b'Machine PrintingP R I N T I N G M E T H O D SIn recent years, manual screen printing and screen sublimation printingDye Sublimation Dye Sublimation first prints the image onto a piece have slowly been replaced by digital printing.Although digital printingof transfer paper. The image is transferred to the fabric is more expensive per piece, it allows for smaller runs that wereduring the heating process.The heat not only transfers previously cost prohibitive. Page 135 the ink but it also imbeds, or sublimates, the ink into the age 370fabric and sets it so it wont run or fade. Dye Sublimation Silk screen printing is often limited to simple graphics with spot colors. can used on polyester and nylon fabric and offers a very good bleed To screen print a complicated, multicolored graphic, 4 colors processthroughscreens are required.These screens are expensive and the end result can be less than ideal. Digital printing can print complicated, multi-coloredSolvent Solvent printing is used for PVC and other materials designs and photographs quickly and easily with very good graphicthat cannot tolerate the high heat of fabric printers. reproduction. The ink is deposited directly onto the material and then Page 370 heated but at a much lower temperature than a directage 135Color vibrancy can be an issue on some materials with very dark colors. disperse print. The inks cannot be fully sublimated Deep blacks and blues can sometimes appear slightly washed out.If youdue to the density of the material which makes the print susceptible are concerned or have question about a custom order, please speak withto smudging to cracking when the inks are not cured correctly. Solvent your sales representative.inks are quick drying, scratch resistant and have excellent outdoor durability. Products printed on the solvent printer have essentially no There are a variety of digital printing styles: direct disperse, dyebleed through and should be considered a 1 sided item. If you need your sublimation, solvent and UV. graphics visible on 2 sides, speak with your sale representative about your options. Solvent printing is standard for banners materials like vinyl or 9 mil poly film.Digital Direct Disperse deposits the ink directly onto the fabricDigital UV printing is for rigid substrates and other materials using ink heads similar to a desktop printer. The fabric isUV that cannot be heated.UV inks are cured with UV light then run through a heater to cure the inks. The heatingalmost immediately after they land on the surface of Page 370 process imbeds the ink into the fabric similar to Page 370 the material, leaving no time for the inks to be absorbed 370 dye sublimation. While direct disperse offers a goodand/or react with the material.UV inks are glossy, bleed through on most products, the bleed through can vary slightlyvibrant and scratch resistant.UV inks are also more flexible than solvent depending on the fabric. For a full list of fabrics and their estimatedinks and can be applied to curved surfaces without cracking.UV printing bleed through, see "Fabrics" on pages 342-346. Direct Disperse can behas zero bleed through since there is no sublimation.UV printed used on a variety of fabrics such as nylon, polyester or cotton. products will appear blank on the back side.Most products can be printed on 2 sided or have a 2 ply option.Please speak with your sales representative about the options available to you.Corrugated plastic, standard and PVC form boards are all printed on a UV printer.'