Sublimation 101: An Introduction to Sublimation

Have you been looking for a new creative outlet or a way to turn your crafting hobby into a profitable business venture? If so, then you've come to the right place! Today we will be diving into the world of sublimation – an exciting printing technique that has taken the crafting and customization industry by storm. Whether you're familiar with sublimation or completely new to it, this blog post will serve as your ultimate guide on all things sublimation. So, grab your favorite cup of coffee, and let's explore this colorful and versatile form of art together!

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How Is Sublimation Different from Other Printing Techniques?

Sublimation is a unique printing technique that involves transferring ink onto a polyester coated fabric or surface using heat and pressure. Unlike other printing methods, such as screen printing or heat transfer vinyl, sublimation allows for a more precise and vibrant outcome. The process involves printing the artwork or design onto special sublimation paper using a sublimation printer. From there, the paper is placed onto the surface of the blank material and heat pressed for a certain amount of time depending on the substrate. This causes the ink to turn into a gas, which then permeates the fibers of the material and permanently dyes the surface. (If you want to know more about the science behind it, refer to this blog.)

The result is a gorgeous, high-quality image that won’t fade or peel. Whether it’s for customized shirts, mugs, or ornaments, sublimation’s versatility and permanence make it a popular choice for anyone looking to create a lasting impression.

What Equipment Do I Need to Get Started?

Setting up a home setup may seem daunting, but rest assured it can be done affordably and easily. The equipment needed includes a printer, heat press, sublimation ink, and paper. To get the best results, it's important to choose equipment that meets your needs.

1. Sublimation Printer
1. The market offers a wide range of sublimation printers to cater to different production needs. If you're just starting, we suggest starting with a desktop sublimation printer like the Sawgrass SG500. As your business grows and you require faster output to meet increasing demand, consider upgrading to a more advanced sublimation printer such as the Epson SureColor F or the Epson . These models represent the pinnacle of sublimation printing technology and are worth the investment.

1. Heat Press

1. Next up is a heat press, this handy gadget uses the perfect blend of heat and pressure, applied to a substrate like a t-shirt or a mug, for a certain amount of time. This process enables the ink to fuse seamlessly into your fabric or surface, making it permanent.
2. Just like with sublimation printers, the market is flooded with a vast array of heat presses, and it's easy to feel swamped by all the choices. Both the clamshell and swing-away heat presses are great tools. The clamshell press is ideal for thin materials like sublimation blanks because it applies even heat across the surface, ensuring a perfect print. Conversely, the swing-away press is better suited for thicker materials, as it can apply greater pressure and heat, ensuring an excellent transfer even in dense materials. We recommend purchasing a swing-away machine as it will remain suitable for your business as it grows.
3. Another primary aspect to consider is the size of the press. A 16" x 20" heat press, such as the Geo Knight DK20, is considered the industry standard and it's versatile enough to handle almost any task. Plus, it's a good investment for the future as it can accommodate larger designs when your business expands. However, if you're working on a tighter budget and can't afford a 16" x 20" model right away, you can start with a smaller one, say a 9" x 12" press, and gradually work your way up!

Additional Sublimation Supplies

Once you’ve picked up your sublimation printer and heat press, you’re almost ready to go! The last few things you need are your supplies. Let’s go through each of them.

1. Sublimation Paper
1. A good place to start is Image Right Sawgrass Sublimation Printing Transfer Paper. It is an excellent choice for sublimation needs due to its fast-drying time, and high-resolution printing quality. It is compatible with Sawgrass printers and versatile for various hard surfaces, offering vibrant, long-lasting prints.

1. Sublimation Ink
1. Sublimation ink is a special ink used in sublimation printers for creating vibrant, durable prints. The Sawgrass SubliJet-UHD SG500/SG Sublimation Ink is ideal for Sawgrass printers, delivering high-definition, richly colored prints and efficient ink usage. Alternatively, the Epson UltraChrome DS Sublimation Ink Bottle is designed for Epson F170 / F570 Printers, offering superior color saturation, contrast, and sharp resolution. Both options provide exceptional print quality, compatibility, and ease of use, making them excellent choices for your sublimation printing tasks. If you are using a large format printer, like the Epson F, we recommend using Epson Ink Packs which allows you to achieve superior tone gradations, fine detail reproduction, and advanced photo quality.

