Sublimation Guide

Screen Printing Vs Sublimation: Everything You Need to Know

Any shirt you wear, the design on your cup, the jersey numbers you see, and whatnot, all have been printed through certain techniques. 

There are different ways to do so, but screen printing and sublimation are two amazing techniques to accomplish such printing.

So, screen printing and sublimation are two popular printing methods. Although screen printing is quite old now, sublimation came with a massive innovation.

You’ll need a printer to complete the sublimation printing. Whereas, you’ll need g a polyester or other blend screen to imply designs on material via the screen printing method. 

The sublimation process is done automatically, whereas screen printing requires physical effort. But, don’t forget, that you’ll be needing to give manual conduct to complete both of them properly. 

There are a lot more differences and uniqueness between those techniques. Don’t worry, we got a mammoth of information about them. 

As a bonus, we’ll be recommending to you our best picks of printers and inks for those printing processes. Pretty sure, you’ll love it at the end. So, let’s dive.

Table of Contents

What is Screen Printing?

Screen printing is the process of printing a design through a stenciled mesh screen by pressing ink on it. You can use a squeegee for the purpose as well.

Paper and fabric are the most common surfaces used for screen printing. Besides them, you can also use screen printing on wood, glass, plastic, etc., but the accuracy and design fineness might not be the same as on paper and fabrics.

What is Screen Printing

One of the most amazing and favorable facts about using screen printing is because of the feasible usage of stencils. 

Yes, you can use different stencils as per your need. Just cover the area you don’t want to imply the print and you’ll get your desired design.

Talking about ink shades, there aren’t any restrictions. You can use multiple ink shades as per your requirements. 

And for that, you have to use different stencils for each color. Just make sure the ink you’re using is well-prepared and suitable to use.

Process of Screen Printing

You can imply different ways of implementing screen printing, but above all, there is one common technique involving the stencil. Without the stencil, you simply cannot think of doing the screen printing in any way.

Now coming to the process, we’ll discuss g the common way of doing screen printing with the desired ink(s) and designed stencil. Now, let’s get straight to the process.

Process of Screen Printing

Step 1: Create the design

This is the first and foremost thing, you have to create the design on the stencil. For that, input a design in the printer and let it print out o a transparent acetate film, which will be used to create the stencil.

You can use a special light-reactive emulsion to create your custom-designed stencil. Inputting the design in the printer will simply print it out and present you on the stencil.

Step 2: Prepare the screen

Done with the design, now it’s time to make the screen where you’ll input the design. Take a mesh screen and let the printer coat it with a layer of light reactive emulsion causing the design on the screen.

Let it try under the light, sunlight is the best option. Eventually, it will dry up and become hard. Remember, you have to make a separate screen for each color you would like to imply. Tough job, but you have to.

Step 3: Making the stencil

Once you harden the screen, you’ll see the areas on the screen not having the design have some hard leftovers coming out, some cracks maybe. Just rinse them off and make the screen a portrayal of the design. 

Just make some final touchups by the printer, it’ll fix the accuracy and design structure on the screen. Then, it is ready as a stencil and feasible for use.

Step 4: Placing the item for printing

Now, your stencil is ready and is your printing item. Be it paper or cloth, just place it under the stencil in such a way that the item should print the design and color in its suitable place.

Step 5: Using the ink

You already made the mixture of the ink, right? Just put it down on the stencil and use a squeegee to make drag it longitudinally on the stencil. 

Once you do that, the ink will enter through the empty slots of the stencil and will print itself on the fabric or paper or whatever you want to print on.

For separate color printing, you already know that you have to make separate stencils for that. In the same way, you have to apply the ink and let it settle on the item accordingly. Placement is important for that, be careful.

Step 6: Drying and steaming

Now, it’s time to dry up the ink for its final usage. But hey, the ink doesn’t get completely settled on the surface even after drying. Sometimes, it requires a good blend of the fabric to settle permanently. And for that fixation, steaming is required.

Steam the design after slight drying at 100-105 degree Celsius and you’ll see the design getting attached firmly. Then after a slight drying, your item will be ready for usage and printed by screen printing.

Advantages of Screen Printing

You know the process and theory of screen printing so far. Now, why would you use that? There are some advantages for which people are preferring it over other methods, right?

Advantages of Screen Printing

So, here you go with some of the advantages of using the screen printing method.

