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Dye Sublimation Inks

How to Save Money on Expensive Dye Sublimation Inks

Well, here it is 2006. I have tried to e-mail The Artful Crafter several times but my web TV isn't compatible in some instances.

So I will try once more with your reply feature.

My craft recently came to an abrupt end as costs soared out of control.

I shoot outdoor photography, edit and enhance in Adobe and Corel creating the appearance of traditional art media in many ways. Then adding a favorite saying and printing on ceramic tiles using a heat press, ink jet printer with dye sublimation inks.

Problem is when I started in this a few years ago inks were around a hundred dollars a set. Last year they were nearing three hundred dollars a set!

So it all became cost prohibitive and I am dead in the water. I have searched the internet for another source but the price is the same everywhere. Mainly because there seems to be only one manufacturer in the U.S.

I believe there is another manufacturer in Italy, but cannot find the name, address or any pricing.

Unless I can find a source with reasonable pricing for their inks I must find some other media to print my images on. The creramic tiles were very unique, and beautiful. The inks just cost too much to make any profit of any kind.

What would you suggest? Can you help me locate a source for the dye sublimation inks that are reasonably priced. The cost is often affected by the model of inkjet printer. Mine is an Epson C82, but I would gladly get something else if I can get the cost of the inks down.

I wish I could find more info of the site in Italy, or find out how to buy at wholesale instead of retail.

Any advice or suggestion you have would be greatly appreciated.

I’m very excited about your web site!

Many sincere thanks,

Marion

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[Note to our other readers: Dye sublimation is a very exciting technology for those who craft for profit and can afford the thermal press and inks.

You’ve seen dye sublimation printed products but may not have realized it. Dye sublimation printing is used for t-shirts and other apparel, coffee mugs and ceramic tiles like those Marion makes.

Dye sublimation printing produces photo-realistic images on both hard and soft surfaces including ceramic, metal, polyester fabric, Mylar, glass, wood and plastic.

The process involves printing onto paper and then transferring the dye to a polymer or polymer-coated surface with heat. It sounds like, but is nothing like, those old rubbery iron-on t-shirt transfers that crack and peel off. These are true dyes!

The term “sublimation” refers to the fact that the dyes vaporize under heat. Sublimation (in the non-Freudian sense) is the transition of a substance from the solid phase directly to the vapor phase, or vice versa, without passing through an intermediate liquid phase.

Dye sub “inks” are not really inks. The liquid is a carrier for the dye molecules and the color in the bottle sometimes bears little resemblance to the color on your final product since the dyes need to be heat-activated.

The heat of your printer vaporizes the dye. The carrier liquid carries it to the paper where it cools and returns to a solid state.

By placing the printed paper face down against your product and applying the proper heat and pressure, the dye again vaporizes and is carried to its final destination.

T-shirts remain soft and supple just as if you had dyed them in a vat of Rit. The dye fused onto a ceramic tile or pane of glass is fused permanently to the surface.

Since 1997, when Sawgrass Technologies acquired patents for its very high quality dye sub process and products, pricing has been as described by Marion above and virtually no competition has existed. Now to answer Marion’s question …]

There is a very important story you need to be following. You don’t mention the name in your letter, but the market leader (and price-setter) for dye sublimation products is Sawgrass Technologies of Mount Pleasant, SC. Their process and products are state-of-the-art and the company has held patents on them since 1997.

Several companies have challenged Sawgrass in the market, offering similar products at lower prices. In every case to date, where companies refused to cease and desist from selling competing products, Sawgrass countered with patent infringement lawsuits and won.

Currently there is a lawsuit working its way through the courts brought against Sawgrass by a company named Texas Original Graphics or TOG. After being sent a Cease and Desist letter by Sawgrass, TOG filed a lawsuit in which it claims to have been making and selling comparable dye sub products since 1989 – before the Sawgrass patents went into effect.

To make a long story short: until and if Sawgrass prevails in TOG v. Sawgrass, you can buy TOG dye sub inks for about 1/3 less. Click here for more information.

They also offer a bulk ink system. The system requires a $600 investment; but then you could buy dye sublimation inks in bulk sizes of 125 or 250ml at significant savings.

It would be a good idea to try a set of TOG cartridges first to make sure they deliver the quality you require. If so, the bulk system could be an excellent investment for you.

The company in Italy which you are looking for is J-Tech3. Their website does not contain price information.

You need to contact them by e-mail for current prices in USD. I don’t know how J-Tech3 has thus far avoided a confrontation with Sawgrass, since the U.S. and Italy cooperate to protect patents. Perhaps they have a licensing agreement and pay royalties, which would mean their prices would be compatible with Sawgrass'.

I did notice that the word “sublimation” is pretty-well hidden within J-Tech3’s website, perhaps to keep a low profile.

In the event that TOG does not prevail and that Sawgrass continues to successfully fend off all other comers, you might start thinking of what direction you could go with your business.

Don’t be caught unprepared a second time!

You can explore ways to expand your line and increase volume to cover the increasing cost of dye sublimation inks or look for other processes you could employ with your artistically-altered photographs.

Along the lines of expanding your product line, have you ever gone after quantity orders? Companies and other organizations frequently order presentation products for their members to be given at conferences: mugs, t-shirts, tote bags, plates.

If your nose turns up at the thought of going so commercial, the other direction you can take is to find alternative more-affordable techniques.

Start experimenting now – before you are forced to do so. You might be able to find something that yields similar results; or you might find your art going in a new direction.

Have you heard about Lazertran Waterslide Decals? The original Lazertran decals transfer color photocopied or laser-printed images onto almost any surface, including ceramics.

There is also an inkjet printer version. The decals can be heat-cured onto ceramic (in your kitchen oven) and varnished for durability. I’ve seen some beautiful work done with these decals.

I’m glad our website excites you. I have a lot of fun doing this and helping other crafters. Good luck and feel free to write again!

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Wow! I am majorly impressed with all the information you were able to find on dye-sub and the Italian company!!!

All the information is extremely interesting and vital to my hobby / business direction for the future.

I will check TOG out for sure, the water decals sound interesting too if I can use my own images. I will be checking them out as well.

I must admit that I have found no one and nothing comes anywhere near as close as you and your research in the way of being helpful!

You are most assuredly the best!!

Very grateful,

Marion

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