1. Blank
   1. A sublimation blank is a product that's been pre-treated with a special polyester coating, allowing sublimation ink to permeate its surface and create a durable, vibrant design. Popular options for beginners typically include mugs, tumblers, and T-shirts due to their simplicity and demand. As crafters become more experienced, they often expand to a wider variety of blanks including mouse pads, key chains, photo panels, and even hats. These diverse options enable crafters to continually explore and expand their creativity and product offerings.

1. Silicone Cover Sheet
1. A Silicone Cover Sheet is a heat-resistant material often used as a protective barrier in sublimation processes. It serves to protect both the heat press and the sublimation blank from any stray ink or excess adhesive that might escape during the heat transfer process. By preventing these materials from sticking to the press, it helps maintain the cleanliness of your equipment and the quality of your finished products, making it an essential tool for any sublimation project.
2. Heat Tape
1. Heat tape is a special kind of tape that's heat-resistant, often used in the sublimation process to hold designs in place on substrates during heat pressing. It ensures that the design doesn't move or warp, which could result in a blurred or imperfect final product. The tape can withstand the high temperatures involved in sublimation without melting or leaving residue, making it an essential tool for achieving precise and professional-looking results.
3. Heat Gloves
1. Heat gloves are specially designed to protect your hands from the high temperatures involved in the sublimation process. They are made from heat-resistant materials that can withstand the extreme heat of a press machine, preventing burns and injuries. Using heat gloves is essential when handling hot sublimation blanks or operating a heat press, ensuring your safety while you create beautiful, customized items.
4. Designs
1. Designing for sublimation can be both fun and challenging. When it comes to file formats, it's best to stick with high resolution PNG files with transparent backgrounds, as they provide the best results for sublimation transfers. In terms of image resolution requirements, the minimum is 300 DPI (dots per inch) for optimal print quality.

When creating designs, it's important to keep in mind the limitations of the sublimation process, such as the size and shape of the product being used. Additionally, it's helpful to know that there are a variety of free and paid design templates available online to help kickstart your creativity. By following these design considerations and utilizing resources such as templates, you can create stunning sublimation designs. Check out our Digital Marketplace.

Remember, with sublimation printing, vibrant and durable results are possible on a wide range of garments. Don't let the initial setup scare you off from experimenting with this fun and unique printing technique!

What Can I Sublimate?

Sublimation offers a world of possibilities for personalization and business growth. Everyday items like puzzles, keychains, blankets, and more can be transformed into unique, personalized pieces, expanding your product offerings. The quality of the sublimation blanks you choose is crucial to achieving high-quality results; wholesale options offer value for businesses planning on creating multiple items.

Beyond personal use, sublimation printing opens opportunities for creating customized gifts, home décor, and apparel, offering significant potential for business expansion. Imagine surprising customers with bespoke gifts or offering unique, personalized home décor items like wall art or photo canvases. The fashion industry also holds vast potential, with the ability to create custom t-shirts, hats, bags, and more that reflect individual style and personality.

With a sublimation printer, creativity, and high-quality blanks, the opportunities for personal projects and business growth are truly limitless. Plus, the longevity of sublimated images ensures your creations will stand the test of time, providing lasting value to your customers and boosting repeat business.

How to Use Sublimation to Create Your First Custom T-Shirt or Mug

If you're new to sublimation, the process can seem daunting at first. Luckily, with just a few simple steps, you can create high-quality prints on a variety of items.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Before you begin, grab the essential items we talked about earlier:

• A sublimation printer
• A heat press
• Sublimation ink
• Sublimation paper
• A polyester t-shirt or a ceramic mug with a special poly-coating for sublimation
• Heat-resistant tape
• Heat gloves
• Teflon Sheet or Butcher Paper
• Design

Step 2: Create/Buy Your Design

You can purchase a sublimation design or use graphic design software to create your own design. Keep in mind that the design will be mirrored when transferred, so make sure to flip your image horizontally before printing.

