3D Product Decoration

The Kolorfusion process is based upon an ink/dye transfer process called dye sublimation. The dyes when heated will vaporize and if next to a suitable substrate, such as coatings or plastic, the dyes become part of the adjacent substrate.

Accordingly, the substrate must be able to withstand a minimum temperature of 280°F. Heat deflection and vicat softening point for a plastic part are good indicators to determine if the current plastic being utilized are suitable. Most coatings are acceptable to the process and can withstand process temperatures up to 375°F.



Since the dyes are actually a vapor they are in effect transparent. Accordingly, the substrate color should be light in color so as to allow the design to be seen. If the coating or plastic part is a translucent, then again the dyes will take on the hue of the translucent. Metal, glass, wood must first be coated prior to processing.

Anodized aluminum can receive the dye vapors prior to sealing the anodic coating. Other materials that have micro pores using polymer chemistry to receive the dyes can also be decorated. Manufacturers, please contact our sales department so that a sampling can done for your manufactured products.



The design can be from our existing patterns or can be developed for the manufacturer. Typical new design turn-around times are 1-2 weeks from approval date of colors and image quality. Our sales department will be happy to provide you with processing cost proposals or licensing information.

Dye sublimation is also often used in color printing on a variety of substrates, including paper. A small heater is used to vaporize the solid dye material, which then solidifies upon the paper. As this type of printer allows extremely fine control of the primary color ratios it is possible to obtain a good quality picture even with relatively low printer resolution, as compared to other printer types of similar resolution.



Standard black and white laser printers are capable of printing on plain paper using a special "transfer toner" containing sublimation dyes which can then be permanently heat transferred to T-shirts, hats, mugs, metals, puzzles and other surfaces.