Sublimation printing is the process by which an image is transferred onto a product. By using special inks and purpose-built machines, designs can be printed onto a wide variety of items, such as shirts, mugs, or bags.
Sublimation is accomplished by quickly changing solid substances into a gas without first making it liquid. Superheating sublimation ink to around 200 degrees Celsius allows users to instantly transfer it onto fabrics or ceramics. Previously, this could only be achieved by pressing solid images from transfer paper onto the product and heating it until it stuck. With sublimation printing, the process is far easier and much more permanent.
First, the ink is loaded into a sublimation printer, and the design is fed in with the item. The ink is then heated and changed directly into a gaseous form. The gaseous ink is pressed against the material and the ink bonds with the fibers within it. The image then returns to a solid state once it touches the item’s surface to which it is bonded. The ink binds to the fabric fibers or the surface of the ceramic without any seams or edges.
Learn more about print on demand and starting a print-on-demand business.
Since sublimation printing requires specific inks, it cannot be done using a standard inkjet printer. Sublimation printers can heat the ink far beyond that of a regular printer. These inks can also cause damage to the inner mechanisms of regular printers and can contaminate them if the inks are switched over. For these reasons, only sublimation (or subli) printers must be used. Any others will result in inconsistent or incomplete transfers.
The main benefit of a sublimation printer is that the image being printed is infused within the material. Rather than sticking an image onto the product’s surface, sublimation printers bond the colors of the ink themselves into the fabric. This allows for the image to remain stark and colorful without leading to peeling or fading.
Sublimation printing is ideal for a wide range of products. It is most often used when producing merchandise. Most Some items that are made by sublimation printing include:
Amongst these items, the most effective material for the sublimation printing process is polyester. Any item that contains a polyester of at least 80% will be the easiest to print onto.
Generally, for harder materials such as ceramics, a layer of polyester is first applied to it. The decal or image is then printed onto this polyester layer. This is because the fibers of polyester will only melt under the high temperature of the ink. This melting allows the ink to bond to it, retaining its shape and color. If other materials such as cotton are used, then the image will not last long. At higher temperatures, the fabric will burn, causing the image to fade or peel off.
For successful printing outcomes, a user requires PES materials or materials containing 80 percent polyester. Moreover, it’s crucial to pick a light background if your logos, images, and motives turn out well. Sublimation prints accommodate a wide array of blanks like key rings, medals or cellphone cases.
Sublimation printing is also fast and cost-effective. In other words, the printing technique allows you to make large quantities of items in a short period. You can print small gifts, custom promotional products, and similar things on demand for a customer or on stock. It’s easy to produce high-quality motives when a sublimation printer is available to you.
Another plus point is the longevity of the designs. We mean the designs you create with sublimation printing won’t peel, crack, or fade – even after going through countless washing machine cycles.
Because sublimation printing uses special printers and inks, it costs more than other techniques. Another downside is that the printers function at a slow pace. Materials other than polyester can be used but only if they can be coated with the core material. Further, you need a white background if the motif is to feature white or light colors. Plus, you need to account for 1-5 percent shrinkage for sublimation in designs.
As an alternative, you can use a white toner printer or print with white toner. In this case, the motifs will be transferred to a transfer foil, then connected to a B-paper on a transfer press. You’ll find a head-activated adhesive on B-paper, which bonds with the print on the foil. Once the P-paper and A-foil are separated, you can transfer the design onto any textile item. Unlike sublimation, the material you choose is not that important.
You can print a wide range of textiles, including mixed fabric, polyester, cotton, and felt. It’s even possible to print other materials like cardboard, wood, or silk. Moreover, using a white toner allows users to print colored and dark backgrounds efficiently.
Another issue to be mindful of is white creasing. Because sublimation printing functions by printing designs onto white fabrics, expect them to stay white if certain areas of the garment can’t be reached by the design. The outcome? Accidental folding or instances of moisture that can sprinkle onto the transfer paper.
Sublimation printing and heat transfer follow the same procedure. You print an image onto transfer paper in both methods and then apply heat and pressure to it. However, the end effects of both printing techniques are different.
In sublimation printing, the ink becomes a part of the print media, whereas, in heat transfer, the image only becomes a layer on top of the print media. Also, Sublimation printing is more long-lasting than heat transfer so that you can produce high-quality results of any shape with this method.
But the benefit of heat transfer over sublimation is that you can do it from the comfort of your home. All you need is an iron to transfer a print. Another advantage is that heat transfer works for all kinds of fabrics, no matter what material or color. In contrast, the sublimation printer will restrict you to only white polyester fabric.
As the name suggests, screen printing involves printing on fabric through a screen. The graphic design transfers as a layer on top of the fabric, whereas in sublimation printing, the graphic gels in with the fabric. Screen printing is very limited in the designs and shapes you can print, and the result may crack or peel with water. However, screen printing is a quicker way of producing as many as 900 pieces every hour.
