Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1491555
G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M A P R I L 2 0 2 3 • G R A P H I C S P R O 4 5 where you have to do treatments." He adds that printing on paper pro- duces a very sharp image and nice color vibrancy. It also can be used to transfer designs onto fabric, mugs, metal, and a variety of other products. Sublimating ChromaLuxe metal prints and aluminum panels has grown in pop- ularity for wall décor because the "color is more vibrant when you use dye-sublima- tion compared to UV," says Sohil Singh, sales manager for StratoJet USA. Heat transfers will always be there, espe- cially in the gifting industries, says Singh, because it is such a simple process, and the transfers can be used on many different substrates and objects. e one downside (Image courtesy Epson) (Image courtesy Epson) to sublimation is that it can't print white. For standard CMY K prints, sublima- tion can produce beautiful colors if the right heat press is used, he adds. With the right heat press, dye-sublimation prints go from dull to really bright colors. "at's always going to be something customers are interested in," he says. "e reason people want to use direct to fabric is for f lexibility," Ingraham says. Many shops use direct-to-fabric dye-sublimation to print a single piece of fabric for double-sided viewing. Direct- to-fabric printing will bleed through the thin material, showing the same design on both sides, which is important for ban- ners and flags. The disadvantage of DTF is that the images are not typically as sharp, and it requires more ink since the image must bleed through to the other side of the fabric.