Sticky Sublimation Paper: What You Need to Know

Why do many businesses choose special sublimation paper such as fast-drying sublimation paper and sticky sublimation paper instead of ordinary sublimation paper? Because the paper chosen is different due to the different methods of use. So what is sticky sublimation paper and why should you use it? Today we will talk about what is sticky sublimation paper.

What is sticky sublimation paper

Sticky sublimation paper, with a special sticky coating, is activated by heat. The tacky product is perfect for garments, such as sportswear and swimwear. If the fabric is elastic, it may misalign and move the image during the transfer calendering process. When heat is activated during the transfer process, the product will adhere to the garment cut in a flatbed or flap heat press, which will eliminate ghosting or loss of detail due to movement during the transfer process, so it will help you reduce production errors and improve quality.

Advantages of Sticky Sublimation Paper

No cloudy patterns and blurred images
Minimizes waste.
Ideal for manufacturers of sportswear, apparel, banners and flags
Transfer rate of 95%
Eliminates "ghosting problems" caused by paper shifting or fabric shrinkage.

When to Use Sticky Sublimation Paper

When you are using flatbed heat presses and flexible fabrics. We have a question here, when does the fabric move during the transfer process and then cause ghosting? One is when the flexible fabric expands with heat during the heat press; the other is when the heat press is lifted quickly, the paper and fabric will adhere to the flat surface of the heat press and then fall off, during which the paper and fabric do not adhere to each other and then ghosting occurs. For example, we have a heat press on the market, when you control the lifting time of the plate within 2 seconds, the paper and fabric will go up with the plate, and over 3.5 seconds, there will be ghosting. So in this case, you'd better choose sticky sublimation transfer paper.

When you use sticky sublimation paper roll-to-roll heat press or calendar, if you used to use self-adhesive paper, now you can try to use normal sublimation paper. Because of the use of a roll-to-roll heat press, it provides enough strength to control the movement of the paper and fabric. Therefore, if you do not use tacky sublimation paper, there will be no ghosting. If you have a very special fabric, sticky sublimation paper is fine. When you use a roller heat press with sticky paper for transfer, it is best to cut the paper into pieces and then transfer them, you will get better results than with rolled paper transfers.

Choosing the right tacky sublimation paper

The degree of tackiness usually depends on the amount of dark color or the type of fabric. The adhesive coating is designed to respond differently depending on the color shade. Light-colored inks have reduced tack and dark-colored inks have increased tack.

Light colors are designed with light tack for easy removal. You may find that the paper does not seem to adhere to the smooth fabric after pressing out. However, the tackiness is sufficient to eliminate ghosting or printing errors during heat pressing.

Darker colors require more adhesion during the transfer process.

In other words, for the same paper, the adhesion will vary with different designs and ink loading volumes.

Therefore, for dark colors with heavy ink volume, high tack sublimation paper will be the best choice, medium heavy ink volume, use medium tack, low ink volume, low tack. Strong adhesion is not needed in light-colored images and may instead hurt productivity.

Conclusion

Sticky sublimation paper is a paper that reduces the chance of ghosting, depending on how you use your press. It is often used when you are using a flatbed press that may have material movement. If you are looking for the right sticky sublimation paper manufacturer or wholesale sticky sublimation paper, you can contact us and talk to our professional team.