Screen Printing - June/July 2020 - 29

UNDERSTANDING OUTSOURCING VS
PRINTING IN-HOUSE
There's a big difference between doing an occasional sublimated print and
deciding to offer the process as a volume production solution for your business. Printers who have committed to
a volume of sublimated production will
need to set up their shop with several
sublimation printers, including oversize
output devices and oversize heat press
machines. If your shop is seeing a steady
increase and demand for sublimated
garments it may be time to consider
your options based on what your goals
are and what your customers are looking
for. If you start getting complex jobs,
but aren't used to this work, it may be
helpful, at first, to outsource this work.
It takes a lot of experience in printing,
positioning, and heat pressing to get
consistent results, and mistakes can be
very costly. There are many printers who
offer sublimated services domestically
and internationally who have a lot of
experience and all the right equipment to
complete complex jobs economically and
in fast turn-arounds.
If you decide to make sublimation a
part of your decorated apparel services
then take the time to look at the variety
of printers and equipment to best match
what you'll want to offer your customers. Many of the printing supply companies will have resources for you to obtain
training in each of the steps of creating quality sublimated apparel, so take
advantage of education as early in the
process as possible. If you're a startup,
reach out to experienced decorators who
specialize in the sublimated method. You

can ask to shadow their production team,
or even outsource some work and follow
the order as it's being produced. As long
as you're not a competitor, you may get
lucky and find a company that will share
their expertise; this can save you an enormous amount of time and money.
You should properly weigh the value
of outsourcing and utilize it when needed, instead of trying to do everything
yourself right out of the gate. Once you
and your team have the right equipment
and training, then you'll be ready to develop your own successful sublimation
house. This can include finishing elements like sewing and tagging if you're
looking at pre-constructed production.
FINDING THE RIGHT SUBLIMATED
SOLUTION FOR YOU
Sublimated garments can be some of
the most dramatic and creative looking
apparel products available today. With
the removal of limitations in size, colors,
locations, and the lack of print feel,
a sublimated garment is the perfect
option for customers in niche markets
who are willing to pay a top rate for
apparel with these features.
Many printers avoid offering sublimation, or feel it isn't a good fit for their
customers, without taking the time to
seriously look at the limitations and
advantages in the process. If you know
how to work with the image colors,
adjust the design for the shape of the
product, use the qualities of the process
in your designs, and make educated
decisions about outsourcing, the dye
sublimation printing process can be an
unbeatable combination in your corner.
JUNE + JULY 2020 | SCREENPRINTING

Screen Printing - June/July 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Screen Printing - June/July 2020