Sublimation
Sublimation Printing
How does Sublimation Printing Work?
- So how does sublimation work? Well, sublimation printing uses heat to essentially bring ink and fabric together as one.
- First, a design is printed onto special paper. The inks that are used turn into gas when brought under heat, then combine with the fabric and permanently print onto the fabric.
- The process is almost like a tattoo, but instead of for your skin, it’s for your chosen product. The heat opens up the pores of the fabric, then with the applied pressure the ink cools and returns to a solid form.
- The result is a permanent, full colour image that won’t crack, peel or wash away from the substrate. The process allows the ink to go from a solid to a gas without turning to liquid, a bit like dry ice. The conversion is initiated by heat and controlled by pressure.
Print a T-Shirt
What you need:
- Sublimation ink
- Sublimation printer
- Transfer paper
- Heat press machine
- T-shirt with 50% or more Polyester
Step 1 – Create a design: You can use text and images and photos. To get best quality us a design software like Silhouette studio, Adobe studio or Canva an online design tool.
Step 2 – Print Design using Sublimation Printer: Print your design using a Sublimation printer, with sublimation ink on sublimation paper. Remember you will need to mirror you design before printing. Silhouette studio makes this much easier.
Step 3 – Use Heat Press to transfer your design to the T-Shirt: Heat up the heat press to 150°C. Place your t-shirt in the heat press. Use heat resistant tape to fix your design in place. Close the heat Press at medium pressure for 60 seconds.
Printable Heat Transfer Vinyl
What you need?
- Printable Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)
- Laser Printer
- Cameo Silhouette 4
- Transfer paper
- Heat press machine
- Product to transfer image onto
Step 1 – Create a design or image: Prepare a photo or design that you want to put onto a T-Shirt, bag, Mug etc.
Step 2 – Print and Cut the PHTV using a Printer and Cameo Silhouette 4: Print your design onto PHTV sheet using a laser printer. Put your PHTV into the Cameo for cutting. Open your design in Silhouette studio, set up the page and send to Cut.
Step 3 – Weed your design: Using a weeding tool remove the material so as just to leave your design on the backing transfer paper.
Step 4 – Heat Press design on Bag: Heat up the heat press to 150°C. Place your bag in the heat press. Use heat resistant tape to fix your design in place. Close the heat Press at medium pressure for 15 seconds.
