How to make sublimation prints that are sure to turn heads

In this article, we’ll walk you through the basics of making sublimation prints, from choosing the right materials to setting up your printer correctly. Let’s get onto sublimation for beginners.

What is sublimation printing?

Sublimation printing is a printing method that uses heat to transfer dye onto a material, such as fabric, metal, or glass.

The sublimation dye is first printed onto a transfer paper, and then the transfer paper is placed on the substrate. Heat is then applied to the substrate, which causes the dye to vaporize and be absorbed by the substrate.

Dye sublimation printing is often used for sports apparel, as it allows for high-quality, full-color prints that will not fade over time. It is also commonly used for personalization, as it can be used to print photos and other images onto mugs, phone cases, and other items.

What do you need to do for sublimation printing?

Sublimation printing is a great way to get high-quality, full-color prints on a variety of materials. However, there are a few things you need to know before you get started.

Sublimation printer

It’s a type of printing that uses heat to transfer dye onto a substrate, such as paper, fabric, or plastic. Unlike other methods of printing, sublimation printing does not use ink cartridges or ribbons.

Sublimation ink

It’s a type of ink that is used in printers that print with sublimation dyes. Sublimation ink is unique ink that is specifically designed to produce images with extremely high levels of detail and color quality. There are many types of them: Infusible ink, Hiipoo ink, Cricut infusible ink, etc.

Sublimation paper 

It’s specially coated to transfer images using sublimation ink. The sublimation process involves using heat to transfer the ink onto the sublimation paper. This type of paper is often used for business cards, photos, and other documents that need to be printed with high-quality images.

Heat press 

A machine that uses heat and pressure to transfer images onto substrates such as fabric, metal, glass, or leather. The process is often used to create t-shirts, promotional materials, name tags, and other items.

Design software

It’s essential for any designer, whether they are working in fashion, architecture, or graphic design. This type of software helps to create accurate sketches and illustrations, which can then be used to create finished products.

Except for these things you also may have some heat-resistant gloves, heat-resistant tape or adhesive, and some parchment paper to protect your workplace.

What products can I sublimation?

Sublimation is a printing process that uses heat to transfer images onto a variety of surfaces. The most common surfaces for sublimation are high polyester count press transfer material and polyester fabric.

However, you can also sublimate onto ceramic tiles, metals, glass, and more. For example:

• Mugs
• Phone cases
• Pillows
• Tote bags
• Keychains

The key to successful sublimation is to use a substrate that has a smooth, glossy surface. This will allow the inks to transfer smoothly and evenly.

With the right materials and equipment, you can sublimate onto just about any surface imaginable. And polyester is one of the best materials for sublimation for beginners.

How do I sublimation print?

It’s pretty simple. Next, it will be an informative sublimation for beginners tutorial to learn how sublimation printing works.

First, you’ll need to set up your sublimation printer. We recommend using Epson printers. Then you’ll need to fill your printer’s ink tanks with sublimation ink.

Next, design your image in a program of your choice or you can find free sublimation designs on websites. Make sure that your printer settings are correct to print.

When your image is ready on the Cricut design space, you should convert it onto a sublimation blank with a sublimation dye.

To apply the dye sublimation images to sublimation blanks, you’ll need constant high heat, aka heat presses. Then, sublimation blanks are rolled through a heat press, Cricut mug press, or oven to transfer images on sublimation projects with heat transfer vinyl.

After that, you put the sublimation transfers on some surfaces.

This short sublimation for beginners tutorial will be the first step for your sublimation journey.

How do you do screen printing work?

Sublimation transfers are a type of screen printing in which the image is printed onto a sheet of sublimation paper using inks. The sublimation paper is then placed onto the garment and heat transferred. And then sublimation transfer is put on the surface.

This type of screen printing is often used for garment printing that is made of polyester or other synthetic materials.

Do I need a lint roller for sublimation?

For sublimation, you need a lint roller. A lint roller is a tool that helps to remove lint, dust, and other debris from clothing and other surfaces.

A lint roller is made up of a roll of adhesive tape that is wrapped around a cylinder. This will help to ensure that the sublimated image is clear and free of any imperfections.

Can I use a regular printer to sublimate?

You can buy any sublimation printers for garment printing; however, they cost very expensive – about 800 dollars, for example, a sawgrass printer, Epson Ecotank for sublimation.

So you have a cheaper option is converting a relatively inexpensive printer like an Epson printer into a sublimation printer.

Converting a printer for sublimation is pretty easy, only requires two supplies – an Epson Ecotank printer and special sublimation ink.

