Concept
Dye Migration
Sublimated polyester dye bleeding through a transfer and discoloring the printed design.
Definition
Dye migration is a print defect where polyester dye sublimates out of a garment during the heat press cycle and bleeds upward through the transfer, discoloring the printed image. The defect typically shows as a pink, red, or yellow cast over the white underbase several hours or days after the press. It is most common on dye-sublimated polyester, performance athletic fabric, and red or hot pink polyester knits. Mitigation strategies include lowering press temperature to 285 to 300 F, using a cold peel, and switching to a polyester-blocker DTF film that incorporates a chemical barrier into the adhesive layer.
Related Terms
Cold Peel
Removing the carrier film from a transfer only after the film has cooled to room temperature.
White Underbase
A layer of white ink printed beneath color ink so the design reads correctly on dark or colored fabric.
Textile Substrate
Any fabric-based material a transfer can be applied to, including cotton, polyester, blends, and synthetic knits.
Heat Press
A machine that applies controlled heat, pressure, and time to bond a transfer to a substrate.