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I’ve been involved with the sublimation industry for over 20 years. I’ve survived the early years when sublimation was

considered more of a novelty than an art. This was a time when imprintable items were few and inks/coatings were neither durable nor particularly light fast. Colors were inaccurate, and clogged print heads were common.

Since those early days, things have really changed. Ink manufacturers, coating and imprintable and printer manufac-turers, distributors, retailers, and sub-limation consultants have pushed the industry forward at a rapid pace. Today, it is possible to produce heirloom quality items that will last for generations in both residential and commercial indoor set-tings. Color is accurate and brilliant, and sublimation coatings are highly durable and flawlessly applied.

Following, I review some recent prod-ucts from Universal Woods/ChromaLuxe, Condé Systems, Laser Reproductions, and Johnson Plastics that meet the criteria as

fine and commercial art sublima-tion products. I also offer general suggestions that will allow you to create the highest quality sublima-tion finished products.

UNIVERSAL WOODS/CHROMALUXE

ChromaLuxe sublima-tion aluminum is simply the finest coated product available for photo, graphics and fine art reproduction. It is avail-able in gloss white, matte white and clear (silver) finishes. The finish is flaw-less and mirror-like. Color reproduction is vivid and accurate. Image depth is

unmatched. Available sizes range from standard photo sizes to wall panels/large sheets. Unique decorative

By Bill Leek

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(above) Laser Reproduction's glass plate allows window light to shine through.

New ChromaLuxe tabletops open up a new market.

The Fine Art of DYE SUBLIMATION

Exciting new products and improved durability make a difference

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aluminum shapes are also available. ChromaLuxe is scratch, abrasion, graffiti, and stain resistant. Light fastness is excel-lent. All these characteristics have made ChromaLuxe aluminum the product of choice for photo labs, artists, professional photographers, designers, and serious consumers throughout the world.

NEW TABLE TOP LINEA new ChromaLuxe Table Top product

line has been introduced for medium and wide-format applications. The blank moisture-resistant MDF tabletops are pro-cessed with a new sublimation coating that is more scratch and abrasive, stain and chemical resistant than previous MDF coated products. They wipe clean with any non-abrasive cleaner. These tabletops will not yellow with age and are color-fade resistant. They display the exceptional detail and color using Chrom-

aLuxe coating technology. Tabletop sizes include 23.625-inch and 29.375-inch diameter round, and 23.75-inch and 29.5-inch square. These are 0.75 inches thick. Sheet sizes are available in 49.5-inch by 98-inch/0.75-inch

thick, and 50-inch by 98.5-inch/1.125-inch thick sizes. Universal Woods provides a list of sources for pedestal leg designers.

With ChromaLuxe, it’s possible to design and produce beautiful high-res-olution photo quality, custom tabletops with minimum production labor and turnaround time. Material cost is competi-tive. Marketing opportunities and applica-tions are limitless. Major markets include restaurants, cafés, taverns, hotels, schools, military, government, company cafete-rias, stadiums, airports, country clubs, food courts, and more. Custom table designs are only limited by the imagina-tion. Theme ideas include photo collages, maps, game boards, retro designs, com-pany logos, memorabilia, history, infor-mational, sports, foods, ice cream, coffee, patriotic, and college mascots. Design charges can add to your profit, especially on smaller jobs.

CERAMIC, PORCELAIN, AND TUMBLED STONE TILES

Tiles have been a popular imprintable choice from the beginning. Tiles are ver-satile. You can create murals, mount them in a frame, stand them up in an easel, use them as coasters, and insert them in a wide range of gift items, like wooden boxes, metal trivets, and other heirloom gift items. Indoor residential and commer-cial mural creation can be good business.

I recently received tile samples from Condé Systems and Laser Reproductions (LRi). Both of these companies coat their own tiles and sell direct to sublimation decorators. LRi has improved its coat-ings and production through the years. Condé recently began coating its own tiles in order to better control the quality of the tiles it sells. Both vendors supplied an assortment of ceramic, porcelain, and tumbled stone tiles with gloss, satin, and matte finishes, which were all profession-ally coated with excellent overall appear-ance. Additional major tile suppliers in the U.S. include Johnson Plastics, Bison Coatings, and Premiere Finishing.

