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4 6 G R A P H I C S P R O • A P R I L 2 0 2 3 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M S U B L I M A T I O N Another problem is waste. If the printer makes a mistake when direct-to-fabric printing, it costs more for fabric than paper. "In paper transfer, 95% of the cost is medium — ink and paper are small," Ingraham adds. How has dye-sublimation improved over the last few years? D ye-subl i m at ion te c h nolog y h a s become easier to use and more cost-effec- tive scaling to high-production volumes, says Check. "As manufacturers incorporate greater automation into the printing process and leverage industry standard practices for color managing, designers can get consis- tent results. A simplified printing process reduces the time learning about the tech- nology and permits more time for creating the next big thing," Check adds. Singh says that dye-sublimation tech- nology itself has remained the same for many years but that one of the biggest changes of late is the move to new and better print heads, which are coming in and reducing the per-square-foot cost of printing. New dye-sublimation inks are also being introduced all the time. (Image courtesy Canon Solutions America) (Image courtesy Epson) The dye-sublimation market is on a downward trajectory when it comes to cost of entry. (Image courtesy Epson)