In sublimation printing, you can do as many as 60 pieces per hour. Therefore, screen printing goes well for a project that requires bulk production, and it is the most common way of printing on garments.
Inkjet printing is best suited for documents, and sublimation printing is ideal for printing onto plastic substrates. In sublimation printing, ink vapors permeate the material, whereas inkjet prints liquid ink on top of the paper. The cons of inkjet printing are that the print will start running or get damaged when exposed to moisture. Sublimation printing is stronger and doesn’t run when in contact with water.
You can do sublimation printing from some desktop inkjet printers. You will need an Epson Ricoh inkjet printer, heat transfer paper, and sublimation ink for this project. There is a special kind of heat transfer paper for sublimation printing that does not have a coating. After you print the paper with the design of your choice, you can place the paper on the material to apply the heat press.
In inkjet sublimation printing, you can switch the printer back to normal inks at any time. But it is better to keep the printer for one process only because constant switching will not be practical in the long run.
Back when I started with sublimation, my biggest question was, “Do you need a sublimation printer?” You may be wondering the same thing. I’ve learned a lot by trial and error while figuring out the answer (it might surprise you!) that I’ll share with you to make it easier! I WISH I’d had someone to clue me in to tips, tricks, and just the things that could have reassured me and built my confidence to sublimate all the things!
Want to save this? Enter your below and we’ll send the guide straight to your inbox.Watch my full video on all 21 things I wish I knew before I started sublimation printing:
First off, what exactly is sublimation? It’s a process that uses high temperatures and pressure to permanently transfer special ink into compatible surfaces.
It’s also a great way to create nearly any artwork you want. Blended colors, intricate patterns, photos, drawings — it’s all within your reach with the right plan and materials! But it can take a lot of work to get confident in all things sublimation, so I want to give you a head start with what I’ve learned. Here’s my top ten, but you can find the full set in my video along with excellent questions from crafters just like you!
1. There’s A LOT to Learn About Dye Sublimation
With several prominent printer, ink, and material suppliers in the industry, there’s a lot to keep track of when sublimation printing. Picking the best printer model, setting the right ICC profiles, finding the best paper for your machines, picking your favorite ink, etc. I cover it all in Sublimation Startup, don’t worry.
But, the answer to “Do you need a sublimation printer?” doesn’t have to be “Yes, immediately.” If you don’t want to make those decisions right now, just pick up some pre-printed sublimation transfers or play with sublimation markers while you figure it out.
2. Big Results on a Small Investment
If you already have a heat press that reaches at least 350 degrees farenheit (400 is better) like a Cricut EasyPress or Autopress, you’re nearly ready to sublimate. Even the mini Cricut EasyPress gets hot enough, though household irons don’t.
Grab some sublimation markers, printer paper, and some compatible blanks from the dollar store and you’re ready to give it a shot!
3. Mirror That Design Every Time
You want the ink to touch the project’s surface during the sublimation transfer, so always remember to mirror, flip, or whatever action your machines use to create the image backwards! This is one spot where sublimation printers shine with easy controls for even the most complex designs. You can even prepare a design correctly in Google Docs for Free!
But you can mirror designs without a printer, too! I tried some fun techniques in my Infusible Ink Pen Projects tutorial, including tracing designs onto the back of paper using Cricut Infusible Ink Markers. With some practice, you can even do lettering this way!
4. You Can Sublimate ALL THE THINGS!
Eastsign Product Page
If you’ve mostly looked at sublimation printing projects like I did early on, you might think sublimation is only for flat items smaller than a piece of printer paper and made of polyester fabrics. Nope! You can learn how to piece together huge designs, shape them to curved surfaces, or add a specialty coating to items that wouldn’t normally work with the dyes. Some projects work better with special presses, like tumbler, mug, and hat presses, as well as unusual things like convection ovens, air fryers, and even a heat gun, but with a little creativity, you can sublimate a TON of stuff.
5. Sublimation Printers Are Not Scary!
I was really intimidated before I experimented with dye sublimation printers! I thought there were all like over $1,000, hard to use, and HUGE. I was wrong! Sure, there are big, expensive printers made just for sublimation. But there are tons of other options to pick from, including inexpensive inkjet printers you can convert to dye sublimation printing! My favorite is an Epson EcoTank printer ET-. I’ve had a lot of fun comparing sublimation printers to help you decide which to buy when you’re ready! Definitely check out my reviews if you’re considering an answer to do you need a sublimation printer!
6. Still, You Can Sublimate Without a Printer
Creating crisp, bright colors and long-lasting sublimation projects doesn’t require a special printer! Did you know Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets and markers dye your item’s fibers in the same way? If (like me!) you’re not a strong drawer, trace designs from laser printers using dye sublimation ink markers to get beautiful images! Or, you can buy printed sublimation designs from other makers and press them on your own!
