The scientific explanation for sublimation is where a solid transitions directly into a gas without passing through the liquid phase.

In practice, in art and manufacturing, this means sublimation inks, used either in a specialist printer with sublimation paper or directly painted onto ordinary paper can then be printed onto a substrate with heat and pressure. The resulting print when applied to a fabric, (see below), will be embedded within the fibres and will not crack, peel or fade as can happen with say screenprinting.

Sublimation works best on 100% or high content polyester fabrics, or can be applied to natural fabrics with a polymer coating, Hard substrates can also be used such as ceramics or wood when given a polymer/polyester coating. Whilst the results with natural textiles are not considered ‘successful’, an interesting faded look can be achieved.

To begin making the series ‘Folio of Foliage’, I first collected some favourite leaves from my garden and local parks, which I then dried flat between layers of tissue paper and pages of a large heavy book. Whilst waiting for the leaves to dry out, I prepared some ordinary cartridge paper, painting it with the sublimation inks* - some straight from the bottle, some mixed colours, some diluted and some neat. When both papers and leaves were completely dry I then applied one of the lighter or diluted colours to a substrate of polyester canvas using a heat-press**. I then proceeded to use the leaves as a stencil which when covered with a prepared paper and heat-pressed left a sharp, precise image and details of the leaf. The colour of the paper was transferred to the leaf which I then turned over to apply elsewhere or onto another piece - this became a very playful and enjoyable process.

*The sublimation inks - also referred to as Heat Transfer dyes, paints or Inks - I source mine from Colorist who offer a good range of colours and have a strong pigment load.

**A heat-press is a piece of equipment that applies precise heat and pressure for a specific amount of time. The one I used had a flat bed and platten which clamped down onto the substrate.