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Sublimation and pigment inks have different functions and are employed in various printing processes. These are the main difference between the two:
Composition and Application:
Pigment Ink is made up of very tiny particles of solid suspended inside liquid carriers. The particles are placed on the top of the substrate (like fabric or paper) and are renowned for their strength and resistance to fade. Inks made of pigment are commonly used to print on various types of materials, such as textiles. They are highly regarded for their long-lasting properties, particularly for artwork or documents that can withstand the elements or can last for many years without fading.
Sublimation Ink This kind of ink is distinctive because it turns into a gas upon exposure to heat. This then creates an adhesive with polymer-coated or polyester surfaces. It then becomes part of the substrate, allowing vivid, full-color images which are long-lasting and resistant to scratches. Sublimation inks can be utilized in printing images on polymer fabric and objects such as mugs, phones, and other objects coated with polymer.
Durability:
Pigment Ink It is renowned for its long-lasting durability, particularly when printed on substrates exposed to the elements and UV. It is less likely to change color or fade the color of other inks.
Sublimation Ink Although it is also robust due to the bonding process used, sublimation ink’s longevity is more about durability to wear due to the washing process or being exposed to sunlight. It’s great for use on frequently used mugs and clothing.
Suitable Materials:
Pigment Ink It can be utilized in a wider variety of papers, including canvas, cotton and archival paper. It’s versatile in its applications, but is not suited for heat transfer techniques such as sublimation.Sublimation Ink It works desirable using polymer-coated and polyester substrates. This ink can only be appropriate in natural fibers such as cotton that are coated to print sublimation.
Color Vibrancy and Quality:
Pigment Ink Excellent print quality, sharp detail and excellent color saturation. However, it might not fulfil the same vibrancy like sublimation inks that are applied to synthetic materials.
Sublimation ink The ink is known to produce vibrant and vivid colors, with smooth gradients as well as a large spectrum of colors, especially when printed on appropriate artificial materials.
Water Solubility:
Pigment Ink Generally, once set, it’s water-resistant and made appropriate to print on prints which may be exposed to water.
Sublimation Ink Insoluble in water until sublimated. After sublimation the ink will remain and won’t wash off from the substrate.
FAQ
Ink that is pigmented sits on top of the surface of paper and is able to resist getting smudged and fades better and sublimation ink however, turns into gas upon heating to permanently bond with polyester for vibrant images that don’t fade or get smudged over time.
It is not possible to use the pigment ink on a sublimation printer. Sublimation printers are made for use with inks that sublimate, and require extreme heat to melt the ink to polyester.
The pigment ink industry is well-known for its long-lasting durability ink, water resistance as well as its ability to print bright and vivid shades. It’s ideal to print documents, photos and various other items which require lasting and top-quality payoff.
Inks made of pigment are known for its long-lasting durability ink, water resistance and the ability to create bright and vivid colours. It’s perfect for printing photographs, documents and various other items which require lasting and top-quality payoff.
between pigmented ink and sublimation ink depends on both the material you’re printing on as well as your desired quality and endurance of prints. Pigmented ink may be preferable when printing on regular paper with longer-lived prints while for polyester printing that requires durable prints, sublimation may be better suited.
Final Words
Pigment ink is long-lasting, flexible, water-resistant and appropriate for many different materials; however, it sits on the substrate. Sublimation ink is an element of the material it’s printed on, delivering vivid colours and resisting physical wear but it’s only appropriate for synthetic materials and those that have been that are treated to sublimation. The specific needs of the printing job determine whether or not to use sublimation or pigment ink.
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