FAQ

Solvent Dye Sublimation Inks

Question: What is a “solvent” based dye sublimation ink (SBDSI)?

Response: . Solvent based dye sublimation inks (SBDSI) are inks formulated with carbon based liquids to dissolve the various ink ingredients such as dyes and resins, to form an ink solution. Examples of carbon based liquids are isopropyl alcohol, acetone, hexane, etc. Carbon based liquids containing carbon to hydrogen bonds are called hydrocarbons.

Question: What is a “water” based dye sublimation ink (WBDSI)?

Response: Water based dye sublimation inks, or aqueous dye sublimation inks, are inks formulated with water, or compounds of water, to dissolve the various ink ingredients such as dyes and resins, to form an ink solution.

Question: What is the difference between “solvent” based dye sublimation inks (SBDSI) and “water” based dye sublimation inks (WBDSI)?

Response: The difference is the type of liquid used in the ink formulation, i.e. hydrocarbon based liquid versus water based liquid.

Question: Why are there two different types of liquids used in formulating dye sublimation inks?

Response: There are two types of print heads used in printers today. One that is compatible with water based liquids and another that is compatible with hydrocarbon based liquids.

Question: What type of dye sublimation ink should I use, SBDSI or WBDSI?

Response: Use only the ink system that is compatible with your printer (check with your printer manufacturer or dealer). With most printers, it is possible to make a printer conversion to be able to use other ink systems. In applications where production speed is more important, SBDSI is the ink of choice. Because SBDSI dries faster than WBDSI, one can print faster without risking printer carriage crash due to paper curling which is a big issue with WBDSI. Additionally, color profiling flexibility is generally better with SBDSI. This is because the media, or paper, does not get saturated with ink at print resolutions greater than 540 dpi. With WBDSI, color profiling above 540 dpi is very difficult due to ink flooding on the media.

Question: What is the cost difference between SBDSI versus WBDSI?

Response: SBDSI is generally less expensive by about 28% compared to WBDSI per liter of ink. The cost of media for WBDSI however is about 10-15% less expensive compared to SBDSI. Overall, because the cost of operating a SBDSI printer is considerably less expensive (i.e., no heater needed to help dry the image, less media wasted due to curling, no print head loss due to carriage crash caused by media curling), the unit cost per square foot of finished product is about 25-30% cheaper with SBDSI versus WBDSI.*

* Estimate based on running similar applications where both SBDSI and WBDSI can satisfy customer specifications.

Question: Can I use the same media or paper for SBDSI and WBDSI?

Response: At the present time, absolutely NOT. Use only the correct media or paper that matches your application, either water based digital printing or solvent based digital printing (check with your digital media supplier for more details).

Question: What is a color profile?

Response: A color profile provides a bridge between the image color as they appear in an accepted standard or output, and the colors that a “printing system” which includes the printer, the ink and the paper, can actually produce. A color profile therefore is a powerful color correction tool or utility that makes it possible to obtain the same color output from many different printing systems and configurations.

Question: Can I use the same color profile for SBDSI and WBDSI?

Response: It is best to always “tweak” or adjust your color profile every time there is a change in your “printing system” (note that your printing system consists of your printer, the ink and the media) in order to obtain the closest color match to your desired target color.

Question: What is color gamut?

Response: The colors that can be created by your printing system (printer, ink, media) using your preferred color profile represent your color gamut.

Question: Which ink system will give me a wider color gamut, SBDSI or WBDSI?

Response: Having a wide color gamut is not nearly as important as having the “correct” color gamut that can be created by your printing system and your color profile for your specific printing application. Of course, in the ideal world, it would be good to have your color gamut encompass every possible color in the spectrum. In reality however, the color gamut can sometimes become skewed in favor of a predominant hue, i.e. red, yellow, etc. Using “color profiling”, one can obtain the preferred color gamut with either SBDSI or WBDSI.

Question: Which inks system is more likely to give me longer print head life, SBDSI or WBDSI?

Response: Using SBDSI, it is likely that your print head will last longer because there is less chance of crashing the print head carriage caused by media curling which is a predominant problem with WBDSI.

Question: What printers can use Hilord’s SBDSI?

Response:You can use Hilord’s SBDSI on a Mimaki JV3 and a Roland HiFi or SolJet Series Printer.

Question: What if I am already using someone else’s ink in my printer?

Response: There may be an available ink system conversion kit for your printer. Check with your ink supplier for details.

Question: If I use Hilord’s SBDSI, what kind of warranty does Hilord provide for my print head?

Response: Hilord will replace any print head that becomes damaged caused by the SBDSI within the first liter of ink used on new printers only. Damage after using one liter of ink falls under the category of wear and tear. Hilord cannot warranty any print head that was previously used with competitor inks.