Key Questions to Ask When Ordering a4 sublimation paper supplier

Dec. 02, 2024

Sublimation Paper FAQ'S

Below are our most common questions about using sublimation paper. If something has gone wrong with your application see the Help My Sublimation Paper Is Not Working section at the bottom of the page.

Million Ton contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

What&#;s the difference between Heat transfer paper, screen printing and sublimation printing?

Heat transfer paper and screenprinting sit on top of your surface, whereas sublimation printing vaporizes the sublimation inks and embeds them onto the polyester surface, so you can&#;t feel the design sitting on top, it&#;s part of the surface. This is why sublimation printing is used commercially because it is very hard wearing.

Does sublimation printing give permanent results?

Yes, it is dishwasher safe, washing machine safe and UV resistant.

Can I use my inkjet or laser printer to print on sublimation paper?

No, sublimation printing only works with special sublimation inks, regular inks won&#;t work on the paper. Some people do convert their new inkjet printers to be a sublimation printer but this can only be done when the printer is brand new and has not printed anything yet. It still requires sublimation inks.

Do you need a heat press to press sublimation paper?

Yes, you need a heat press to be able to reach the high temperatures required for sublimating.

How does sublimation printing work?

We created a more detailed sublimation Instructions page where you can learn more about the process. We also feature articles on our blog about sublimation, check it out.

Can you sublimate onto any surface?

No, sublimation only works on surfaces with 60% or more polyester content or polyester, sublimation coated surfaces. These polyester coated surfaces are often called sublimation blanks and include t-shirts, photo frames, keychains, puzzles, tumblers, ceramic cups and more.

What is the difference between 105GSM, 120GSM and 125 GSM sublimation paper?

GSM stands for Grams per Square Meter and is a term used to describe paper weight or thickness. So the larger the number the thicker the paper. Thicker paperweights like the 125GSM can absorb more sublimation ink, this makes them a more premium paper with a higher transfer rate. The thickness of the paper weight is often a preference thing. Some people prefer the thinner 105 GSM paper weight as it may be easier to manipulate around a curved surface like a sublimation coated mug. Others pressing onto t-shirts may prefer a heavier weight paper so it is less likely to move during pressing. If you are not sure what is right for you, you can always order a sample to test it first.

How big is an A4 sheet of sublimation paper?

It&#;s similar in size to Us letter paper and is 8.3 x 11.7 inches or 210 x 297 mm.

Do you need to mirror your design before sublimation printing?

Yes! This is very important. If you do not mirror your design things like the lettering will be the wrong way around and unreadable.

Can you print white colors using sublimation printing?

No, you can&#;t print white. Any white area in your design will print as transparent so the base color will show in the areas of your design that are white.

How do I tell what side of the sublimation paper to print on?

We have two types of backing. The backing is normally a light pink or cream and it has a rougher texture. The correct side to print on is whiter in color and has a smoother more satin finish.

Do you need to cut out your sublimation design before printing?

No, this is the beauty of sublimation, you do not need to weed or cut around the design unless you desire it. Any area without ink will be transparent on the design once printed.

Do I need to use heat proof tape when pressing sublimation designs?

No, but we recommend it. Heat proof tape helps hold your design in place while pressing, without it, your design may move more during pressing and won&#;t be as perfect as you want.

Can I put a sublimation t-shirt in the washing machine and dryer?

Yes, you can, follow the garment manufacturers recommended washing instructions. Do not use bleach on your sublimation garment. You can tumble dry your sublimation garment on low heat.

Can I put my sublimation mug or tumbler in the dishwasher?

Yes you can, the print will not come off.

How should I store sublimation paper?

Store unused paper in a cool, dry area, out of direct sunlight.

Is sublimation paper recyclable?

Yes, blank unprinted or pressed paper is recyclable. Printed paper with ink should be thrown in the trash.The cardboard envelope package is also recyclable. The clear plastic slip protecting the paper can be reused or should be discarded in the trash (not recyclable).

Is sublimation paper vegan?

Yes, it is vegan.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit a4 sublimation paper supplier.

Help My Sublimation Paper Is Not Working*

My sublimation design didn&#;t press onto the surface.

First check you have used a sublimation printer loaded with sublimation inks to print your design. If you have used a sublimation printer, loaded with sublimation inks then it is likely your surface. You must press onto a surface with a higher than 60% polyester content. For example if you try to press a regular ceramic mug that is not coated with a polyester surface then no design will transfer. Same thing if you try to press onto a 100% cotton t-shirt, the transfer will not work, it must be a polyester surface.

My sublimation print is reversed on the final surface.

This is a common mistake and happens to the best of us. You must always mirror your design before printing.

My final printed sublimation design has white dots or specs.

These are likely caused from dust/ fiber particles on the paper or surface before printing. To avoid this in the future use a lint roller on any fabrics before sublimating and for hard surfaces you can wipe with alcohol to remove any residues or dust.

My design has a ghost type effect after pressing.

If you didn't secure your sublimation print during the pressing stage, it may have shifted slightly during the press and caused the ink to give a ghost effect. To avoid this, tape your design in place with heat proof tape.

The sublimation ink soaked onto the back of my t-shirt.

