Finally, you use a heat press to transfer the design on the paper to the t-shirt and then peel away the paper. The second step is to conduct a test print. This involves printing a small design on the substrate using a range of temperatures, times, and pressures. After the test print, inspect the substrate to determine the best sublimation heat press settings for the substrate. Adjust the Settings When the time is up, lift the EasyPress straight upward. Remove the butcher paper but wait until the clear HTV has completely cooled before removing the film, about 5-10 minutes - this is a COLD peel. When it comes to cleaning sublimated vinyl, gentle handwashing is the preferred method. This approach helps to preserve the integrity of the design and prevent any damage to the vinyl itself. Here are some steps to follow when handwashing sublimated vinyl: Sublimation printing works best with synthetic materials that have a high polyester content. While it is possible to print on natural fibers such as cotton or rayon, the results won’t be as vibrant or long-lasting, and will eventually fade away. When printing on cotton fabric, it is important to use a pre-treatment spray or coating to help the ink bond with the fabric. Find the Best Temperature

Gently agitate the water to create suds. Avoid using any abrasive materials or brushes that could scratch or damage the vinyl. Clear sublimation HTV is my favorite way to achieve this result on a non-polyester shirt. And I’m going to walk you through the whole preparation and sublimation process! A: Nope. See the question above, and remember that the only vinyl suitable for sublimation is clear sublimation HTV, white sublimation HTV, white glitter HTV, holographic HTV, and glow-in-the-dark HTV. Truth be told, you can use vinyl printing on many of the products we discussed above. However, always keep in mind that it isn’t made to be overly durable. Because of this, we prefer to use it on items such as: And when you have the basics down and are ready to fine tune your sublimation prints for the absolute best and most vibrant prints with true colors, you can add ICC printer profiles. These are specific to the ink you’re using with a printer, and can make a big difference in color. And, best of all, they are free! In my sublimation printer setup directions, I also explain how to find printer profiles — you can get all of that information over at jennifermaker.com/sublimationprinters. How hard is to get started in sublimation?You can transfer dye-sublimation printing onto a LOT of things! You can sublimate gorgeous, full color designs into anything made of polyester or anything with a polyester coating.

Note: If you want to use cotton shirts instead, lower temperatures (and special layers or coatings) are recommended to avoid scorching. See my How to Sublimate on Cotton and Dark Colors tutorial for more details. NOTE: If you'd like your image to be larger than the 6.76" x 8.5" image size, you can use my Tiling Sublimation Projectstutorial to slice the image and transfer the parts together. Glitter sublimation tumblers, 20 oz. insulated stainless steel skinny – Print dimensions: 8.07″ tall by x 8.89″ wide Sublimation tools, such as a tape measure, heat-resistant tape, tweezers, and/or heat-resistant glovesThe only other things you need for sublimation are designs. And for that, you need a computer! Sublimation Designs and Design Software

With that said, sublimation printing on cotton just doesn’t work. In fact, it doesn’t work on any natural fabrics like silk. Garments with a high polyester content will give you the best results. The scientific definition of sublimation is the process whereby a solid turns directly into a gas skipping the liquid stage. Through a similar process, an image is printed onto a special paper known as sublimation paper. To use HTV, simply cut the desired design using a vinyl cutter and then transfer it onto the vinyl surface using a heat press. The heat from the press activates the adhesive on the HTV, allowing it to adhere securely to the vinyl. By using HTV, you can ensure that your sublimated designs stay vibrant and intact even with regular use and exposure to various environments.

Dye Sublimation Printers

In short, sublimation is a chemical process in which a solid transforms into a gas without entering the liquid stage. Keep in mind that it is the dye that changes state throughout this process, nothing else; hence why it’s often called “dye-sublimation.”