What are the biggest challenges for sublimating patches?

When sublimating patches, there are a few issues to keep in mind:

• Preventing a faded area along the sides when applying a full bleed. If the patch has a border, it can create a slightly elevated area which prevents the ink from getting all the way to the sublimated edge. Applying a little more pressure will solve that problem.
• When the patch is applied to the garment, the adhesive does not stick properly, and the patch falls off.There can be a couple of issues that cause this problem. If the adhesive was not rested after the sublimation process, the adhesive will be too loose and will not adhere to fabric. It is important to let the patch set for at least an hour to allow the adhesive to reconstitute.
• The type of fabric that it is being applied. Some fabrics can have too much texture, which does not allow the adhesive to adhere completely. Materials such as corduroy-type fabric might have deeper crevices that the adhesive cannot get into. Other fabrics may also have additional chemicals applied during manufacturing that can prevent the adhesive from adhering. Your best bet is to always test the fabric with a patch before committing to the job.

—JDS Industries