Sublimation Printing: Origins at JPL!

Psychology Today defines sublimation as "a defense mechanism that involves channeling unwanted or unacceptable urges into an admissible or productive outlet."

However, dye-sublimation is the ability to take your custom design, print it onto special transfer paper using "sublimation" inks & printer.  Then with a heat-transfer-press & pressure, you can imprint, transfer, it onto various products (mugs, t-shirts etc).  The heat turns the inks into gas, and the material absorbs them

Further details of the history are succinctly detailed here. 

Including the path to the development dates all the way back to Marie Curie!  Brief History of Dye Sublimation Printing by Dr Justin Hayward, Cambridge Investment Research | LinkedIn

And the proper credit to NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Engineer Wes Hoekstra who pioneered the development of sublimation printers, with a patent filed in 1972!!!
 The Evolution of Dye Sublimation Printing | Sublimation Blog | Longforte – Longforte Trading Ltd  and 

"It wasn‘t until Hoekstra made further innovations using toner sublimation that transfer sheets started being produced and sold to the general public by the millions and eventually billions."  Sublimation Printer: Everything You Need To Know - History Tools

 Leo's Silk Screen Service makes the declaration they are the oldest screen-printing company in the Los Angeles area; established by Leo Fesler in 1963, the company has been owned by Jesse Bermejo since 1976.

Smaller sublimation printers are now available to the consumer, with paper and supplies sold at craft and office supply stores.   DTF Superstore a supplier of direct-to-film printing equipment, has a contest to win a  Roland VersaSTUDIO BY-20 Desktop Direct-to-Film Printer, with no requirement excluding consumers (aka hobbyists) from entering!!  The prize is a noteworthy $8,495   suggested retail!! Sweepstakes Ends October 22 at 10:00 AM PST US entry.  One entry per person.  Sweepstakes - DTFsuperstore.com

Sweepstakes ends October 22 at 9:00 AM PST

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