The Evolution of Dye Sublimation Printing: A Journey Through History

The foundation of digital inkjet printing technology can be traced back to the late 1800s. It all began when Lord Rayleigh, a prominent English physicist, explored the science behind inkjet printing. Around the same time, in 1880, the Curie brothers made a groundbreaking discovery—piezoelectricity. This phenomenon, which involves the generation of electrical charge in response to mechanical stress, later played a crucial role in modern inkjet printing technology.

However, it wasn’t until the late 1920s that the first signs of commercial sublimation transfer printing emerged. Kartaschoff, working at British Celanese Ltd, observed how cellulose acetate could be coloured using disperse dyes under heat and pressure. This discovery predates the creation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a material that would go on to form the basis of modern synthetic fibers like polyester. The British scientists Whinfield and Dickson, after years of research, patented PET in 1941. This led to widespread polyester production, eventually becoming a cornerstone in the fabric industry.

The 1950s saw the development of the Star printing process by Star Stampa Artistici in Milan. This process utilized a multi-coated paper substrate for transferring images through high-pressure methods. But the real breakthrough came in 1957 when Noël de Plasse, working in France, invented the first dye-sublimation printing technique. This method took advantage of the fact that certain dyes sublimate, transitioning directly from a solid to a gas when heated. De Plasse’s invention led to the formation of Sublistatis SA, which began commercializing the process of dye-sublimation printing. By the early 1970s, the technique was producing millions of square meters of transfer paper annually.

The mid-1970s saw a boom in the popularity of sublimation transfer printing, with around a third of all polyester fabric being printed using this method. Around the same time, Wes Hoekstra, a researcher at the Jet Propulsion Lab in California, pioneered the first computer-driven sublimation system. His work laid the foundation for the computerized sublimation processes we use today and earned him the title of the “father” of the industry.

Despite this early success, the 1980s saw a decline in the sublimation market due to the decreased popularity of polyester fabrics and competition from more efficient natural fibres. However, sublimation technology continued to advance, particularly in the field of digital printing.

By the late 1990s, digital textile printing was gaining traction, particularly in fashion design and signage. Though digital textile printing began as a niche technology, it rapidly expanded into wider applications, from garments to home décor. Key innovations came from companies like DuPont, which introduced the Artistri system in 2001, and Ciba Geigy/Reggiani/Scitex, whose DReAM system in 2003 helped make digital textile printing more accessible to mass markets.

Today, inkjet technology has become central to textile production, including dye sublimation printing. The contactless nature of inkjet, where ink droplets are sprayed directly onto a substrate, has allowed for new creative possibilities and more efficient workflows. While analogue printing techniques remain in widespread use, the growth potential of digital printing, particularly dye sublimation, continues to expand as innovations in inkjet technology evolve.

It's truly amazing how far dye sublimation printing has come in such a short space of time. Whilst there are many other technologies coming up such as DTF, sublimation printing still has a lot to offer thanks to it's versatility, low cost of entry and even now we are super excited to see what the future of dye sub will look like!

Talking of the future, have you seen some of our newest products? Some of our items are exclusively made for us and not available anywhere else as we like to push the boundaries of what is possible. Check out the latest products here.