Why Does My Sublimation Look Faded on Sportswear? 12 Causes & Fixes

Sublimation is also likely to produce bright colors of high resolution especially when a customized team uniform that is customized is concerned. Instead, it is usually caused by a combination of the type of fabric, type of ink, press settings, and weather conditions, among others. In this guide, the 12 big problems which lead to faded sublimation – and the simple solutions – are further subdivided, thus giving you a bright and professional look each time.

The 12 Major Causes of Faded Sublimation on Sportswear

1. Wrong fabric type /  low polyester content

The sublimation is based on the dye-polyester bonding. When the polyester content of the fabric is small, the dye is not able to activate and bond ties fully and chemically to provide a colored end product; it will provide a pale color or patchy color.

Causes

• Cotton/high-cotton (No polyester to adjoin).
• Fifty-fifty fabrics with light fabrics and vintage types of prints.
• Silicone/chemical-coated performance materials: These are dye-resistant.

Fix

• It achieves bright results using 100 percent (or, at least, 85 percent) polyester.
• See that the cloth does not have waterproof or silicone, or anti-wicking substances, which prevent the flow of dye.
• When you are making large swatches with your supplier, you should not go out on large swatches without testing them in small swatches.

2. Poor-Quality Ink or Paper

Sublimation ink or low-density paper could be incredibly cost-effective, although it distorts colour reproduction on a very serious basis.

Causes

• Ineffective concentration of dye.
• x- Low-release sublimation paper.
• Curling, bleeding, wet paper.
• Unstable ink

Without the heat stability, the ink may be permanently modified depending on such factors as the exposure to sulfur dioxide (or sulfuric acid), the high concentration of salts, etc.

Fix

• Apply sublimation ink, which is of a professional quality and is to be used in deep blacks and rich colors.
• Choose high-release transfer paper to use with athletic apparel.
• To prevent any form of moisture absorption to the paper, all the paper must be stored in a dry environment that is temperature-stable.
• Premium sports jerseys would be of color vibrancy, which would be massively augmented by high-quality consumables.

3. False Acquisitions by Heat Press

The activation of color is directly proportional to heat and time, as well as pressure. Sublimation prints will be light or faded, so in the event that one or more of these are not correct.

Causes

• Low temperature (dye is not activated)
• Insufficient pressing time
• Overpressure or underpressure.
• ones that lack heat plate calibration or uniformity.

Fix

• Most poly-athletic garments should be placed with 190-205 degree C (375-400  degree F).
• POL density: 35- 55 seconds, in reference to fabric density.
• Average firm pressure (medium) in order to provide uniform dye penetration.
• Your heat press should be checked on a regular basis with a laser thermometer.
• Under sublimation, one degree change can lessen the strength of colour by one-fifth.

4. Lopsided heat or pressure/machinery problems.

Even when your machine cannot offer the same temperature and pressure across the platen, a high-quality piece of art is going to appear dull.

Causes

• Cold spots on the heat press
• Sideways force of out-of-position damaged springs or plates.
• A heat press that fails to heat to the necessary temperature.
• Changing all-over print roller or calendar press discrepancies.
• Shabby or battered Teflon linens that reduce the level of heat conduction.

Fix

• Measure a temperature distribution. Quantify the distribution of heat with temperature strips or a laser thermometer.
• Replacement of worn out deteriorated pressure springs and give even contact.
• Cleaning Teflon sheets that are very old is discouraged and in place of them, one should use protective kraft papers.
• A calendar press will then give continuous roll-to-roll heat in the event of high-quality all-over prints.
• The patchy heat plate is the most common cause of the fading spots on sublimation jerseys.

5. Wetness cloth or Environmental Wetness.

The antagonist within a sublimation is the moisture. The presence of water disrupts the activation of the dye and, therefore, leaves spaced out or smeared spaces.

Causes

• Humid storage environments
• Pieces of clothing that are not fully swept before ironing.
• Damage from sweat, steam or any weather which has come in contact with the jersey.

