Well, sublimation printing uses heat to essentially bring ink and fabric together as one. ... The heat opens up the pores of the fabric, then with the applied pressure the ink cools and returns to a solid form. The result is a permanent, full colour image that won't crack, peel or wash away from the substrate.

Does sublimation work on any printer?

Not all printers can use sublimation paper, simply because of the way that sublimation paper is built. With regular printer paper, it's the ink that does the work. ... The thing is, many printers don't have printer heads or ink cartridge options that work with the sublimation process.

What is needed for sublimation printing?

If you are just starting out in sublimation the main equipment you will need is a good heat press, a sublimation printer, and a computer or tablet for designing. If you plan to add mugs and hats to your business, you will also need a mug press and a hat press.