How to Make Sublimation Patches

Another belonging to the patches family is none other than sublimation patches. There are instances where an idea can prove to be too much for embroidery to handle. Maybe it has too many details, too many layers, or just is too small for the embroidered to be able to capture the spirit of the imagination. There hence was created an alternative method so that all of the people's ideas were caught precisely on the patch without any blurring or mishaps.

Sublimated patches do not require the use of threads or needles at all. The process through which these patches are made is commonly known as dye sublimation. And The Patchio has mastered the ability to create sublimated patches of unrivaled quality.

Conducted through the process of transferring digital print from the orienting paper onto any fabric under a torrid heat process which results in sealing the colors into the fabric itself. Not only does this process ensure that the colors will not run or fade, but the attention to detail that can be achieved with dye sublimation can never be achieved with any other process.

With this, let us take a peek into the process and working of dye sublimation and what exactly these sublimation patches are generally used for.

With this little invention gaining popularity with the passing days, many have wondered exactly how to make these sublimation patches and what goes on behind the scenes during the process. Well, we at The Patchio are always here to enlighten.

The process of sublimation is quite straightforward, granted that the usage of sublimation ink, sublimation paper, and polyester fabric or poly coated items are ensured. The process goes as follows:

The first step consists of printing an image or artwork onto the sublimation paper using sublimation ink. This created something called a transfer, a medium through which the image can be put onto the fabric.

This process involves using the transfer, otherwise known as the sublimation paper, with the printed image and sealing it on the polyester or poly-coated fabric. This is done by placing the sublimation paper on the fabric and then passing an exceptional amount of heat for the ink to melt into the fabric itself.

Sublimation patches are, as of yet, the only way to get a picture-perfect design on your patch. There are not too many ways to make sublimation patched since the process is not as intricate as others. Once you acquire the primary requirements which consist of sublimation ink, sublimation paper, heat source, and polyester or poly-coated fabric, you might even be able to do it yourself at home.

Now that we have shown you how to make sublimation patches, let us dive into how well they compare with embroidered ones.

Always the classic, embroidered patches have been used for far longer than anyone can remember. Now that the printed or sublimated patches have come into existence, both of them have a loyal customer base that boasts of their boons.

Even though embroidered patches can be used for plenty of designs, it is a fact that embroidered patches do not do well with gradients, fades, or any design which consists of a lot of intricacies or lettering. However, due to the thickness of the thread, the embroidered patch has a certain dimension to it that none other can achieve. But they tend to capture fewer details and are prone to color loss even if they can endure various rounds of washing.

When it comes to printed ones, even though there are restricted ways to make sublimation patches, that has not deterred the amazing results every time. Using sublimation patching, you can have incredible details, and since the dye is melted into the fabric itself, that ensures the durability of the patch. Along with being able to incorporate multiple colors, detailed designs, and texts, sublimated patches are very cost-effective and way cheaper than woven or embroidered patches.

Working great with items that are tougher to embroider on or a large-scale image, sublimation patches are exceedingly becoming a better choice in terms of details and cost. Not only is it one of the cheapest options, but the quality of the image is also almost mirrored like it its actual image.

Notwithstanding the fact that there are not numerous ways to make sublimation patches, it has had a grand success when it comes to intricate logos, detailed images, and large-scale projects. Following that, there has been a new addition to the things dye sublimation can produce which are sublimation T-Shirts.

Thousands have wondered exactly how to heat-press sublimation T-Shirts, well the answer is in the question itself. Printed T-Shirts too consist of almost the same stages as any other dye sublimation project.

Other than ensuring the use of polyester fabric and placing white copy or parchment paper in between the shirt to prevent bleeding of colors on the shirt’s back, the process of making a sublimated T-shirt is one and the same. There is also an added stage where one has to cover the garment with a Teflon sheet as it is heat resistant and non-stick, and can ensure the protection of the foil design. Given that the stages of how to make sublimation patches are a little less compared to heat-pressing a T-Shirt, there are not many added levels and it still remains a much cheaper substitute.

Even though there might be drawbacks of sublimation patches, like, after a certain number of washes, the colors will start to fade, it still remains a top choice for many. And the fact that one can now imprint whatever design they want on a T-Shirt has certainly boosted the consumption of the dye sublimation process to unforeseen success.

Be it for small patches, T-Shirts, or a much larger project, it is very likely the consumer will be met with success. With its ability to capture precise details, managing to perfect regardless of size, along with having good endurability, sublimation patches or dye sublimation is the best choice there is, especially for someone looking for a cost-effective alternative.