Always make sure you put a teflon sheet or butcher paper between the front of your t-shirt and the back, then if there is any excess ink, it will not soak through to the back of your shirt.

The sublimation paper is jamming in the printer

Printer jams are frustrating, we know! Have you tried feeding the paper one sheet at a time? Checking the paper type settings are set correctly? Try turning the printer off, wait 10 seconds and turn back on. You can try resetting the printer to factory settings and as a last resort you contact the printer manufacturer. If you feel like the paper itself is causing the jam, please send us a photo of the issue and we&#;ll help you as much as we can.

Check out our Blog for tips and tricks on crafting and see your YouTube channel for helpful videos. If your question is not listed above or you are having trouble applying the paper please us at or call us at PH +1 (415) 915-. If you can take a photo of the problem and include it in your message, it will help us troubleshoot any issues faster.

Happy Creating!

1. Is there a minimum paper order?

As a buyer, you'll need to know what their minimums are in order to determine if you&#;re working with the right supplier for your industry, and to make sure you&#;re getting the best and most cost-effective ordering option.

Depending on the industry you&#;re in, your paper supplier may have a minimum order requirement &#; in fact most do. For the majority of paper suppliers, minimum orders are a matter of production efficiency. They&#;re designed to keep costs under control, and theoretically, those cost-controlling measures should trickle down to you in what you pay.

Because Oren International is a speciality paper converter, we do not require a minimum order. Our paper orders can be customized and accommodate varying order sizes.

2. Can I order custom sizes?

Many paper suppliers offer a variety of sizes, but only those sizes and many cannot accommodate custom sizes and orders. There may be equipment/production restrictions, or the customization may be too costly for the supplier to justify the offering. It&#;s important to ask if there are restrictions in the event that your needs change in the future.

Skilled paper converting companies, however, have the ability to provide very specific paper sizes for a variety of needs. Because we supply paper for a number of industries, we make it a point to make customization an option for our customers.

3. Can you print on the paper?

Branding is essential for businesses of all types these days. With increasing competition in every industry, it&#;s important to stand out. Custom branding offers your business a competitive edge. The trend of custom branding on paper has gained massive traction in the foodservice industry, for example, with restaurants printing everything from logos to menus on rolls and sheets of paper.

Many paper suppliers don&#;t offer custom printing, and if they do it can be extremely cost prohibitive depending on the printing method used.

Look for a versatile partner who can offer custom branding on all of the paper they offer. For example, with flexographic printing technology onsite, custom branding can be provided at a competitive price. Flexographic &#; or flexo printing &#; is essentially a modern version of the letterpress used to print on paper and other materials. Because water based flexo inks have a low viscosity, they dry faster, therefore offering speedier production and lower costs. Besides restaurant applications, flexo printing can be essential to the functionality and success of tube and core paper, paper for packaging and shipping, and more.

4. How soon can my order be ready?

This is a big one. You need to make sure your paper supplier gives you an accurate estimate as to when your order will be received. Because lead times vary, the typical paper order takes about two weeks. You&#;ll want to make sure that your supplier can meet any unique delivery needs your business may encounter due to special events, etc., when you may need a rush or special order.

5. What will my total cost be?

Total cost is an important question to ask because that's what actually matters to your business&#; bottom line. Even if your paper order itself is priced competitively, that amount can skyrocket when shipping costs are factored in. Always make sure to get an estimate for shipping as part of your total cost consideration.

Also make sure to find out if your supplier charges extra fees for pallets, packaging, labels, handling fees, or other incidentals. That way you will really know your &#;total cost&#; before you place an order.

6. What are the payment terms?

Many paper manufacturers and suppliers offer credit terms for qualifying customers. The terms can range from 15 to 30 or 60 days. This can offer the benefit of deferring a large payment for a short amount of time.

Other suppliers might require cash on delivery (COD), or pre-payment with a check, wire transfer or credit card before they&#;ll fulfill your order. It&#;s important to know the expectation from the start to avoid any unexpected late fees.

7. Under what conditions will my terms change?

Consumables &#; especially paper &#; fluctuate in price. This is not a product where prices stay the same year after year. Sometimes they go up and sometimes they go down. Your paper supplier should account for this fluctuation in the price they set. Still, make sure to ask how often you can expect a price fluctuation and the potential market changes that could make price go up or down.

Clearly communicating your paper needs

Aside from these basic questions, it&#;s important that the paper supplier you&#;re working with has an understanding of your business. It&#;s a good idea to develop a rapport with one or two people at your supplier with whom you communicate your business needs, and then deal with them regularly.

Explain to your supplier the end use for your paper and any future uses you may need. Communicate whether the paper you&#;re using will serve a single need and function or if it is for a multi-use applications.

It can be a challenge to develop a level of rapport with someone dedicated to helping you achieve your business&#; goals when you&#;re working with a very large supplier, but it&#;s important to do so because all of the factors mentioned above can impact your order.

At Oren International, we work closely with each customer to ensure we understand their specific needs, as well as the current uses and potential future uses of the paper we supply to them. We develop a partnership with our customers so that we can work with them to customize their orders and help them gain the most benefit for their business.

If you&#;d like to learn more about how we can fulfill your paper needs, contact us today.

For more a4 sublimation paper exportinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

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