Dye Migration: What It Is and How To Avoid It

Have you ever looked at a T-shirt and thought something looked off about the design or lettering on it? It’s possible that some dye migration negatively affected the pattern or logo. Whether it’s a professional shirt on store shelves or your custom shirts, PrimePick is here to explain what dye migration is and how you can avoid it with your clothing.

What Is Dye Migration?

Dye migration, sometimes called dye sublimation or bleeding, is what happens when the dye from one material contacts with and transfers onto something in contact with that material. It’s a relatively common problem with polyester or poly-cotton blend T-shirts, particularly with noticeably bright colors, like red, or very dark colors, like black. For example, if you have a red T-shirt with white letters on it and suddenly notice those white letters are a faded light pink, the red dye from the shirt likely migrated onto the lettering.

What Causes Dye Migration?

Dye migration typically occurs when a garment reaches a high enough temperature that the dye sublimates and can seep into other materials. This temperature varies but is generally around 265 degrees Fahrenheit or 130 degrees Celsius. This most commonly occurs during the curing process and may occur when applying heat transfer vinyl or while ironing.

How To Prevent Dye Migration

Now that we know what dye migration is, how can we avoid it? A large part of preventing this sublimation is ensuring you’re working with high-quality materials. If you’re customizing T-shirts, ensure your provider uses garments or other materials that are resistant to these effects. PrimePick has a helpful catalog of products well suited for avoiding this problem. You want to find materials with low-temperature inks and dye blockers to help prevent them from bleeding over.

For more information on specialty heat transfer vinyl and how to create custom T-shirts without dye migration, PrimePick USA is here to help. We have a wide range of quality products and services ideal for your custom craft products. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, contact us anytime, and a member of our team will be happy to help you.