How to sublimation printing on aluminum sheets?
aluminiumsheet > 06-29-2020, 08:14 AM
Sublimation onto metal is a new, cutting edge, way to reproduce an image. Sublimation itself is the process of going from a solid to a gas, back to a solid - skipping the liquid state. The image is first printed onto a transfer paper and then is adhered to pretreated aluminum (other substrates such as tile, wood, or glass are also available). The aluminum and transfer paper are placed into a custom heat press, which is heated to temperatures exceeding 380 degrees Fahrenheit. While being subjected to extreme heat and pressure, the dyes from the transfer paper turn into a gas, are pressed into the surface of the metal, and then solidify into the treated aluminum. As the dyes cool they are permanently infused beneath the surface of the metal substrate.For details, as below:
Steps 1-2 First select or create your colour image on a computer. Any picture from any software package will do—as long as it will print on a piece of paper it will be fine. Depending on your printer and software, you might need to “flip or mirror” your image. The image should be sized so that it is slightly larger than the selected materials so it can “bleed” over the edge leaving no white showing.
Step 3 Lay your printed image onto the sublimation materials and secure with a little heat tape.
Step 4 Place the two into a heat press for the suggested time and temperature.
Step 5-6 Remove the sublimation paper to reveal a bright vibrant scratch resistant colored image.