  • The final output is more realistic and looks more lively than other printing.
  • For long-term sustainability, screen printing is preferable. Hardly it goes away even after you wash it many times.
  • You can use screen printing on wood, glass, metals, etc. apart from clothes and papers. It’s very much versatile.
  • The system is simple and easy to go. Not many complications and a tough setup.
  • Can be profitable for printing on bulk materials. The stencil can go through a lot at once, reducing the investment cost per piece it prints.
  • Screen printing allows using of more ink than usual printings, which creates a better and hard layer.

Disadvantages of Screen Printing

Knowing the advantages only doesn’t stop you from enlightening about screen printing. There are some drawbacks you should know, that’ll enlighten you more about the printing method before you go on to purchase one.

  • As you have to create separate stencils for each design, you’ll need a good investment in that. Thus, using screen printing for small projects or orders might not be beneficial and profitable.
  • The more color you add, the more stencils you’ll need separately. Thus, it’ll be more expensive for you to afford the overall project and hereby.
  • There is a high chance that much of the ink used in printing might be wasted. And these inks are toxic, and harmful to the environment.
  • For big and complex designs, you need to change the stencil frequently. This is complicated sometimes for maintaining accuracy.

What is Sublimation?

Sublimation, might sound like transferring of solid thing to gaseous directly, right? The same thing works here but for printing.

Sublimation printing is one of the modern innovations of printing. It enables you to print your desired design on a sheet, and then transfer that design on the sheet to your fabric or any other material. 

What is Sublimation

Then, the ink on the fabric is heated for some time and lets it settle on the surface properly.

Now, coming again to the definition of sublimation, that does work here. The ink you’ll use  in the sublimation process will turn gaseous once you heat them. 

And that state will blend to the surface of the fabric and make the design. Also, you’ll need special sublimation paper and a sublimation printer for the purpose.  

This process is one of the best to imply. Yes, it is costly to afford, but the design you’re putting o tends to stay forever without any symptoms of fading. Because the ink will penetrate the material rather than create any layer above it. Thus, it becomes one of the parts of the material then.

Process of Sublimation

Most of the work of sublimation printing will be carried out via software and printer, mostly for generating the design. Now, with heat transfer paper, we’ll carry out sublimation printing.

Process of Sublimation

Step 1: Make the design

You have to make the design via certain software from your computer. Add texts, colors, designs, whatever you want, just make a good portrait of your desired image.

Step 2: Resize the design

Once you make the design, you have to resize it accordingly. The size will depend on your shirt and your expectation. Make sure to align the length and width of the design properly so that it gets properly highlighted on your shirt.

Step 3: Print the design

Now, this printing has to be carried out by a special sublimation printer and sublimation paper. 

Otherwise, you won’t get the effect you are wanting from it. Print the design as per need on the paper, and cut the unnecessary portion of the paper.

Step 4: Set up the HTV platform

Taking the image, match it with the HTV. Keep the design on the base of the HTV and cut it out. Make sure you are doing it precisely on the HTV platform. Remove the excess vinyl from your prepared thing.

Step 5: Prepare the surface

Remove any kind of dust or lint from the surface. Make it neat and clean so that the design only gets set on it. Otherwise, a mixture of other dirt and debris with the design will create a bad image on the surface.

Then, pre-heat the surface at 176° C using a heat press. It will create a suitable platform for your design ink to set on.

Step 6: Placing the design on the surface

Now, place the HTV on the desired place of the surface for 2-3 seconds at 204° C. Put a piece of Teflon over the HTV and remove it once the shirt is cooled down. 

For preventing any kind of color bleeding, put a piece of paper beneath or inside the material.

Then, take another Teflon and just press it over the design at 204° C for 60-70 seconds. Holding it for the time being will let the ink pass through the material and transfer the design out there.

Once you are done with the design transfer, peel out the Teflon and you’ll see the design completely set over there. 

Mostly, the phenomenon is carried out on polyester or polyester mixed material because of the ink penetration. But still, you can do it on cotton and other suitable surfaces or coated material.

Advantages of Sublimation

Sublimation printing is now globally used by millions of people. And its efficiency is arguably the best. It got some good traits to adapt.  

Advantages of Sublimation

Let’s see what it got for you.

  • Sublimation printing is more durable and long-lasting than most other printing methods.
  • The design created by sublimation printing doesn’t crack or fade away.
  • The tone and contrast of the sublimation print are more active and visible to the eyes.
  • The accuracy of the design is 100% accurate on the printed surface. There are no chances of any blurry or inaccurate placement of the design out there.
  • Making the design for sublimation printing is very easy and can be automated sometimes. You just make the design by default and set it up for printing.