Step 3: Run a Nozzle Check

Follow the procedure for your type of sublimation printer to check whether the print head nozzles are clogged up or not by printing a nozzle check test pattern.

After printing, examine the test pattern closely. This pattern helps identify any clogs in the print head and indicates which head is affected. Each color segment on the pattern corresponds to a print head number:

• Cyan and Black are managed by Head 1
• Yellow and Magenta are handled by Head 2
  
  

Refer to the illustration below to determine if a print head is clogged. If you notice clogging, initiate the Head Cleaning process. Should the issue continue, proceed with Head Flushing to resolve it.

 

Step 4: Print Your Design

Load your sublimation paper into your printer, making sure to feed the paper in the correct direction. Make sure to size and flip your design horizontally before printing. Print your design.

Step 5: Prepare for Transfer

Once your design is printed, you're ready to heat press your design to your garment!

To do this, first, load your T-shirt onto your heat press’s bottom platen. Pre-press your shirt for 5 seconds, removing any possible moisture. Then, align and place your transfer on top of the shirt, secure it with heat-resistant tape, and cover with a sheet of Teflon. Your transfer should now be facing the correct direction (no longer mirrored).

For A Mug, position the design on your mug, making sure it's properly aligned. Secure it with heat-resistant tape.

Step 6: Press Your Design

Turn on your heat press and set it to the recommended temperature for your material (usually around 400°F for mugs and 385°F for t-shirts). Place your t-shirt or mug in the press, making sure the design is facing down for t-shirts and up for mugs.

Close the press and set the timer (generally, about 250 seconds for mugs and 30 seconds for t-shirts). Once the time is up, pop open your heat press and carefully remove the item from the press using your heat gloves.

Step 7: Reveal Your Design

Immediately peel off the paper to reveal your custom design.

And there you have it! You've just created your first custom t-shirt or mug using sublimation. Practice with different designs and items to perfect your technique and create unique, personalized items.

Remember, sublimation requires specific materials and equipment, and it's important to follow safety guidelines when handling hot items. Happy crafting!

Heat Press Settings & Templates for Sublimation

For your convenience, we've compiled this handy-dandy chart, where you'll always have the right temperature and time for pressing sublimation blanks. In addition, Coastal provides free sublimation templates for all our sublimation blanks. You can find them here. With these resources, you won't have to guess the right settings anymore, ensuring perfect results every time. So, let's get pressing and make some awesome art!

To make your crafting process smoother, consider printing this table or creating a personalized reference guide to keep close to your heat press. With this at your fingertips, you'll always have the necessary sublimation temperature and duration details for pressing various blank types!

Alright, future sublimation superstars! Now that you're equipped with the necessary knowledge, it's time to get started!

Here's one last checklist to double-check to ensure that you're starting off on the right foot!

Click To Download

That wraps up our comprehensive guide on sublimation printing 101! We hope this article has been insightful and beneficial as you embark on your sublimation journey. As you continue to explore and grow in this field, we recommend delving into our other resources: "Expand your HTV Business with Sublimation", “7 Tips for Sublimation Success”, and “7 Common Sublimation Issues & How to Fix Them”.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Sublimation Must-Have Supplies For Beginners

You are ready to start your Sublimation Journey, but you don’t know what you truly need. You may want a lot of things. However, there are just a few essentials that you must have to do Sublimation Printing. Today we will make shopping for Sublimation Supplies as easy as 1-2-3. 

These are all of the materials and supplies that I recommend so you will be able to do Sublimation printing. If there is a better option, I will also list that so you don’t have to spend HOURS reading, researching, and making costly mistakes. This is a great way to save you time as well as money when it comes to all sublimation crafts. The critical thing to remember is quality over quantity wins every single time, and every business has to start somewhere.

What Is The Best Sublimation Printer?

