Dye Sublimation print detail. (1 Viewer)

[Erich Wise]

I am curious if anyone can give me a good answer here, if not I will post an answer once I get one from some manufacturers or sellers.

How fine a detail can you go in the design before the image gets "fuzzy?"
Two ways to put it:
1. As a conversion (I understand it isn't printed like an inkjet) from DPI what would the highest resolution equivalent be? (300DPI, 600DPI better?)
2. what is the thinnest line of a contrasting color with equal spacing can be played down before the detail is lost as gassed fuzziness? (say, blue felt base, yellow lines at 0.005 thick with equal 0.005 spacing between lines repeated, too thin? How thick is needed? Can you go even thinner?)

Appreciate the time.

 

[Thomacetti]

@T_Chan ?

 

[T_Chan]

You can go pretty small.

Here's a sample that's a miniature. You can still read the text despite it being very small.

And another, the lines in the background are very tiny but still visible. However, if the colors are similar then it'll be harder to see.

 

[JFG]

Do some colors bleed more than others?

 

[T_Chan]

Nope

 

[Eloe2000]

@JeepologyOffroad

 

[Poker Zombie]

Settlers of Chanland.

Does anybody have wood for sheep tables?

 

[Erich Wise]

T_Chan, thanks for your generosity with your time, I know you are busy. Would you say that this is as small a line as you would go? I have an incredibly detailed design and need to know what my parameters need to be. Also, I'm curious how many manufacturers there are for these "felts" as everyone claims these are what are used in the casinos. I'm interested in a cost no object felt (or at least knowing what is possible quality wise) and am curious if the same manufacturer makes the felts for all the retailers as well as the casinos or if there are a couple different ones but the materials and everything are basically the same or if theres a difference. If I can I would obviously go through vendor here like yourself @T_Chan. However, I still need to know the ICC profile and all the parameters like is it better to supply Pantone numbers for matching or are illustrator process colors going to color match.

Compared to the line work I am working with those lines are very thick, lol. However, they still look mostly crisp. I am curious if one could fit 2 lines and an equal amount of space between them in that same space and it would work.

My best guess based on your pics is the thickness of the lines in your example of "cardhouse" are about 1/64" or 0.01625 inch thick. The bottom pic has the line thickness in the graphic closer to 3/125" or 0.024 Inches.

 

[Poker Zombie]

T_Chan, thanks for your generosity with your time, I know you are busy. Would you say that this is as small a line as you would go? I have an incredibly detailed design and need to know what my parameters need to be. Also, I'm curious how many manufacturers there are for these "felts" as everyone claims these are what are used in the casinos. I'm interested in a cost no object felt (or at least knowing what is possible quality wise) and am curious if the same manufacturer makes the felts for all the retailers as well as the casinos or if there are a couple different ones but the materials and everything are basically the same or if theres a difference. If I can I would obviously go through vendor here like yourself @T_Chan. However, I still need to know the ICC profile and all the parameters like is it better to supply Pantone numbers for matching or are illustrator process colors going to color match.

Compared to the line work I am working with those lines are very thick, lol. However, they still look mostly crisp. I am curious if one could fit 2 lines and an equal amount of space between them in that same space and it would work.

My best guess based on your pics is the thickness of the lines in your example of "cardhouse" are about 1/64" or 0.01625 inch thick. The bottom pic has the line thickness in the graphic closer to 3/125" or 0.024 Inches.

As to "how many manufacturers" IMO there's only 1 - Chanman. I've played on at least a half dozen Chanman felts, and they are actually better than any casino felt (though the grody-ness of many casino players attributes to the poorer quality of casino felts). Tony has also sought out better felts over the years.

He also supports this very forum, but that's just icing on the cake.

 

[T_Chan]

Yeah those are as small as I would recommend before they disappear. The weave of the fabric is what can make the lines go fuzzy, since if the printed line is as small or smaller than the weave then it would get distorted.

We can always print a sample for you.

There's no minimum DPI or resolution required for a print, but the higher the better. I usually recommend at least 300 DPI. We normally print in CMYK but lately have been printing more in RGB. Both color schemes work. We also have a sample that we mail out that you can use to compare. Prints never look 100% like what's seen on the computer screen.

 

[Erich Wise]

Yeah those are as small as I would recommend before they disappear. The weave of the fabric is what can make the lines go fuzzy, since if the printed line is as small or smaller than the weave then it would get distorted.

We can always print a sample for you.

There's no minimum DPI or resolution required for a print, but the higher the better. I usually recommend at least 300 DPI. We normally print in CMYK but lately have been printing more in RGB. Both color schemes work. We also have a sample that we mail out that you can use to compare. Prints never look 100% like what's seen on the computer screen.

View attachment 912476View attachment 912477

Thank you again for your time.

It absolutely makes sense that it would be the weave of the fabric that would be the limiting factor of detail. As for color rendering on my monitor, I use a calibrated Adobe RGB monitor and have Adobe Illustrator manage the color. So while it's never perfect it's pretty darn predictable.

Once I have my design locked down a bit more I would love to send you a "swatch kit" for proofing, which could include varying thickness of line and color swatches and I would be more than happy to pay for the time, materials, and shipping etc. So you do not have an ICC profile you use for me to embed with the files? I am guessing at this point you likely run your own printer as it would make the most sense.

I am in no way in a hurry either. I honestly wasn't even expecting the famous Chanman to respond, lol.

 

[allforcharity]

I think the density of the fibres on the felt are probably less fine than the dye sublimation resolution.

 

[T_Chan]

Sorry no, don't have an ICC profile. I've always found it best to just print a sample, or samples.

 

[Erich Wise]

Mmmm, we do love us some samples!