Fix

• All clothing normally requires 3-5 seconds of pre-pressing then it is good to remove the water.
• Store papers in airtight desiccated bags.
• Keep the production in the store in a climate-controlled environment (best level of humidity; 40-60 percent).
• Do not press upon the completion of steaming, washing or handling wet clothes.
• Your sublimation in most instances, whether pale, misty or blurred, is owing to your sublimation being moist.

6. Proposal of the Wrong Side of Transfer Paper.

This is rather peculiar- even in the production.

Causes

• Normal things such as sublimation paper which will be used to apply the printed art on.
• It has a drab and ink-resistant backside, on paper.
• Wafting forward/back due to the proximity of textures.

Fix

• Always avoid using the coated print side without marking it as it is usually a tad smoother or shinier.
• Test: place a small drop of ink: this should not be in the form of a bead.
• Ask your supplier to use well-labeled papers to prevent confusion of buying the papers in a busy process.
• It is among the easiest jobs to carry out in case the print is faded and incomprehensible.

7. Malfunctioning Color Profile / Printer Settings.

This involves sublimation in the color profiles of ICC and calibration and appropriate settings of the printers. The prints are plain on clothes where they do not appear good on the screen.

Causes

• No ICC profile installed
• Wrong media setting
• Incorrect ink type selected
• Low or economy print modes.

Fix

• The registered nurses might need to work with a new ink + paper + printer combination profile with the help of the corresponding ICC profile.
• Change the high or photo print quality in jerseys that must have blacks.
• Monitor: Test your monitor monthly with a colorimeter.
• Color would be fine-tuned to enhance the volume production using the RIP software.
• Your print is bright on paper and dark on cloth, and then it is practically permanently the color profile.

8. Fabric Stretch, Texture, or Coatings.

Not all polyester does the same. The immediate effect on the penetration capability of the sublimation dye is on the fabric.

Causes

• The stretchy fabric like the poly-spandex is designed in a manner that once stretched in printing, it is fabricated to appear in lighter colors.
• Color will not be evenly covered on textured/ribbed fabrics.
• Sublimation dye-resistant silicone-coated, waterproof, or anti-odor fabrics.
• Dye does not evenly absorb onto brushed and fleece-backed fabric.

Fix

• Sublimation can only be done on stable weave or low-stretch fabrics.
• Sublimation of patterned sport fabrics.
• It should also avoid putting any kinds of textured clothes over a sports fabric.
• Test: Add Appropriate: Be sure that clothes are not coated with anything or contain any form of finish that can be sublimated.
• Calendars must be closed to keep them straight.
• The more uneven the surface of the cloth the more uneven is the output in the sublimation.

9. Washing & Care Issues

Even the perfect sublimation will be exhausted when the right way of washing such a garment is failed.

Causes

• Washing in hot water
• High-heat machine drying
• Direct Ironing of the print.
• Washing heavy or rough (jeans, zippers, towels, etc.) objects.

Fix

• Wash with cold or tepid water.
• In case of dry cleaning, dry cleaning should be used; otherwise, low heat is used.
• Iron only inside on low heat.
• Laundry with light-weight garments.

Proper washing lacks are one of the most common ones in regard to sublimation that seem to disappear after a few uses.

10. Exposure to UV Light, heat, or environmental factors.

Sublimation ink is colour permanent, but when subjected to unfavourable conditions over a long period, the quality of the print could deteriorate.

Causes

• Physical exercise organized outside on hot sunny days.
• Keeping jerseys in hot cars.
• Washing clothes with heat-consuming machines.
• Saline and chlorine exposure.

Fix

• Wash upon finding salt or chlorine.
• When it is being stored, it should not be exposed to UV.
• Efforts at maintaining areas at home dry.
• Alternatively, UV-resistant sublimation ink can be applied.

Sublimation prints can not be destroyed by the sun, but they might lose their colour saturation gradually.

11. Wrong or Grasping Substrate Preparation.

Every piece of fabric must be dry, dry, and free of tension to pressure.

