| Type of Substrate | Xtreme Standard | Xtreme HR | Xtreme Tack | Recommended print resolution |
| Tricot mesh | X | X | 720 dpi | |
| Stretch polyester | X | X | 720 dpi | |
| Poly lycra or spandex blends | X | X | 720 dpi | |
| 50/50 poly-cotton blend | X | X | X | 360 to 720 dpi |
| Poly-cotton burnout | X | X | X | 360 to 720 dpi |
| Rigid surface | X | 720 to 1440 dpi | ||
| Soft signage | X | 720 dpi | ||
| Gaming felt | X | 720 dpi |
If color is your primary concern, then this guide may be more helpful:
| Color requirements | Xtreme Standard | Xtreme HR |
Xtreme Tack | Recommended print resolution |
| Vivid colors | X | X | 720 to 1440 dpi | |
| Vintage look | X | 360 dpi |
Of importance to some users is the amount of dyes that are released from the paper. Xtreme Standard is a plain, heavy-weight bond type paper with a smooth surface for dye sub printing. For this reason, some ink is actually absorbed into the paper, which results in between 60-80% release of dyes into the final product. Xtreme Standard is our fastest drying paper.
The Xtreme HR and Xtreme Tack papers are coated with a special water receptive layer on the surface. This layer allows them to hold the ink at the surface, rather than being absorbed into the fibers of the paper. The tradeoff is slightly longer drying time, but most users find that the exceptionally vivid colors that can be produced with a high release paper more than outweigh the drawbacks.
| Ink release | Xtreme Standard | Xtreme
HR |
Xtreme Tack |
| < 80% | X | ||
| > 80% | X | X |
While the Xtreme line of dye sublimation papers can be used in any dye sublimation heat press, some papers work better for certain workflows. In general, roll to roll production can be accomplished with the less expensive Standard and HR paper.
Whether you are using a calendar press or a large flatbed heat press, sheet work tends to be problematic with normal dye sublimation papers. Double strikes, fabric shrinkage and pressure are all common causes of misprints in production. The Xtreme Tack paper has a heat-activated adhesive that gently adheres it to the textile, fixing it in place until it is manually removed. This helps to prevent double strikes and issues caused by shrinking fabric.
| Workflow | Xtreme Standard | Xtreme HR | Xtreme Tack |
| Roll to roll | X | X | |
| Sheet fed | See note above |
See note above |
X |
Note that some models of heat press have issues with insufficient pressure. This may show up as light-colored "tiger stripes" in your printed image. Typically, this is because the fabric or paper wrinkles inside the machine, forming pockets of air or gas that interfere with the dye sublimation process. Because the Xtreme Standard paper does not have a coated surface, gases can escape through the paper. This makes it useful in some situations where tiger striping is occurring on a flatbed heat press.
Tiger striping seen on calendared heat presses, particularly when starting a roll to roll job, are indicative of incorrectly loaded materials. Any slant in your fabric or paper will produce diagonal lines and ruin the print. Make sure that you are able to set the proper tension on your materials when loading them into the machine.
| To resolve the below issues... | Xtreme Standard | Xtreme HR | Xtreme Tack |
| Tiger striping (insufficient pressure) | X | ||
| Double strikes (paper shifts) | X | ||
| Ghosting / overprint (fabric shrinks) | X | X |