Converting an Epson Ecotank printer for sublimation can be done with some simple steps. Follow these steps and you’ll be able to achieve great results.

First, you need to purchase an Epson inkjet printer that supports sublimation inks. Because only sublimation ink is suitable for printing, regular inkjet ink cannot use for sublimation works.

The next step is to install the necessary drivers and software for your specific model of printer.

Finally, you’ll need to purchase a transfer paper that’s compatible with your printer.

Then, follow the instructions that came with your sublimation inks to load them into your printer.

How do I make sublimation designs?

So you’re ready to try sublimation printing? Here’s a quick guide on how to get started.

First, you’ll need to create your designs. You can do this in any software that allows you to create images. Just make sure that your design is sized at 300 dpi and that the colors are converted to CMYK.

Once your design is ready, print it out on sublimation paper. This paper is specifically designed for sublimation printing, and it will allow the ink to transfer onto the fabric or material correctly.

Now it’s time to heat your fabric or material. You can do this using a regular household iron, but make sure that the heat is set to the highest possible setting. Place the fabric or material onto a hard surface, like a cutting board, and then press the iron down onto the image for about 30 seconds.

And that’s it! You should now have a beautiful sublimated print.

Why can’t I sublimate with dark-colored garments?

Sublimation is the process of transition from the solid to the gas phase without passing through the liquid phase. The process of sublimation requires a lot of heat, which is why it can’t be used with dark-colored garments.

The reason for this is that dark colors absorb more heat than light colors, and this causes the garment to scorch.

How to make sublimation ink brighter?

A problem that often arises is that the sublimated image can appear dull and faded. If you’re looking for brighter and more vibrant prints, there are a few things you can do. One is to adjust the printer settings.

Many printers have an “Ink Type” setting that allows you to choose between dye-based and pigment-based inks. Dye-based inks are typically used for regular printing, but they don’t always produce the brightest colors.

Pigment-based inks, on the other hand, are designed specifically for sublimation and can produce much brighter prints.

Another way to make your prints brighter is to use special sublimation materials. These are often white or light-colored fabrics that help to make the colors pop. Finally, it’s important to remember that not all colors will print equally well using sublimation.

Some colors, such as black and white, will usually print quite well, but others, like light blue or pink, can be more difficult to transfer brightly. With a little trial and error, you should be able to find the perfect combination of settings and materials to produce bright and vibrant prints.

Do the fabrics have to be 100% polyester?

One of the most common questions we get asked is whether the fabrics have to be 100% polyester to sublimate. And the answer is no, they do not! Sublimation can be done on a variety of different fabrics, including polyester blends.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that the sublimation process does require a certain amount of heat, so some synthetic fabrics (like nylon) may not be suitable. That being said, we always recommend testing on a small swatch of the fabric before attempting to sublimate an entire garment.

Troubleshooting common problems with sublimation prints

Any printing process can occasionally go wrong. Here are some common mistakes in sublimation for beginners, which you should avoid.

Sublimation printing does not work well on 100% cotton.

One common problem is poor print quality.

Another common problem is color bleeding.

If your prints are coming out blurry or smeared, likely, the transfer process wasn’t carried out correctly. Make sure you’re using the correct transfer settings for your printer and paper type, and that you’re applying even pressure when pressing the design onto the substrate.

With a little troubleshooting, you should be able to get great results from your sublimation printer. If you’re still having difficulties, contact a professional for help.

Read also: Сan you sublimate on glass?

Tips for success with sublimation printing

Now that you know a little bit more about sublimation printing, it’s time to give it a try! Here are some sublimation for beginners tips to help you get started:

1. Make sure you have the right supplies. To do sublimation printing, you need a printer, heat press, and sublimation ink.

2. Print your design onto sublimation paper.

3. Place the substrate onto the heat press.

4. Apply pressure and heat for the desired amount of time.

5. Remove the substrate from the heat press and allow it to cool completely.

If you keep these things in mind, you’ll be well on your way to success with printing.

Also read: How to do sublimation with Cricut?

What is the best sublimation design software?

There are many sublimation design software programs available, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. It depends on your specific needs and preferences as to what is the best sublimation design software for you.

Do some research and experiment with different software programs to find the one that works best for you. However, we want to offer you:

• CreativeStudio
• Photoshop
• Corel Draw

Conclusion

Sublimation is a great way to print your designs on a wide variety of materials. You can use sublimation to create custom T-shirts, phone cases, hats, and more.

This is an informative sublimation for beginners tutorial, which we hope will help you create your sublimation project.

Read also: Can you use an iron instead of a heat press machine? Some facts you need to know