Causes

• Washing dust, lint, hair or oils on the textile.
• Before the press, the Pin folds had not been taken off.
• Paper moves when there is a presence of a static electricity.
• Unstabilized and un-pre-shrunk fabric.

Fix

• lintel roll all the panels and press.
• Wet clothes before pressing 3-5 seconds.
• Fix or stick with adhesive spray or tacky paper.
• Place the printable media panel lying flat, however, not folded.
• Bad at bad preparation, good at inks and machines.

12. Old Age, Tearing, Stretching, and Flexing.

Sublimation is even fading away as the garment becomes older.

Causes

• Vigorous sporting activities like football or wrestling.
• Relentless flexing along the seams and shoulders.
• Velcro abrasions, sports bag, sports equipment.
• Years of wash and UV exposure.

Fix

• Educate train teams on the policies of washing/ storage.
• Reinforcement stitch of high wear.
• Such sublimations must not be adopted in areas where extreme stretching is involved.
• Replace uniforms after numerous seasons of wearing.
• Sublimation is not cracked as screen print-but there is an effect of fabric aging on the intensity of the color.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The good-quality inks and fabrics can also be faded due to the easy-to-prevent errors during their creation or due to their maintenance. The mistakes are most common as follows:

1. Using fabric other than polyester, and less than 85 percent.

Low-poly fabrics cannot absorb Sublimation dye which will leave dull prints on the fabric.

2. Unpressed transportation of panels.

The lack of the addition of moisture removes smeary or pale spots.

3. Cheap release paper and dirt-cheap inks.

All these have a considerable impact on the decreased sharpness and intensity of color in the image.

4. Downward heat or pressure.

Cold spots or lightness of pressure are observed to be places of lightness.

5. Excellent calibration and wrong color profiles.

It will cause great colour on paper but light colour on cloth.

6. Domestic fabrics that are coated or silicone finish can be sublimated.

The dye will be stopped from compressing and form patches of fins.

7. Incident of end-user improper washing/drying.

Sublimation vibrancy is highly rapidly destroyed by high-heat drying, softeners and harsh detergents.

These are the faults to be avoided that your sublimation may be sunny, glaring and professional even some years into the sporting exercises.

FAQs

Will sublimation appear pale due to the ground commercial in the jersey?

Yes. Sublimation dye is a clear one, and therefore, the color underneath influences the final brightness. Whites bring out the brightest colours, light greys, creams, or pastels, dull colour.

How come my sublimation appears dark in places only?

This is usually brought about by an imbalance in heat, movement of paper, moisture formation, or pressure inequalities in your heat press.

Why do the colors appear well when they are on paper and dark on the garment?

Since the sublimation paper is sensitive to the density of ink and not the final color. The performance of fabric is based on heat activation, the content of polyester, and ICC profiles.

Is the sublimation of sweat dissipated in the sweat of the athlete?

The garment performances will not fade with the print itself, but because of salt and body oils, it may cause dulling of the fiber in the garment unless there is prompt washing of the garment after vigorous training.

Does sublimation of sportswear fissure just like screen print?

No. Sublimation is a constituent of the fiber and is unable to crack. But wear and tear of fabric through old age or hard wear can result in fading of colors.

Does the second press enhance the sublimation?

No. Two presses normally overheat the fabric, resulting in blur or dye outflow. Optimal settings are achieved on a single press cycle.

Role of Quality Garments in Vibrant Results & Why Choose Goal Sportswear

Sublimation printing is always associated with the quality of the garment in question, making the quality of the garment itself crucial to the vibrancy of printing. The low-density, low-polyester, coated, inconsistent, and low-end knitted fabric cannot be covered by even the best printing. 

Goal Sportswear is a reliable international producer of high-performance sublimated sportswear to teams, brands, retailers, and sportswear trading companies. Together with professional-grade materials, sharp and fade-resistant sublimation is used. Goal Sportswear would be your best partner to get sublimation uniforms that remain bright, sharp, and professional over the seasons, but one that remains bright, sharp, and professional. Contact Goal Sportswear Today for Elite-Performance Sportswear.