Images Magazine Digital Edition October 2018

Threading together sublimation blends S ublimation printing onto embroidery is an emerging trend in the garment decoration industry that removes some key limitations of both processes and opens up new creative possibilities. As all embroiderers know, creating a gradated effect from one colour to another can be very tricky, but by using sublimation printing on an embroidered background, you can achieve a smooth colour gradation in the design while still keeping the look and feel of a quality embroidery. Similarly, sublimation printing produces rich, bright colours but only on white or light-hued polyester fibres. This makes it a challenge to reproduce vivid colours onto dark-coloured garments with this type of printing. By combining the two processes – for example, by embroidering a white background with polyester thread onto a dark garment – it is then possible to create a receptive substrate for the sublimation inks that will ensure the printed colours remain bright against the dark fabric. Finally, combining embroidery and sublimation printing is also a good solution if your customer likes the quality of sublimation printing but insists on garments in natural fabrics, such as cotton, which won‘t accept sublimation inks. Creating an embroidered base with white polyester In the second part of our sublimation special, Natalie Greetham and Danielle Park of Madeira explain how to sublimation print onto embroidery thread will allow you to take advantage of the vivid colours offered by sublimation printing while still offering your customer garments in their desired fabric choice. As easy as... Sublimation printing onto embroidery threads is a very simple process: 1. Create the printable design and note accurate measurements 2. Embroider a solid background in white polyester thread to the exact measurements of your printable design 3. Print the design onto suitable transfer paper using sublimation inks and align the trimmed printed design with the embroidery, then heat press. The example shown here was pressed at 180°C at a low pressure for one minute and ten seconds This psychedelic butterfly was produced at the recent Print & Stitch show in Southampton. The collaboration between Madeira and TheMagicTouch, with embroidery by Stocks Embroidery & Sewing Solutions, produced a great example of full- colour gradation mixed with embroidery that was easy and affordable to create. The butterfly was stitched in Madeira’s white Frosted Matt thread on a ZSK Sprint 6 embroidery machine, and then overprinted with the design. The sublimation print was created using the A4 Sawgrass Sublimation Printer (SG400) with Sawgrass Sublimation inks and TheMagicTouch‘s DyeSub Magic transfer paper, and pressed with an Adkins Swing Head Maxi Press. Because it was created on a black cotton garment, any print exceeding the outline of the butterfly failed to adhere to the garment fabric and was not visible on the finished shirt. www.madeira.co.uk www.themagictouch.co.uk www.stocks.co.uk KB By using sublimation printing on an embroidered background, you can achieve a smooth colour gradation TIPS & TECHNIQUES www.images-magazine.com 80 images OCTOBER 2018