How to Choose Sublimation Transfer Paper according to the Printer?

As one of the cores of the sublimation transfer process, printers are currently divided into three categories according to the printing speed: low-speed, medium-speed, and high-speed machines.

There is no particularly obvious definition between low-speed and medium-speed machines. Generally, printers with a full-width printing speed below 1 m/min are classified as low-speed machines; those with a printing speed of 1-10 m/min are classified as medium-speed machines; Above 10 m/min is classified as high-speed machine.

Demand for sublimation transfer paper for low-speed scanning printers

Low-speed printers such as Mimaki JV33, Muto 1604, INVT, etc., have high printing precision, and the printer structure is generally equipped with a pinch roller. When printing with high inkjet volume, because the paper stays in the movement area of ​​the print head for a relatively long time, the paper will experience swelling and deformation after absorbing ink; and due to the pressure of the platen roller on the paper, the deformation of the paper will cause obvious deformation. The prismatic arched, easy to scratch the nozzle and destroy the printed pattern. Therefore, for this type of printer, the wet deformation of the paper is required to be small, and the ability of the transfer paper coating to carry ink is strong.

The demand for sublimation transfer paper for medium-speed printers

Medium-speed printers are similar to Italian MS-JP4, MS-JP7, Tianjin Licai MICOLOR 5816, etc. Compared with low-speed printers, this type of printer has several times higher printing speeds. Generally, there is no pressure roller, and it depends entirely on the tension of the rollers. To adjust the running of the paper, the printing speed is accelerated. Although the drying interval is lengthened, it is not enough relative to the increase in speed, so the drying speed of the paper is required to be higher.

The demand for high-speed printers for sublimation transfer paper

High-speed printers mainly refer to single-channel printers at present, for example, one-pass or single-pass printers are often heard. The most obvious feature of this type of printer is that the nozzles are fixed in multiple rows, and the nozzles do not move during printing. It is completely printed by paper movement, and the printing speed is very fast, which can reach 30-80m/min, and the length of the drying tunnel is generally more than 10 meters. In addition, the paper adheres to the surface of the guide belt in the printing channel. The requirements of such printers for paper are mainly manifested in the following points.

1. Good flatness: Most coated paper has the phenomenon of paper lifting after being baked at high temperatures, which is commonly known as the "bending resistance" of paper in the industry. High-speed printers have a long drying tunnel, and the paper has a relatively long baking time at a high temperature in the oven. Therefore, it is required that the paper must have good flatness after being baked at a high temperature.

2. Fast drying speed: Although the drying tunnel of the high-speed printer has been lengthened, due to the fast running speed of the paper, the limitation of heat sources and the limitation of the workshop, the paper itself needs to have fast drying characteristics.

3. The peelability of the paperback coating should be appropriate.

4. Thin paper: Due to the faster machine speed, thin paper is more conducive to large roll printing and high-speed thermal transfer, and can also greatly reduce costs.