Some things to check when pur-chasing ceramic, porcelain, and tumbled stone tiles:

• Any imperfections or dirt in the coat-

I’ve been involved with the sublimation industry for over 20 years. I’ve survived the early years when sublimation was

considered more of a novelty than an art. This was a time when imprintable items were few and inks/coatings were neither durable nor particularly light fast. Colors were inaccurate, and clogged print heads were common.

Since those early days, things have really changed. Ink manufacturers, coating and imprintable and printer manufac-turers, distributors, retailers, and sub-limation consultants have pushed the industry forward at a rapid pace. Today, it is possible to produce heirloom quality items that will last for generations in both residential and commercial indoor set-tings. Color is accurate and brilliant, and sublimation coatings are highly durable and flawlessly applied.

Following, I review some recent prod-ucts from Universal Woods/ChromaLuxe, Condé Systems, Laser Reproductions, and Johnson Plastics that meet the criteria as

fine and commercial art sublima-tion products. I also offer general suggestions that will allow you to create the highest quality sublima-tion finished products.

UNIVERSAL WOODS/CHROMALUXE

ChromaLuxe sublima-tion aluminum is simply the finest coated product available for photo, graphics and fine art reproduction. It is avail-able in gloss white, matte white and clear (silver) finishes. The finish is flaw-less and mirror-like. Color reproduction is vivid and accurate. Image depth is

unmatched. Available sizes range from standard photo sizes to wall panels/large sheets. Unique decorative

Condé Systems SubliSlate

offers a unique natural look.

Johnson Plastics Galley Wraps.

Exciting new products and improved durability make a difference

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ings and any chips on the tile images.• Select tiles for photos that have the

whitest coating. They will provide the widest dynamic range and images that pop.

• Check the vendor’s packaging, par-ticularly for tiles larger than 8 by 8 and 8 by 20.

• Select a supplier close to you. Ship-ping and handling charges can get expensive.

• Make sure your supplier provides detailed pressing instructions for each type and size tile.

• Not all tile coating/ink combinations produce the same colors. Stick with one supplier and fine tune colors with a custom ICC color profile if necessary.

• Most sublimation tiles have three coating options: gloss, satin, and matte.

• Gloss provides a great-looking finish but has the least scratch resistance.

• Satin has a great finish and is very scratch resistant.

• Matte is scratch resistant and pro-vides a flat, natural appearance.

• Always obtain samples before ordering case quantities from a new vendor.

EVOLUTION OF FINE ART SUBLIMATION GLASS

The widespread use of coated glass for

sublimation occurred after the release of coated ceramics. One of the first offerings coated the front of the glass, providing a less-than-appealing double image appearance. After the rejection of this technique, all glass items have been coated on the back. Initial tiles utilized a clear sublimation coating.

This was problematic, as the trans-ferred colors appeared washed out; sub-limation inks are transparent and need a frosted or white coated background to provide good color density. Sublima-tion glass with white coating has become the most popular over the last decade. Recently, LRi with its Crystal Award Glass coating, and Condé with its Solapix glass coating have independently developed unique sublimation glass that allows high density color images that can be viewed from both sides of a glass item. These coatings allow light to be trans-mitted through the glass, adding a great deal to the aesthetic qualities of the fin-ished products.

The most popular uses for sublimation glass include tiles and murals, awards, cutting boards, coasters, custom photo gifts, and ornaments. Select glass that is clear with minimum green tint. The green can affect the accuracy of the transferred color. In some cases, color adjustments or a custom ICC profile may be used to increase color density and image depth.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTSJohnson Plastics Gallery Wraps

This new product makes creating museum quality canvas wraps easy. Bulk polyester sublimation canvas has been available for a while, but traditional canvas wrapping can be a challenge, especially if you are not doing it frequently. A finished gallery wrap displays prized photos and art with the look of rich oil paintings. First, images are heat pressed onto the gallery wrap’s special sublimation canvas. The canvas is then stretched over a frame to create a work of art similar to professional works of art exhibited as in professional galleries and photo studios.

