The Heat is On: 2 Types of Presses for All-Over Sublimation
Flat press vs. roll press and what the difference means for your sublimation.
Depending on the extent you want to go with your all-over prints, the size of printer and press will vary greatly. As far as heat presses go, there are two different styles-flat presses and roll presses.
Flat presses come in many different sizes depending on what your needs are. The most common is 44 inches by 64 inches. This gives you plenty of room whether you want a cut-and-sew or a pre-made shirt. These presses also come in either manual or air options.
The other option is the roll presses. These are big presses that have a heated drum, either oil or electric, and pull both the fabric and transfer roll through a series of belts slowly around the heated drum where the sublimation occurs. These presses work more for the cut-and-sew option, as you then will cut the pieces from the sublimated roll after it’s complete.
– Kevin Lumberg & TJ Kvilhaug, Johnson Plastics
