectable
“hand” or sensation of any physical change of the substrate. Dye sublimation shirts
retain the original feel of their fabric, breathability and wicking characteristics. Non-
textile substrates – mugs, cellphone cases, photo-imaging wooden or metal plates,
etc. – show their color designs in unusual vibrancy and color retention. Since color
is now also more than superimposed layer, the design is also generally better
protected against abrasion.
The sublimation works on polyester, either as a fabric or as a coating on non-textile
substrates. The process does not work on cotton except when the cotton is spun in
combination of a substantial percentage of synthetic material. However, since only
the polyester fabric traps the sublimation dye, there is a direct relationship between
the vivacity and longevity of the images and their synthetic content.
Dye sublimation inks are translucent. As a result, printing on dark substrates can
only occur if printing on a white underbase (in the case of fabric) or on a white panel
(in the case on non-textile).
Over the past 20 years, the use of inkjet printers to create sublimation dye transfers
has grown exponentially, partly because of its growing popularity, but also because
of the declining price of dedicated desktop-size sublimation printers. Popularization
of the technique has created such a demand that these printers have now become
accessible to any small business willing to expand into this field.
Key among sublimation’s advantages is the ability to produce accurate colors, fine
detail and durable prints.