Disadvantages of Sublimation

Now, every coin has two sides, right? Just like those amazing pros, sublimation printing has some cons as well. 

These are just some caution points you should e careful about while adopting the method.

  • There is a high chance that the printheads of sublimation printing might clog if they are not used frequently.
  • The print area has to be white or light in color. Sublimation won’t look lucrative over darker regions as the paint tends to enter the material pores and settles down in there.  
  • The process is suitable for only polyester, or polyester-coated material.

Sublimation vs Screen Printing: What Are the Differences

Knowing all the facts about sublimation and screen printing, you must’ve made a slight comparison between them in your mind. 

It’s normal, comes usually. To let that visualization firm, we’ll uplift your imagination to reality with differential facts among screen printing vs sublimation. 

Here you go.

Printing process

In sublimation printing, you can create the design via software on your computer and set it directly on the material with the help of a printer.

But in screen printing, you have to make separate stencils for each color in the design and set it up accordingly on the surface.

By default, you can say that the screen printing is tougher than the sublimation one. But, talking about cost efficiency, screen printing can be favorable. 

Otherwise, the hassle and complications sublimation printing process saves, it’s very delightful.

Ink type

Disperse dye is the most common ink used for the sublimation process. You can say, it is the only favorable one for the purpose.

Sublimation vs Screen Printing - ink types

And for screen printing, plastisol ink is used mostly. For a slight variation on the fabric or material, you can use water-based ink as well.

Color range

The color range of both the printing process is quite the same. For screen printing, CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) are used for printing.

Whereas, sublimation uses the same CMYK inks, just in RGB (red, green, and blue) mode. The printer mixes and combines the color accordingly and lets it flow.

Material compatibility

Screen printing has less to no restrictions in terms of printing. You can use screen printing for silk, cotton, organza, polyester, and whatnot. Any item capable to be printed can be eased with screen printing.

And for sublimation, 100% polyester fabric is required. You can still go for other materials, but it must have at least 50% of polyester mixture in it. Nylon, lycra, spandex, etc. are good examples of it.

Durability

Sublimation lasts longer than screen printing. You’ll find sublimation print alive for years, even after lots of washes and adverse environmental impacts.

But that doesn’t go with screen printing. It can go away after months of usage and certain washings.

Production speed

As you have to use different stencils for different colors in screen printing, so you have considered it very time-consuming. And for sublimation, it is just getting printed by the printer with no hassle and issue of coloration manually.

Even the design you are making in sublimation is done by computer. But for screen printing, you’re making the design separately which in addition costs more time.

Design complexity

There is little to no complication in design or color in the sublimation printing process. Whatever you design, you’ll get that printed exactly without any mismatch.

But in the case of screen printing, you have to be careful in making the stencil in the first place. Color bleeding and misplacement are issues to look for. Also, there might be some possibility of putting extra or less color during printing.

Cost-effectiveness for small orders

When you are making separate stencils for screen printing, you ought to expect bigger orders. Because they won’t be of any use for any other purposes. 

So, your investment in making separate stencils and putting them manually should return profitably. And for that, small order will never be a blessing.

For sublimation, it doesn’t matter the amount you want to print. Just make the design and the printer will print accordingly, and so as the amount of ink used. 

So, there won’t be any issues in printing materials in small amounts for sublimation printing.

Printing on dark fabrics

For printing on dark fabrics by the sublimation process, you’ll be needing a white heat transfer vinyl as the base layer and print your design on it. 

And for screen printing, start with a lower mesh count screen and then apply the color on dark fabrics. It’ll work perfectly.

Environmental impact

Sublimation printing creates zero waste. The whole ink transfer is done by the printer, so there is no scope for waste or damage outside.

On the other hand, the ink you use for screen printing is toxic and harmful to the environment. Even when you wash it in water and throw it away, it spread toxicity through that.

Production setup costs

A small sublimation printer would cost you around $300 now, while the larger ones for commercial production range up to $10,000 and more. A laser sublimation printer will cost you around $1,500.

For minimum printing set-up, you’ll be needing the stencil and ink, which is feasible within $50-$100 in total. But for large-scale production, you’ll be needing stuff worth $20,000 and more in today’s pricing.

Image resolution

For screen printing, 300 DPI is the standard resolution, while for sublimation printing 100-300 PPI is the standard benchmark.

Print Texture

You can avail of a superbly smooth and embossed texture on the surface through screen printing. And for sublimation, there isn’t any finishing. The paint steams up and mixes with the cloth in its initial state.