Using the Gallery Wrap kits, the finished product can be ready to display in just a few minutes. All necessary supplies are available from Johnson Plastics. The Gallery Wrap Corner Guide Starter kit contains four corner guides, four ounces of glue, and ten pins. Frame stretcher bars (8 inch by 10 inch or 11 inch by 17 inch) are sold in kits, or 8-inch, 10-inch, 11-inch or 14-inch bars are sold in pairs depending on the size of the photo. Pre-cut sublimation canvas is available for 8-inch by 10-inch or 11-inch by 14-inch size images. (The actual pre-cut canvas size is 11 inches by 13 inches or 14 inches by 17 inches.)

Condé SubliSlate PlaquesSubliSlate is a unique natural sublima-

tion substrate. It is carved out of real slate

A 10,000-piece 2-inch sublimation tile mural designed by Sierra Custom Designs in Bishop California.

Tumbled stone coaster set.

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with chiseled edges and a polished flat imprintable surface coated with a white sublimation coating. It has a high-perceived value and a “back to nature” look. I find it a perfect match for outdoor sports, vacation photos, landscapes, and black and white photo photography. It is available in several shapes and sizes for both vertical and hori-zontal display. Smaller pieces come with tabletop stands. Larger plaques are designed for wall mounting and come with necessary hardware. The finished transferred images display good color detail.

LRi Natural Wood Photo BoardsThese laminated birch wood photo

boards have a beautiful matte finish. The boards can be laser engraved or dye sublimated. The unique wood finish of each piece is subtly visible through the transferred image, pro-ducing a natural appearance that is perfect for creating indoor décor, signs, and art for both home and office. The special dye sub coating formula, designed especially for wood, insures bright, durable colors. The photo boards are 5/8 inches thick and are available in a variety of sizes. Each piece is key-holed for both vertical and horizontal mounting.

FINAL COMMENTSI’ve mentioned just some of the thou-

sands of fine art sublimation options

available. To achieve fine art results, follow these basic principles:

• Use brand name inks, quality printers, and good color management.

• Select imprintables with quality coatings, even if they are more expensive.

• Use a quality heat press that provides accurate temperatures and even pres-sure over the entire platen work area.

• Buy from established suppliers that provide support and detailed instructions. Follow the instructions carefully.

• Don’t just fall in love with the sub-limation process. Fall in love with the sublimation business. Do some research and establish your niche markets, concentrating on products with high profit margins and min-imum production costs.

Bill Leek of Houston, Texas has over 33 years’ experi-ence in digital decorating system development and graphics design. He has developed several lines of color imprintable products utilizing inkjet, sublima-tion and color laser transfer technologies. In addition, he has extensive working knowledge of color management and product durability testing and has consulted for many of the industry’s leading companies. He may be reached at wfleek@jbl-graphics.com.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTSJohnson Plastics Gallery Wraps

This new product makes creating museum quality canvas wraps easy. Bulk polyester sublimation canvas has been available for a while, but traditional canvas wrapping can be a challenge, especially if you are not doing it frequently. A finished gallery wrap displays prized photos and art with the look of rich oil paintings. First, images are heat pressed onto the gallery wrap’s special sublimation canvas. The canvas is then stretched over a frame to create a work of art similar to professional works of art exhibited as in professional galleries and photo studios.

Using the Gallery Wrap kits, the finished product can be ready to display in just a few minutes. All necessary supplies are available from Johnson Plastics. The Gallery Wrap Corner Guide Starter kit contains four corner guides, four ounces of glue, and ten pins. Frame stretcher bars (8 inch by 10 inch or 11 inch by 17 inch) are sold in kits, or 8-inch, 10-inch, 11-inch or 14-inch bars are sold in pairs depending on the size of the photo. Pre-cut sublimation canvas is available for 8-inch by 10-inch or 11-inch by 14-inch size images. (The actual pre-cut canvas size is 11 inches by 13 inches or 14 inches by 17 inches.)

Condé SubliSlate PlaquesSubliSlate is a unique natural sublima-

tion substrate. It is carved out of real slate A&E

Tumbled stone coaster set.

ChromaLuxe metal print in an antique frame will last for many generations.

An upscale craftsman frame adds a great deal

to tile presentation.

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