How to choose the suitable Dye sublimation transfer paper weight, lower or higher?

How to choose the suitable Dye sublimation transferpaper weight, lower or higher?

How to choose the suitable Dye sublimation transfer paper weight?

There are many factors that you have to consider for choosing the right sublimation transfer paper.

1.       Ink  Loading/Color Density

This is a very basic factor. The higher the ink loading (more water), the heavier gram the paper should be. That is to accept the moisture from the ink without any problems like curling and warping of the paper.

2.       Design  Patters/Coverage Percentage

This explains the printing of an artwork that has a very complex design that has a mixed heavy and light ink loading. You can face this in low gram papers, curling will occur and also shifting after pressing. To eliminate this best solution is the 120gsm and 140gsm sublimation paper that accept heavy ink and also light inks.

3.       Heat Press Type /Roll to Roll Transferor Roll to Sheet

Calendar heat press machine suitable for low weight papers. But sheet to roll transfer need anti-curl , so heavy weight suitable for this application.

4.       Print Speed

This is the equation

Fast printing = light weight paper

Slow printing = thick paper

5.       Humidity of the Printing Environment

Low humidity:

In the humidity under 45%, It’s better to choose low weight paper ,such as 70gsm,80gsm . 

Because when in a low humidity, the paper will shrink, and the print side is hunch-up. During the printing, the paper absorb ink/water, the “hunch-up” will be more obviously. Heavy sublimationpaper (100g and 120g paper) are harder than 80g, so the “hunch-up” will damage the print-head. 80gsm is more softer , it could relief the “hunch-up” and protect your print-head from damage .

High humidity:

In the humidity above 70% . It’s better to choose heavy weight paper such as 120-140 gsm . Because the paper is very easy to become damp in a high humidity , it will become softer and stiffness is weak at the same time . If you use low weight paper, it will be very hard to print smoothly because of the stiffness and hardness go down . At this time , 120-140 gsm is your best choice