Substrate UV light resistant printing process

An ultraviolet (UV) radiation resistance enhanced printing process uses a thermally migratable ultraviolet radiation absorber applied to a substrate to form a surface protection layer for sublimation images within the substrate. The process involves powder coating polymeric materials having an affinity to both sublimation colorants and hydrophobic thermally migratable ultraviolet radiation absorbers. A hydrophobic thermally migratable ultraviolet radiation absorber may be applied to a transfer media prior to image transfer. The application of the radiation absorber to the transfer media may be delivered digitally, either by inks comprising both sublimation colorants and the radiation absorber, or by inks comprising the radiation absorber.