I went with the Epson WF- and converted it to a Sublimation Printer. However, you can buy Sublimation Printers, and one of the most common brands is Sawgrass. However, they are an investment. It is worth mentioning that the Epson WF- is no longer in production. So if I wanted to go with an Epson Printer, I would buy the SureColor F170 Dye-Sublimation Printer that is explicitly made for Sublimation .

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The Best Sublimation Printer in

For Beginning Sublimators, I suggest the following:

The Epson Ecotank : Works for oversized prints as it can print 11×17. The Epson Ecotank ET-– Epson EcoTank is the #1 Best-Selling Supertank Printer.

The Epson Artisan – is GREAT for T-shirt printing because it prints up to 13 inches! However, the price is a little higher so I would say this would be a midrange printer.

This is my first choice for the best sublimation printer in Some of the best sublimation printer choices include The SAWGRASS Virtuoso SG500-was designed for Sublimation Printing.

The Sawgrass SG– Is perfect for producing small products at high volumes, and it allows you to print on 11 x17 inch paper.

Remember, Sawgrass Printers contains everything you need to start your Sublimation Business: The printer, Sublimation Ink, Print and Color Management Software, and a warranty.

Intermediate or Professional Level- The Sawgrass Virtuoso VJ 628 Large Format Enhanced Sublimation Printer Kit

What equipment do I need to go into the Sublimation Business?

Sublimation Printer or one that can be converted

Computer/Tablet with Software Installed

Heat Press 16 x 20 is best

Sublimation ink

Sublimation Paper

Substrates or Blanks

Blowout Paper & Dispenser

Heat Tape & Dispenser

Practice Material

Lint Roller

Syringes with needle

Heat Resistant Gloves

Refillable Cartridges or CISS system

Repositionable Spray adhesive

For more 24 Inch Heat Sublimation Paperinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Mug/Tumbler press and or Hat Press *If you are going to be doing tumblers, mugs, and hats.

Sublimation Shopping List

This Sublimation Shopping List will help you get everything you need to do Sublimation. Grab all of the items in our Amazon Storefront to get you set up for success.

Everyone needs to pick up a copy of the Sublimation Business Plan PDF. It makes planning your Sublimation Business easy and covers everything in case you need to borrow money for your business.

Below we will go into more detail about the above list. But I know skimmers like their lists; I’m one of those people also. 

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Sublimation Shopping List Explained

A Sublimation Printer or one that can be converted using Sublimation Ink. Some of the best sublimation printer choices include The SAWGRASS Virtuoso SG400-was designed for Sublimation Printing. The Sawgrass SG800– Is perfect for producing small products at high volumes. The Epson Ecotank : Works for oversized prints as it can print 11×17. The Epson Ecotank ET-– Epson EcoTank is the #1 Best Selling Supertank Printer. The Epson Artisan – is GREAT for T-shirt printing because it prints up to 13 inches! That’s on my wishlist!

Computer/Tablet with Software Installed-Not sure what design software to use? Check out the Best Sublimation Software. But some common software includes Cricut Design Space, Silhouette Studio, Canva, Infinity Designer, and Adobe Photoshop.

What kind of computer do I need for Sublimation? 

A computer can be a MAC or a PC. The computer for Sublimation can also be a desktop or a laptop. 

Prefer a tablet? 

Tablets also work for sublimation. An iPad will work as well. Make sure you have enough space left on your tablet for your design software. 

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Heat Press- A good heat press for sublimation ranges from 0 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. I prefer Heat Press Nation for my heat press purchases, and I suggest you buy the largest press your budget will allow. Mine is a 16 x 20, and it’s the perfect size for all my sublimation projects. 

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Sublimation ink-The Best Sublimation Ink is SubZone Ink. I recommend Pirate Jacks (now with Auto Fill Technology), Cosmos, or SubZone Ink. I’ve used all three, and they are amazing; I’m currently using SubZone and love the results. Plus, all three of those sublimation inks work with Epson Printers. I’ve heard great things about Hiipoo Sublimation Ink but haven’t personally tried it.

Sublimation Paper-In my experience, the best paper to use is the A-Sub Brand Sublimation Paper.

