How are sublimation transfers different from transfer papers?
Heat transfers created with color laser, ink jet, or wax thermal printers use a polymer coated transfer paper to fuse ordinary toner or ink particles onto the surface of a substrate. The result is a “decal-like” transfer that can peel, crack, fade, and discolor over time. Sublimation transfers instead rely on special transfer inks or toners to transfer below the surface of a substrate. The result is a “tattoo-like” transfer that will not peel, crack, or fade and lasts for many years.