Sublimation is becoming more and more popular so here is our comprehensive guide, from scratch on exactly what you need to sublimate, for beginners. This ultimate guide for beginners includes everything from what paper to what sublimation projects you can make! Will you give sublimation a go? It really is easier than it sounds and also a very fun craft to make!
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What is and how does sublimation work?
Sublimation is the transition of a solid matter turning into a gas without passing through the liquid stage. Using special inks, paper, printers and a heat source to do just that.
What supplies do I need to sublimate?
- Sublimation printer
- Sublimation ink
- Sublimation paper
- A blank
- Heat resistant tape
- Heat protective gloves
- Teflon sheet
- Heat source
What sublimation printer do I use?
When it comes to printers you have to make the decision whether you want to convert a cheaper printer or splash out for a purpose built one. Of course this depends on your budget. For the lower budgets we recommend converting an Epson Ecotank printer, this is the easiest and cheapest way to sublimated. We have a tutorial on how we converted ours that you can read here. Its actually easy than you think it would be!
For the larger budgets you can purchase a purpose built sublimation printer from the likes of SAWGRASS (checkout SAWGRASS here)
What type of paper do you use for sublimation?
You cannot print your sublimation images onto plain copier paper, you must use premium sublimation ready paper. It is a lot thicker than regular paper and very absorbent, having the ability to hold all of your colours ready to sublimate. We love to use a brand call A-SUB in A4 (view A-SUB here) We love A-Sub because they have a table on the back of their box with temperature guides for how long you need to press your blanks.
Why is my printed sublimation image so dull?
I think everyone has had this thought when they print their first ever sublimation print out. It looks so dull! Unless you have a low ink issue this is generally how they look when they are printed. The true vibrant colours wont come out until you have added your heat source to it and infused it into a blank. Its not until that point that you will see the vibrancy of your print.
What ink is used for sublimation?
There are many brands of sublimation inks on the market, so many that it can make choosing one very overwhelming and difficult. Our recommendations are Printers Jack or Hippoo, their vibrancy and transfer is beautiful. They can be brought it packs, which is what I would recommend. Or they can be brought in each individual colours. Make sure you are set on one brand when you do purchase as you won’t want to chop and change the ink brand in your printer. Each brand of ink can use different additives and it’s not a good idea to mix them in your printer. Be thorough with your research before you buy. We have stuck to just Printers Jack. (You can find Printers Jack here)
If you are choosing to convert your Epson Ecotank into a sublimation printer, you must note; Do not put the ink that comes with the printer into the printer. This is regular printer ink. Instead make sure you purchase Autofill sublimation bottles. This is because they have a special valve on them to be able to successfully pour the ink into the Epson’s ink tank. Otherwise it can be a very messy and tedious way to fill your inks up.
What can I sublimate?
Blanks (can also be called substrates) is a term commonly used when it comes to sublimation. A blank is an object that is either specially coated so that they can absorb the sublimation ink or for soft materials they have a high polyester count. Blanks come in all shapes and sizes here is a list but you are not limited to;
- Mugs
- Tumblers
- Glass Can Cups
- Tiles
- Mouse Pads
- Lanyards
- Pet Collars
- Water Bottles
- Wind Spinners
- Keychains
- Earrings
- Slate Tiles
- Puzzles
- T-Shirts
- Tote Bags
- Pillowcases
- Blankets
- Oven Gloves
- Hoodies
- License Plate
Just remember to get your blanks from a reputable seller, (you can find our blank recommendations here) and always use the settings given. When it comes to sublimating onto fabrics, light colours are the way to go, It is very hard to sublimate to dark colours. If you need to you can press Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl in white on your project first and then sublimate on top of that.
How long does sublimation last?
Sublimation will last as long as the blank that you apply it to. This is why its important to buy high quality blanks from a supplier you can trust. As sublimation is a permanent application, you will want to enjoy your finished project for years to come.
What heat source do you need for sublimation?
To get your printed image that has been printed onto Sublimation paper onto your sublimation blank you need to use a heat source, Depending on you blank will determine what heat source you can use.
For example, if you want to sublimate mugs, glass can cup or tumblers you will need a tumbler press, We recommend the HTVRONT Auto Tumbler Heat Press. It is a cylinder press that will hug the cup just the way it is needed to to have equal pressure applied all the way around getting a nice even press.
However, if your blank is flat, something like a mouse mat or a t shirt you will need a standard heat press. Either the Cricut Easy Press or the HTVRONT Auto Heat Press would be great options.
Where can I find images to sublimate?
There are lots of places you can get colour images ready to sublimate from. We mainly use ETSY to purchase premade images.
But if your more on the creative side and you have free time you can use Canva to create stunning sublimation ready images. Just always remember to mirror your image before you print them.
What are the disadvantages of sublimation?
Sublimation is only a problem when it comes to dark blanks. Personally I would keep away from dark blanks as for a beginner it makes it difficult to get results you want. It makes it complex as you would need to add other elements to your blank such as Heat Press Vinyl.
What is the cheapest way to start sublimation?
Converting an Epson Eco tank printer and converting that to a sublimation printer would by far be your easiest option. All you have to do is replace the inks that come with the printer to sublimation inks. We have a full tutorial you can read here.