I started with Printer Jacks Paper but learned A-Sub holds the ink better and is a higher quality paper. 

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Practice Material-When first starting, especially when you aren’t sure your color profile will be correct, using a yard or two of 100% polyester to practice will save you a lot of money. I use my practice pieces of polyester fabrics for covering my printers and heat press when not in use. 

Blowout Paper & Dispenser-Butcher Paper or parchment paper will work as a barrier between your design and your actual heat press. This helps with preventing ghosting and protects your heat press. 

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Substrates or Blanks-This is the item you want to sublimate on and can range from mouse pods to blankets, apparel such as t-shirts, and everything in between. More examples of substrates are listed in the What is Sublimation Printing.

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Heat Tape & Dispenser-Heat tape secures your sublimation print to the substrate/blank. The dispenser is a MUST-have for heat tape that allows you to have both hands ready for the next step. (LINKS) Also called: heat-resistant tape

Lint Roller- A lint roller should be used on t-shirts and other soft substrates. It will keep you from having blue specks on your items, among other common sublimation issues. 

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Syringes with needle-this will allow you to fill your refillable cartridges or CISS systems. Some brands of sublimation ink come with them and/or have lids that will enable you to fill straight from the bottle.

Heat Resistant Gloves- Heat Resistant Gloves are handy for extremely hot items that protect your hands. Tumblers, mugs, metals, and glass are all things I sublimate on that require heat-resistant gloves.  

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Refillable Cartridges or CISS system-Depending on your sublimation printer, you will either have to have refillable cartridges or a CISS system. However, some printers already have them in the machine. But you should always keep an extra set on hand for your sublimation printer. 

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Repositionable Spray adhesive (not necessary in my book, but other people swear by it)

Mug/Tumbler press and or Hat Press *If you are going to be doing tumblers, mugs, and hats. Or a convection oven if you are going that route for mugs/tumblers.

Do I need a convection oven for Sublimation? 

If you are going to wrap mugs or tumblers, you can purchase a convection oven or a mug press. Both are optional, but please remember if you use a convection oven for food, don’t use it for Sublimation or vice versa. I have yet to take that leap. However, I’ve been doing my research, so I will be ready when it’s time to take the jump.

Sublimation Printing allows you to make various beautiful things without breaking the budget. Plus, it is the perfect small business to start in your own home, but it is a business that allows you to have a storefront if you choose to do so. 

What is dye sublimation printing? 

The Sublimation Ink starts in the liquid stage, solid state on the sublimation paper, and gaseous state when the heat applies the design to the blank. The final state is a solid state or solid form because it attaches to the blank. Read more in The Complete Guide to Sublimation Printing.

The sublimation process is explained in this image. 

Sublimation Printing is the artwork being transferred to an object in the form of gas by using heat.

The sublimation ink is printed using a sublimation printer paper and then allowed to dry.

After it dries (which takes very little time), you apply it to your project using a heat press.

The image is printed (infused) onto the printing paper, leaving very little mess and making it easy to do dye sublimation printing.

The transfer of the image happens when you add heat to the article to an object. Use a piece of Butcher Paper or parchment paper on top of the sublimation paper to protect your project and heat press.

Where do you get Images for Sublimation?

Images for Sublimation are usually digital files that you can get for free in some cases. However, in most cases, those sublimation designs have an additional cost. My favorite places to get sublimation designs are: Creative Fabrica, Design Bundles, The Hungry JPG, So Fontsy, Etsy, or making your own with software such as adobe photoshop.

Join us on Facebook in our Creative Dye Facebook Group to talk about all things Sublimation. 

Do I need a specific paper for Sublimation Printing? Can I use regular copy paper for Sublimation Printing? 

YES- What is Sublimation Paper? Check out this extensive post on Sublimation Paper. 

Do I need special tape for Sublimation?

Yes, it would be best if you had Heat Tape. It can be any “brand” of heat tape or an off-brand name. I’ve used Cricut brand tape in a pinch, but it’s a little more expensive in the long run. I’ve also read that painter’s tape can be used, but I’ve never done it because I’m a stickler for the rules like that.