Ability to print metallic colors

To print metallic colors, a screen printer would require a good foil and metallic finish. They are quite noticeable for apparel printing and flat poster prints.

With Dae Ha Heat Transfer Vinyl, you can sublimate metallic colors. They are ideal for producing bright and vivid tones on the surface.

Comparison Table – Screen Printing vs Sublimation

Okay, you have known all the possible differences between screen printing and sublimation. But a head-to-head comparison would be delightful and convenient for you to choose your desired method.

Let’s get it done through the table below.

Key DifferencesScreen PrintingSublimation
Working procedureTough and complicatedEasy and quick
Material selectionCotton and othersPolyester and Polyester based
LongevityLessMore
SpeedSlowFast
Ink settingOn the materialIn the material (polyester) 
Printing feasibilitySeam-to-seam printingSmall design on the surface only
Special effectsCan print with glitters and othersCan’t support any special ink
ConsistencyLowHigh
Cost$100-$30,000$250-$10,000

Printers – Screen Printing vs Sublimation

As you are now fully familiar with and introduced to screen printing and sublimation, let’s take you to the printers used for the tasks. We’ll be showing you 2 printers each for the processes.

These are well-tested by our experts and then suggested for your usage. Trust us in this case.

2 Best Printer for Screen Printing

1. HP OfficeJet Pro 9015

A fast printer with compact and precise spacing, who wouldn’t love that? When we first saw HP OfficeJet Pro 9015, we were confused about its capability looking at its size. But once we started using it, we hardly thought of replacing it ever.

With 22 pages per minute and scanning both sides along with printing, this printer has been a light in our dark busy days. We even tried a 30-page document feeding in it, and it was supported fully without any hassle.

You can also organize your business documents and receipts 50% faster than usual with the printer.

And about its accessibility, you can regulate and monitor the printer with your phone. Just install the HP smart app that’ll take you to customize the ink levels, print, copy, scan, etc.

A wifi-connection makes the printer better enhanced with your feasibility. And its built-in security system is well-built to keep all your private data and documents safe and sound.

2. Brother Inkjet Printer, MFC-J985DW

Efficiency and speed have already been covered with the previous printer. But now, let’s introduce a machine that takes the cheapest to print.

The Brother Inkjet Printer, MFC-J985DW has to be one of the cheapest printers in terms of long-term usage in the market. 

With a single-page print of black and white ink, you would be spending ink less than 1 cent and for color, the sum is less than 5 cents.

With all these bringing, the speed of the printer is pretty decent which goes up to print 12 pages per minute.

This is the perfect printer for the office environment. For a fast and secure arrangement of documents, you can easily print 20 sheets of ADF with the printer.

And, not to forget its accessibility. You can manage and control the printer just with your phone tablet, laptop, or computer. Oh, the printer is wireless, so you can imagine how convenient it is.

2 Best Sublimation Printer

1. Sawgrass SG500

A sublimation printer should be of top-notch level. And after testing so many printers out there, we concluded our searching keeping the sawgrass printer at the top for sublimation printer lists.

When you buy a printer, you’re getting a creative studio online designer software with it. Surely, it’ll smoothen your design creation for sublimation.

 Not forget a 20ml sublijet UHD ink and 110 sheets of sublimation paper that’ll also come with the package.

Setting up the printer is very easy. You just open it up and put the parts accordingly. There’s a dust cover for the printer as well. 

For sublimation designs, there are 5 design access cards for the printer. You can use each card for up to 30 designs.

The printer can be accessed with a Wi-Fi connection via mobile laptops, tablets, etc. And with the help of Sawgrass-specific software called Print Manager, you can complete the printing process, from digital to finished one. 

2. Sawgrass SG1000 Sublimation Color Printer

To be very honest, we couldn’t find any better sublimation printer than sawgrass. That resulted in us enlisting two different models of the same brand in our sublimation printer pick.

As common with the previous sawgrass printer, this model can also be accessed with a Wi-Fi connection all over its operation. The printer includes 100 suitable papers at a time for inclusion in it.

The resolution of the printing speaks for itself. With the help of the printing manager, you are getting to complete the printing in real. And you have a Creative studio online for making the design.

If you have any accessories of sawgrass printer, you can comfortably imply on this printer. It is backward compatible. Moreover, it performs its maintenance cycle, lowering your hassle for it.

Inks – Screen Printing vs Sublimation

The printers without the inks will be incomplete. And without a good printer, you can just imagine getting a good print for yourself.

