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Of the three types of sublimation, single color laser printer sublimation is by far the easiest to learn. Adding to the very short learning curve needed is the fact that most sign shops already have skills with some type of graphics program and certainly know how to do layouts.

We will "produce" an imaginary order to demonstrate the process. This order is for 24- 2"x 10" gold aluminum door signs. Each sign has a 1" logo, with a .75" individual name in bold New Times Roman. All print is in black and there will be one small hole in the center end of each plate, for mounting with screws.

Since you probably already know how to scan and import logos and create text, the discussion will deal with just the sublimation end of the order.

At your computer, you decide, for maximum efficiency, to print the plates "4-up" on a single sheet, so you select "Landscape" mode, and center an 8.15"x 10.15" hairline box on the page.

You then center a logo and name every 2" within the 8.15 vertical space of the box (you started .075" down, from the top of the box). Depending upon the program you use, you create 5 more duplicate pages and change the names as you type the rest of the list in.

You're done. Just before entering the print command you "flip" or "mirror" the image. The command goes to an ordinary desktop laser printer, loaded with a sublimation cartridge and ordinary copier paper. In about a minute, the 6 pages (transfers) are printed.

Grabbing the 6 pages of transfers, you walk over and flip on your heat press, which has been set to 350°. You then go over to your tabletop metal cutter, grab two sheets of 12"x 24" metal, and cut 6 - 8"x 10" plates.

When the press is up to temperature you start by centering one 8²x 10² plate, facedown, inside the 8.15² x 10.15² box. You fold the edge of the paper over the plate (to lock it in), pick the whole thing up, put it in your heat press and pull the head down.

While that plate is transferring, you get the next one ready. 30 seconds later, the buzzer goes off, you lift the head of the press, put that plate to one side to cool and put the next one on the press.