Break the Rules of Sublimation — and Do More

Jimmy Lamb

You've probably heard some of the long-standing rules of sublimation production, but are they really hard fast physical laws, or just general guidelines to help you with the basics?

“The reality is that you can do more with sublimation than you might imagine, things like decorating non-polyester fabrics, printing on colored surfaces, and creating outdoor products,” shares Jimmy Lamb, manager of communications and education, Sawgrass Technologies (Booth 1805).

To that end, in the session “Breaking the Rules of Sublimation,” on Wednesday at 2:00pm in Room C147, Lamb will unpack the most common sublimation rules and determine which ones are necessary and which can are flexible.  “As you will see, stretching the boundaries might just be the trick for generating new products and solutions that leave your competition wallowing in the dust,” he says.

Lamb points to his own career as why breaking the rules can bring your projects to a whole other level. “My career started in embroidery, and over and over again I challenged boundaries that were thrown at me,” he says. “Many times I was able to break through into new territory.  It was exciting and profitable when I was suddenly able to do what others shied away from.  Oh yeah, there were times when I crashed and burned, too.

“When I crossed over into sublimation, I brought with me the same mentality of: Just because someone says you can’t do it, doesn’t mean it can’t be done.  So, I started experimenting.  Are you restricted to sublimating on white surfaces or can you do colored ones too?  What about darks?  Does it really only work on polyester and polymers or can you go beyond that?  What about its resistance to UV?  Can I coat my own products?”

Lamb continues: “I was willing to experiment and test, test, test. In the long run, I was able to break some rules, though to be honest a lot of it was on the heels of other rebels who were working hard to do the same thing.  Ultimately, I reinforced some of the rules.  Yep, they were pretty solid.  But other barriers came down and that put me a step ahead.  And that is what my session is all about.

“The world of sublimation is going through a lot of changes as of late and it’s an exciting time for all existing product decorators, whether they are already doing sublimation or looking to add it.  So, if you want to learn more, join me for a fun, informative, and exciting discussion.”