7. Sublimation Inks Are Transparent?!
Ok, now that I mention this in every sublimation project, I hope we all know that the ink isn’t opaque like normal printer ink. But I didn’t at first! Understanding that sublimation ink will be influenced by the color of the item’s surface is so important to creating the decorations you want. You really have to pay attention when Sublimating on Dark Colors, but it’s possible!
8. Sublimation Ink Gets Old
Not like boring, it expires! Keep track of when you open ink cartridges or bottles and check the package for how long it should last.
Cartridges for Sawgrass printers are good for 15 months, but the Hippoo ink I use in my Epson lasts about 18 months. If you print frequently, you’ll need to add more before the ink degrades, so don’t worry. But if not, the particles clump together and the prints will get spotty, so you’ll notice. It can also happen if the printer sits dormant for a while as the drink can dry up. If it does, carefully remove the old ink, then follow the manual’s steps to check your nozzles and print heads.
If you only want to sublimate occasionally, Cricut Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets, markers, pens, and having designs printed elsewhere are great solutions!
9. Keep Clean and Sublimate Safely
Since sublimation ink will attempt to dye anything it touches at the right heat and pressure, it’s really important to remove lint that will intercept the ink on its way to your blank or other debris. I lint roll everything to be sure!
The ink actually turns from a solid into a vapor during heating, so it can spread! Protect your work area, press, and other materials you don’t want to dye with cardstock and uncoated white butcher paper. And since it’s a gas, always use dye sublimation in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling the fumes. At the minimum, I keep a gentle fan blowing to dissipate the fumes and don’t get too close to the press until the design has cooled. That also allows the dye to settle back into a solid in the fibers, minimizing the risk of smudged designs.
10. There’s Always Something New to Learn and I Love That!
I love all the new sublimation tools, materials, and techniques coming out! It’s so much fun to experiment and learn new ways to share sublimation with you. I try to stay on top of trends, but I’d love to hear about new ideas or tools you’d like me to try. I’m really proud of the smooth seams you can get with my Sublimation Tumblers tutorial. And there are lots of new techniques to try in the Sublimation on Canvas project!
Are you any closer to an answer for “Do you need a sublimation printer?” I hope these tips helped, and remember to check out the full video for more advice!
Do you need a sublimation printer? Ready to answer the question for yourself? You’re going to have fun coming to a decision! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.
I also have a Facebook group just for sublimation crafting where you can get help and tips from other crafters who love to sublimate, too! They have lots of ideas for how to sublimate on cotton! Come join us at jennifermaker.com/sublimationgroup to ask questions, share ideas, and get inspired. And you’re sure to find different answers to the question, Do you need a sublimation printer?
Q. Do I need to buy a sublimation printer?
No! Don’t rush to buy a new printer unless it’s the best option for you.
Q. Can I use my inkjet printer for sublimation?
You can convert a standard inkjet printer if it uses the right kind of printer head.
Q. Can I sublimate without a sublimation printer?
Yes! You can create a high-quality product without special sublimation printers. You can purchase printed sublimation transfer paper designs, use Infusible Ink, or draw with appropriate markers that will still last a long time!
Q. Can I use my HP printer for sublimation?
A regular inkjet printer that uses a thermal printing head isn’t compatible with sublimation ink. Unfortunately, Hewlett Packard (HP printers), Dell, and Canon use that technology. However, Epson uses a different style of printer heads for some types of printers, like the EcoTank printers.
Q. Can a Cricut do sublimation?
In a way, yes! You can use Cricut Design Space to prepare designs and print them on a sublimation printer, cut them out of Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets, or draw them using Infusible Ink Pens. You can also cut heat transfer vinyl in the shape of the printed design to add a sublimation-friendly coating to an item.
Q. What is the easiest printer to convert to sublimation?
I find Epson printers easiest to convert for sublimation. I covered all the steps in my conversion tutorial! The ink tanks are a little messy, but now I love my Epson sublimation printer.
Q. What equipment is needed for sublimation?
You’ll need sublimation blanks like a polyester t-shirt, paper that works with your chosen sublimation dye item, and a press that reaches high heat temperatures.
Q: How do I test my sublimation prints for vibrancy and color?
Use my free subliflower design to see how your colors look! It’s Design #385 in my resource library!
Q: What else can I put my sublimation prints on?
Here are just a few of the items I’ve sublimated and some tips I’ve learned along the way:
Need a little extra help understanding how to get started with sublimation? Join Sublimation Startup for a logical, step-by-step guide to getting setup for success with sublimation! You can ask questions and feel confident that you’ll get help! The Sublimation Startup mini-course is also great for those who enjoy learning from my easy-to-understand, calm, and clear method of teaching. This is a no-fluff, no-mess, no-distraction workshop … it’s like sitting down with me in my craft room! We work in logical steps to build your understanding and confidence with sublimation, and then provide support to keep helping you as you continue on your journey! Register now!
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So, what do you think? Do you need a sublimation printer? Watch for more sublimation tutorials and please ask any questions you have in our Facebook group or tag me on social media with #jennifermaker.
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