Dye sublimation		Updated September 2008
	Dye sublimation ink is not for printing onto paper and other inkjet media. If you are looking for ink to refill your printer ink cartridges, ink tanks or CIS (to print photos, cd's, dvd's, business documents, letters, labels, heat transfers etc), you are on the wrong page. Try bulk ink or refill kits .
	What is dye sublimation ? It's the process of transferring ink from one surface to another, using heat. It has been in use mainly for industrial textile printing, but with the introduction of  portable heat presses, it is becoming a popular and affordable way to decorate clothing, other fabrics and just about any other material that can be coated with polymer primer (eg coffee mugs, plates, tiles).
				inkbank.com.au   Finest printer inks in  Australia since 1998
	Is dye sublimation same as heat transfers ? Dye sublimation is not to be confused with thermal transfer which can also be used for similar applications. In thermal transfer, the image is printed onto special transfer paper which is then applied to the finished product (eg. t-shirt) using heat. The transfer paper STAYS on the t-shirt. You can use any printer and normal inkjet ink to print transfers and stick them to almost any type or colour fabric. You don't need a fancy printer, heat press or dye sub inks, but the transfers can crack and can peel off over time with repeated washing. In dye sublimation, the image is printed onto plain or high resolution paper which is then heated and pressed against the t-shirt for few seconds. This causes some of the dye to vaporize, permeate the fabric and solidify into it's fibers. The "transfer" paper is then discarded. The finished  product looks more professional, the print is permanent and the material (eg. t-shirt) can be washed repeatedly. Equipment required for dye sublimation. You need a printer capable of printing with dye-sub ink and a heat press. Before buying anything, work out what exactly you want to sublimate. There is little point in buying a wide format printer for example and 5in1 heat press, if all you want to produce is printed coffee mugs. You may find it easier to start small and upgrade as your business grows... Printer: Must be Epson ! Any model will do, as long as there are refill friendly cartridges available for it. If you only need to sublimate few things every now and again, want to save few dollars and already have an Epson printer, there is no reason why you couldn't use it for regular printing as well as dye sublimation.  All you need then is second set of refill friendly ink cartridges (& dye-sub inks). We can supply complete printers with dye-sub filled cartridges or a cis system. Please contact us. Heat press: What you want to sublimate will determine what type and size press you need. Basic models start from around $200 or you can spend as much as several thousand dollars on fully automatic high volume models. Multi function (3in1 and 5in1) units take up less space and cost less than buying individual units. Work out what you NEED ! We can supply heat presses at very competitive prices, but don't keep them in stock at all times. It takes 2 weeks to get one in. Contact us for the latest prices. Ink: Dye sublimation ink is unique and you can not use "normal" inkjet ink. It will not work. It is best to order a small quantity of dye-sub ink at first until you establish a regular supplier. There can be considerable differences between inks from different sources. Some inks sublimate at higher temperatures than others which can make them unsuitable for certain (heat sensitive) applications. Other supplies: Once again this will depend on what you want to do. The range of products available for sublimating is huge these days and includes mugs, glasses, plates, key rings, aluminum board, puzzles, mouse pads, bedding, bags, baseball caps, towels, t-shirts,  tiles and more. We don't stock these at the moment, but may in the future. You may also need some heat resistant tape for attaching the transfer to your product (masking tape works fine). Primer: Some of you may not realize that even dye sublimation ink will not stick to glass, ceramic, metal etc unless it is pre-coated with polymer (polyester primer). All "sublimation" products come pre-coated with it from the factory. You can't see it...it is clear. To sublimate onto other products and materials, you can buy the primer (available here) and spray or brush it on. If the polymer sticks and the material can take 200 degrees (C), it can usually be sublimated onto. We stock high quality Korean made ink with two year guaranteed shelf life. It comes in 5 colours and black and is suitable for use in all Epson printers using either Bk,C,M,Y or Bk,C,M,Y, Lc & Lm  Ink is sold in four convenient bottle sizes (50, 125, 250 & 500ml) at Inkbank and you can buy colours individually. All ink ships in unbreakable plastic bottles and 100% leak proof o-ring caps.  100% satisfaction guarantee applies to all Inkbank inks
NEW LOW INK PRICES! SAME QUALITY AS ALWAYS, NOW CHEAPER.

Product Code	Product Name	Price
DS2-050	Black & colour dye sublimation ink 50ml
DS2-125	Black & colour dye sublimation ink 125ml
DS2-250	Black & colour dye sublimation ink 250ml
DS2-500	Black & colour dye sublimation ink 500ml
DSC-050	Polymer (primer) for dye sublimation 50ml
DSC-125	Polymer (primer) for dye sublimation 125ml
DSC-250	Polymer (primer) for dye sublimation 250ml
DSC-500	Polymer (primer) for dye sublimation 500ml

 

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