Here we enlist the best printers for screen printing and sublimation, based on our long-term usage and recommendations.

2 Best Screen-Printing Inks

1. Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Ink

So, the speedball has the best vibrant, color, and texture among all the inks we have used. 

You need not roam here and there for different inks because you’ll be getting all the necessary 6 colors, black, white, red, blue, yellow, and green in the package.

Each pack of ink is about 4 oz. and you can make your desired color for screen printing. 

And the most important thing, these inks are water-soluble. So, every time you use the ink, you’ll be getting consistent features and performance from it.

No clumping, no hampering, only smooth texture and finishing is the main aim of the ink. Even if you’re new to printing, you’ll be having a wonderful time and experience with the ink.

While most colors spread odd odors around, the speedball inks hardly have any. You can clean them up easily with your hand or any material with just soap and water.

And once it is heat treated on the material, you can forget about the ink going away. It stays permanently under any circumstances.

2. Smalltongue Fabric Screen Printing Ink

A specialized ink for fabric is sometimes a must. And small-tongue ink vows to fulfill that. Even from our testing, we find it the best for screen printing on fabrics.

The pack contains 8 vibrant colors that’d look superb amid the light, enough to grab the good attention of others. 

The availed colors white, black, purple, yellow, red, blue, green, and brown can produce hundreds of shades and tones on fabric.

Even in the sunlight, the ink would never fade. It’ll look better. Also, the ink is waterproof, so you can wash it without any worry.

Initially, the ink is thick and dense. So, it is recommended to add a small amount of water to make a good mixture before going for screen printing.

Specialized for fabric, you can guess it from the name of the ink. Cotton, linen, nylon, polyester, blend, etc. fabrics can easily settle and well adapt with the ink. There is no discrimination regarding the variation of the fabric for the ink.

Smalltongue inks are completely safe and sound for use. You don’t have to worry about anything unless you consume it, which is unusual. It is graded safe for all to use, even for the starters.

2 Best Sublimation Inks

1. Hiipoo Sublimation Ink EcoTank Supertank Inkjet Printer

You’ll be making the sublimation with the printer and design software, hardly any human touch is there. 

So, going for any cheap regular ink won’t sustain your plan enough. That’s why, we recommend going for premium sublimation ink and Hiipoo is one of them.

One of the best features of this ink is that it is compatible with all kinds of sublimation printers out there. Not only that, the vibrancy of the ink is different. The shade after the sublimation looks sharp.

In case you worry about its longevity, it’s very solid. We’ve been using a sublimation-printed shirt for the past 11 months with this ink, and it still looks the same as it was on the first day.

Even if you wash the fabric, the ink won’t fade away. So, you can already imagine how amazing an ink it is. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be in our top pick of sublimation ink.

2. Hiipoo Sublimation Ink Refilled Bottles

Nothing new to introduce about Hiipoo, they’re already the best in the market for sublimation. They have different models that bring new things to the table. And like that, the refilled bottles got their specialty with water-based ink.

The 4 colors (black, cyan, magenta, and yellow) of water-based ink allow the perfect sublimation of the ink on the material. 

Not only that, the thermal transition of the ink is top-notch. You won’t feel any kind of discrimination printing on mugs, posters, fabrics, puzzles, etc.

With every perfect and top-notch quality, the inks are perfect for any business or personal use. Its color fastness, vibrant nature, fast drying, and good color penetration makes it an ideal and instant pick for any user.

While you’re using the ink, you don’t have to worry about any clogging or restrictions from the ink chemicals. The ink is completely non-toxic and eco-friendly. Even beginners will have a good experience with the ink and whatnot.

Facts about Screen Printing and Sublimation Printing

So far, we have covered everything related to screen printing and sublimation printing, we didn’t even spare the suitable inks and printers for the processes. 

But to give up the last seal, let’s enlighten ourselves to some facts in the battle of screen-printing vs sublimation.

5 Facts about Screen Printing

  • Screen printing is the pioneer of modern-day printing, originating from China.
  • All kinds of fabric will not provide the same kind of print by screen printing. The material and composition vary.
  • Screen printing won’t be successful if the print is not cured and heated properly. Otherwise, it’ll fade away sooner.
  • The inks used on the material for print can be re-used again with the help of a power sprayer and diluting solution.
  • Screen printing done manually gives more accuracy than automated one. It requires a highly skilled person for the job.

