Dye-sublimation printing is different than inkjet, where colors are laid down as individual dots. When viewing images at a close distance. The spacing between these dots make digital photos and graphics make less realistic. Dye-sublimation printers contain a roll of transparent film with solid dyes embedded. They corresponde to the four printing colors (CMYK) including, cyan (c), magenta (m), yellow (y) & black (k). As the printer head heats up and pases over the film, the dyes vaporize and permeate into the fabric before returning to solid form.

Heat is the main difference between dye-sublimation and other methods because a gradiation occurs between the edges of each pixels.