July 21, 2025

Behind the Scene of 360° Digital Sublimation

What happens between receiving artwork and shipping a finished decorated bottle? At ATIU, the journey from file to glass involves precision engineering, meticulous quality control and a proprietary process developed over years of innovation.

Step 1: Pre-Press

The process begins with artwork preparation. ATIU's pre-press team maps the design onto the bottle's geometry, adjusting for curvature, taper and seam position. Colour profiles are calibrated for the specific glass substrate — clear, tinted or frosted. A digital proof is generated for client approval.

Step 2: Film Printing

Once approved, the design is digitally printed onto a carrier film using sublimation inks. The film carries the complete artwork — all colours, gradients and details — in a single print. No plates, no screens, no colour separations.

Step 3: Transfer

The printed film is wrapped around the glass bottle. The bottle enters a sublimation chamber where heat and vacuum pressure cause the ink to sublimate — transitioning from solid to gas and bonding permanently with the glass surface. The result is a seamless 360-degree decoration with photographic resolution.

Step 4: Quality Control

Every bottle passes through quality inspection. ATIU checks colour accuracy, registration, adhesion and surface defects. ISO 9001 processes govern acceptance criteria. Bottles that do not meet specification are rejected before packing.

Step 5: Packing and Shipping

Approved bottles are carefully packed to protect the decoration during transit. ATIU ships directly to brand filling lines or distribution centres, coordinating logistics from our two Verona plants.

This end-to-end process applies equally to perfume bottles and flacons, spirits bottles, candle jars and caps in aluminium, zamac or ceramic.