 5 Facts about Sublimation Printing

  • The sublimation process for printing was first to originate in France. The printing process diffuses the dye and then applies it to the material.
  • The only hassle it provides is during the design making. After that, the printing takes the least amount of time.  
  • The process uses solid ink instead of liquid ones. When printed, the ink becomes a part of the fabric.
  • Requires a good technician for printing it properly.
  • It is the cheapest, yet more accurate than many printing methods.

What is Suitable for your Business

Now, it’s a completely perspective-wise question. Because it depends on what you’re working on and how much utilization it will be for your business.

Let’s say for screen printing, you have to make the screen on and on for different designs. So, you’ll have to bear the cost of the screen, the ink wastage through it, and others. 

For that, you have to have a bulk order no matter what. Or, make sure you take the order as such that you can use the screens later on for a similar kind of order. Otherwise, it’ll be a loss.

For sublimation, there isn’t much to lose. Your effort will be on making the design via software. Then, the printer will do the job. Even, you’ll get the printing more accurately than the screen printing. 

Also, you don’t have to think of the order, because it won’t matter, be it small or large. You just have to maintain the printer and make sure to get a good design.

So, judging on the overall features of the printing process, the cost, accuracy, and longevity, it is wise to go with sublimation as it will be more profitable for growing business. 

Even for an established one, the efficiency of the process is amazing and top-notch, it is proven indeed.

FAQs

1. Is screen printing more expensive than sublimation?

Screen printing usually costs much less than dye sublimation as it does not require any specialized equipment. But sublimation has higher precision and a wide range of color choices. Whereas, screen print is less detailed and you might need to use additional color with it.

2. Is sublimation more durable than screen printing?

During the process of screen printing, the color sits on top of the fabric when it’s applied. So, the more color you apply the thicker the layer keeps getting. And they might get cracked, fade, or simply peel away after many washes. From this aspect, sublimation is more durable.

3. What lasts longer screen printing or heat press?

Screen-printed fabrics tend to last much longer than fabrics that were heat-pressed. It produces better results as the color gets absorbed by the fabric. If you take proper care, the color should last for a very long time. Although it does get faded over time.

4. What materials can be printed on using screen printing vs sublimation?

Screen printing is most suited to be used on cotton or cotton blend fabrics. Sublimation on the other hand can be used on fabrics as well as ceramics or enamels.

5. Can sublimation be used to print on dark fabrics?

To sublimate a dark-colored fabric, first, you’ll need to place a white heat transfer vinyl over the fabric as a base. Press the HTV first and then you can sublimate over it.

6. Which method offers a wider range of color options, screen printing, or sublimation?

Although sublimation is a bit more expensive, it has a wider range of color options and higher precision. Screen printing doesn’t offer all the color choices and you might need to use additional color.

7. How does the production speed of screen printing compare to sublimation?

Dye sublimation is a relatively newer printing method that uses heat to transfer colors onto the fabric super-fast. It’s much faster and easier than screen printing and perfect for projects that have tight deadlines.

8. Can metallic colors be printed using screen printing or sublimation?

Screen printing is a great way to print colors with metallic finishes on fabric. It makes the colors brighter and gives a nice texture to the fabric. You can also sublimate metallic colors using Dae Ha Heat Transfer Vinyl.

9. Which method is better for printing photographic or complex designs?

It’s possible to do photographic or other complex designs using the screen-printing method. But it’s much easier to sublimate these complex designs. So, as a beginner, you should stick to simpler designs while screen printing.

10. Can screen printing or sublimation be used to print on curved or irregularly shaped objects?

Though it’s more challenging to sublimate irregularly shaped objects, it’s not impossible. You can still do it. while it’s really hard to screen print on any hard uneven surface.

11. Can screen printing or sublimation be used to print on natural fibers like cotton or linen?

Both screen print and sublimation are excellent ways to print on natural fibers like cotton or linen. These materials absorb and display color well. Which makes them an ideal choice for screen printing as well as sublimation.

Conclusion

Now that you know the differences between screen printing and sublimation, you can make up the needs and desires for the process on your own. Not only that, but you can also get the perfect printer and ink for the purposes.

Indeed, the sublimation is quite straightforward and you need to be well attentive during the process. But unlike the screen printing method, you don’t have to be a professional for the procedure.

And screen printing is quite backdated nowadays, only visible for certain purposes. So, pacing up the modern trend and style, sublimation has been quite amazing and popular among people. 

Ryan Briscoe

Rayn Briscoe is a seasoned Large Format Printer Specialist at PrinterJoy, bringing years of expertise to the team. With a passion for printing technology, he delivers informative and engaging blogs covering a variety of industry topics

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