Our Process

At Unique Imaging Concepts, we begin every project the same way: We start our process by preserving the integrity of your original image and maintaining the most advanced color matching and profiling technology in the industry. Whether you are a large corporation or an independent photographer, the attention to detail and quality you will receive from our color experts is second to none. With your images optimized and ready to print, we use dye sublimation to bring them to life on ChromaLuxe substrates.

Read on to learn more about the Dye Sublimation process and the benefits of printing on ChromaLuxe:

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What is Sublimation?

Dye sublimation is a digital printing technology that enables the reproduction of colorful images on common everyday items, including personalized novelty items, photography panels, pop/pos displays, textiles, ceramic tiles, glass panels, dry erase boards and many other products.

Sublimation printing is quick and inexpensive in both setup and production, making it an ideal choice for creating personalized, one-of-a-kind items or for mass producing a variety of custom products.

Dye sublimation printing yields beautiful and permanent colors that are embedded in our specially formulated coating, rather than printed on the surface. ChromaLuxe substrates have an extremely durable scratch resistant surface that won’t warp or yellow with age.


The Basics

The modern dye sublimation process is quite simple. Create an image (using photography or custom graphics) on the computer, print it onto special transfer paper using sublimation inks, and then apply the paper with the image to the item to be decorated. Using a heat press, the transfer paper is pressed onto the surface at a high temperature, which causes the sublimation inks to “transfer” from the paper directly into the poly-based coating. After the process is complete, the heat is removed and the transfer paper is peeled off, leaving behind a permanent, vibrant image.
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The Science

Sublimation printing is unique because the inks go from a solid to a gaseous state without turning into a liquid. A variety of substrates can be used, from hard surface aluminum photo panels to polyester t-shirts and textiles, ceramic tiles, steel, hardboard, and M.D.F. Dye sublimation ink consists of a solid, heat-intensive dye, which provides the color, dissolved in liquid. Under heat and pressure, the solid dye particles change into gas, bond with any polymers present, and change back into a solid. The high temperature used in sublimation opens the pores of the polymer and allows the gas to enter. When the substrate is removed from the heat source and is allowed to cool, the pores close and the gas reverts to a solid, becoming a part of the polymer. As such, the dye particles can no longer be removed and will not wash out even with chemical solutions.

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ChromaLuxe

ChromaLuxe photo panels are an exciting new high definition display option that transforms your photos or digital artwork into vibrant works of art. ChromaLuxe photo panels have an extremely durable scratch resistant surface that is waterproof and can be cleaned easily with a damp cloth.

ChromaLuxe offers a white poly-based coating and a clear poly-based coating. When images are transferred into the white poly-based coating, it gives you a vibrant, true-to-color image reproduction with exceptional quality of detail. When images are transferred into the clear poly-based coating, the aluminum shows through the lighter areas of the transfer and leaves a metallic look. Both substrates are available in gloss, matte, or semi-gloss.

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The ChromaLuxe Surface

ChromaLuxe panels are fabricated into a range of display options that include aluminum wall panels, ready-to-hang wood panels, table top easel panels, hinged multiple panels, pop/pos displays and many customized products unique to your ideas. The UV resistant coating is bonded to substrates that include aluminum, tempered hardboard, M.D.F. and more. ChromaLuxe products have a coating applied via a state of the art process which will occasionally contain slight imperfections such as small craters or bumps. We inspect each item very carefully, and if there are imperfections they will be within the tolerance provided on our reference sheet.

Archival Qualities

ChromaLuxe has engineered a UV resistant coating with archival qualities when displayed indoors and out of direct sunlight. The coating has been created to provide archival qualities so your images will last for generations without warping or yellowing with age.

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Unlike Anything Else

The vibrancy and dimensionality of ChromaLuxe products rival any photographic product and exceeds the quality of traditional paper prints when placed behind inherently imperfect glass.

ChromaLuxe provides exceptional quality of detail and resolution that allows you to turn your photography into the focal point of wall decor, point of purchase displays, giclee’ prints and more. Mounting options are available to attach to the back of the aluminum and hardboard photo panels to allow them to float off the wall and offers a natural drop shadow.

Learn more about our Services or Contact Us to begin your project today!