Method for forming dye sublimation images in and texturing of solid substrates

A method for texturing a plastic substrate, while forming a dye sublimation image in the plastic substrate, wherein the plastic substrate has a first side and a second side, comprising:

• placing a first side of a dye carrier sheet having an image formed thereon of a dye sublimation ink on a base;
• placing the first side of the plastic substrate on a second side of the dye carrier to form a stack;
• placing a first side of a textured cover on the second side of the plastic substrate, wherein the textured cover comprises at least one of polymeric materials, metallic materials, fabric, paper, wood, or wood-based materials;
• providing a clamping pressure on the textured cover and the stack, wherein the stack and textured cover are clamped together;
• and
• heating the stack to at least a sublimation temperature of the stack, which causes the dye sublimation ink to sublimate and penetrate through the first side of the plastic substrate, creating a dye sublimation image in the plastic substrate and wherein texture from the textured cover is transferred to a side of the plastic substrate.