Dye sublimation fabric separated elements

1. A method of applying a dye sublimated laminate to an article, comprising the steps of:

providing a laminate having an adhesive layer having a first surface and a second surface, a material layer having a top and bottom face, the bottom face of the material layer overlies the second surface of the adhesive layer, a dye sublimation ink layer that overlies the top face of the material layer, and a carrier layer provided over the dye sublimation ink layer;

bonding the laminate to an article using heat and pressure such that the dye sublimation ink layer sublimates into the material layer; and

removing the carrier layer from the digitally printed dye sublimation layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laminate further comprises a release layer adhered to the first surface of the adhesive layer.

3. The method of claim 1 , including a further step of removing the release layer prior to the step of bonding the laminate to an article.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laminate further comprises a carrier layer that is provided over the dye sublimation ink layer.

5. The method of claim 1 , where each of the adhesive, material and dye sublimination layers are generally substantially juxtaposed on one another.

6. The method of claim 1 , where the adhesive, material and dye sublimination layers may be slightly splayed out of alignment or extend beyond an edge or side of one another.

7. The method of claim 1 , where the sublimation ink of the dye sublimation ink layer may be digitally printed as an image and/or indicia, or may be a solid color provided over the substrate.

8. The method of claim 1 , where the article may be a soft consumer good.

9. The method of claim 1 , where the release layer is removed so that the laminate may be used as a tagless label for an article.

10. A multi-layered laminate, comprising:

a dye sublimation ink laminate, including:

a hot melt adhesive layer having a first surface and a second surface;

a release layer that is releasably secured to the first surface of the hot melt adhesive layer;

a polyester layer having a top and bottom face with the bottom face adhered to the second surface of the hot melt adhesive layer;

a digitally printed, dye sublimation ink layer for sublimating into the polyester layer having one

surface overlying the top face of the polyester layer;

a pressure sensitive adhesive film carrier overlying the dye sublimation ink layer which has been digitally printed forming a multi-layered assembly lamination; and

wherein the release layer separates from the hot melt adhesive of the multi-layered lamination, and the pressure sensitive adhesive film carrier separates from the digitally printed, dye sublimation layer of the multi-layered lamination to provide digitally printed dye sublimation laminate.

11. The laminate of claim 10 , wherein the digitally printed, dye sublimation ink layer sublimates into a substrate layer and interacts with molecules of the substrate layer.

12. The laminate of claim 11 , wherein the substrate layer is a coated paper layer, polyester, a polyester blend, or poly-spandex.

13. The laminate of claim 10 , wherein the sublimation ink may form an image, character and/or indicia.

14. The laminate of claim 10 , wherein the dye sublimation ink layer may have a portion of the layer which does not permit sublimation dye to interact with the laminate.

15. The laminate of claim 10 , wherein the laminate can be cut into different shapes and sizes.

16. The laminate of claim 15 , wherein the cutting can be accomplished by a laser, mechanical die cut, or plotter cutter.

17. The laminate of claim 10 wherein a thickness of a combination of the dye sublimation ink layer and carrier layer may be between approximately 2.5 and 3.5 times of a thickness of a combination the release layer and the adhesive layer.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adhesive has a modulus suitable to withstand high temperature wash tests.