By DTG, Digital Technology Group, Tampa, FL. Updated October 19, 2026.
Dye sublimation is a heat-transfer printing process. You print a mirrored image with dye-sublimation ink onto transfer paper, then a heat press turns the dye into a gas that bonds into polyester fabric or a polymer-coated surface. The image becomes part of the material rather than a layer on top of it, which is why sublimated shirts, flags, mugs and aluminum panels keep their color and feel. This guide explains how it works, what you can and cannot sublimate, and what equipment a shop needs, using the printers, inks, papers and presses DTG sells.
Questions about a dye-sub setup? Contact DTG or call 813.889.0660.
How dye sublimation works, step by step
- Design and mirror. Artwork is printed in reverse so it reads correctly after transfer. Your RIP or printer driver handles the mirroring and the color profile for the paper and substrate.
- Print onto transfer paper. An inkjet dye-sub printer lays sublimation ink onto coated transfer paper. Straight off the printer the colors look dull. That is normal; they develop in the press.
- Press. The print is placed face-down on the blank and heated under pressure in a heat press (a flat press for single pieces, a calender for roll-to-roll fabric). The dye turns to gas and moves into the polyester fibers or coating.
- Cool and finish. As the piece cools, the dye locks in. There is no ink film to crack or peel, so the printed area keeps the hand of the fabric or the finish of the panel.
Always use the time, temperature and pressure the blank or paper maker recommends. Settings vary by substrate.
What you can sublimate (and what you can’t)
- Polyester fabrics: sportswear, team jerseys, flags, banners, soft signage and upholstery. Higher polyester content gives brighter, more durable results.
- Coated hard goods: mugs, tumblers, coasters, ornaments, awards and photo panels made with a sublimation coating, such as ChromaLuxe and Unisub blanks.
- Cotton: not directly. Plain cotton has nothing for the dye to bond to. You need a polyester blend or a coated blank. Epson has announced a Sublimation Primer for Cotton for white and light-colored cotton garments, which it says will be available in November 2026. For cotton or dark garments today, a printable heat transfer vinyl such as Reflections Dye Sub HTV is an alternative; it is a vinyl film applied with heat, not a sublimation transfer paper.
- Dark colors: sublimation inks are transparent and there is no white ink, so the base color shows through. Dye sub works best on white or light substrates.
Dye sublimation vs. other decorating methods
Dye sub is the go-to for all-over prints on polyester and for coated hard goods. Direct-to-garment (DTG) and direct-to-film (DTF) printing are better suited to cotton and dark garments because they lay down white ink. For a fuller comparison, see Dye Sublimation Printers vs. Other Printing Technologies.
What equipment you need
A dye-sub workflow has four parts: a printer, ink, transfer paper and a heat press. Software (a RIP or the printer driver with the right ICC profile) ties them together.
Dye-sublimation printers DTG sells
DTG is an Epson dealer. The current Epson SureColor F-series covers everything from a desktop starter to 64-inch production:
- Epson SureColor F170: an 8.5-inch desktop printer for personalized gifts, small apparel transfers and testing the market.
- Epson SureColor F370: a 13 x 19 inch printer announced in September 2026 for makers, small shops and schools. Epson says it will be available in November 2026. Read our F370 overview.
- Epson SureColor F570: a 24-inch desktop printer for shops moving up to larger transfers and roll paper.
- Epson SureColor F6470 and F6470H: 44-inch production printers. The 6-color H model adds a pair of extra inks, chosen at setup: light cyan and light magenta, fluorescent pink and fluorescent yellow, or orange and violet.
- Epson SureColor F9570 Production Edition and F9570H Production Edition: 64-inch printers for high-volume apparel, soft signage and textile work. The 6-color H model offers the same three extra-ink options.
Browse all dye-sublimation printers, or check used and demo deals.
Dye-sublimation ink
Sublimation ink uses disperse dyes that turn to gas under heat. It is not interchangeable with the pigment or dye inks in a photo or office printer.
- Reflections dye-sublimation ink comes in 1000 ml bottles for production printers built on Kyocera and Ricoh printheads. Ask DTG which formulation matches your machine. Epson designs the SureColor F-series for genuine Epson ink only, such as Epson UltraChrome DS ink.
- Genuine Epson dye-sub ink for the F-series, including the T49M bottles used by the F170, F370 and F570.
See the full dye-sublimation ink range.
Transfer paper
- Epson DS Transfer papers in sheets and rolls up to 75 inches, including DS Transfer Multi Purpose for general work, DS Transfer Production for longer runs, DS Transfer Adhesive Textile with a tacky coating that holds stretch fabrics in place, and All Purpose Transfer Paper sheets for desktop printers.
- Beaver Texprint papers and more in the dye-sublimation media category.
Heat presses and blanks
Choose a press sized to your largest piece and your volume. DTG carries Geo Knight, Hotronix and Maxx presses in heat presses and accessories, plus coated ChromaLuxe and Unisub blanks for panels, awards and gifts.
A note on ribbon (photo) dye sublimation
The term also covers a different technology: photo printers that heat a dye ribbon directly onto special paper, common in event and kiosk printing. That process uses dedicated photo dye-sub media and is not used for apparel or hard goods.
Getting color right
Because the print changes color in the press, accurate output depends on an ICC profile built for your printer, ink, paper and substrate together. If your pressed colors don’t match your screen, start with Why Doesn’t My Print Match My Screen? and ask DTG about color profiling.
Dye sublimation FAQ
What is dye sublimation printing?
A heat-transfer process. A mirrored image is printed with sublimation ink onto transfer paper, then heat and pressure turn the dye into a gas that bonds into polyester fabric or a polymer-coated blank.
Can you sublimate on cotton?
Not directly. The dye bonds to polyester or polymer coatings, so plain cotton needs a polyester blend or a coated blank. Epson has announced a Sublimation Primer for Cotton for white and light-colored cotton, due in November 2026.
Can dye sublimation print white?
No. Sublimation inks are transparent and there is no white ink, so it works best on white or light-colored substrates.
What do I need to start dye sublimation?
A dye-sublimation printer, sublimation ink, transfer paper, a heat press and sublimation-ready blanks, plus a driver or RIP with the right color profile.
Which Epson dye-sublimation printer should I buy?
Match the printer to your largest print and your volume: the 8.5-inch F170 or 13 x 19 inch F370 for small items, the 24-inch F570 for larger transfers, the 44-inch F6470 series for production, and the 64-inch F9570 series for high-volume textiles. DTG can help you size it.
Does dye sublimation fade or wash out?
Because the dye becomes part of the polyester or coating rather than sitting on top, sublimated prints don’t crack or peel and hold up well to washing when the blank’s care instructions are followed.
Ready to set up or expand a dye-sub line? Contact DTG or call 813.889.0660 to talk through printers, ink and paper for your work.
