Hello, my dear artists,
Hope you are doing well! Do you know sublimation? It is the process in which you can transfer your imagination/art on the t-shirt by using a special type of ink, paper and a heat source. So, if you want to sublimate a t-shirt for you, for your loved one or for your clients then let’s get started. This will help you to explore the artistic love of your loved ones and help to grow your artistic business.
Material & equipment needed for the t-shirt sublimation:
If you want to do the sublimation on the t-shirt, then you’re in need of the following supplies.
- Sublimation Paper:
Please don’t go with the regular printer paper as it ruins your efforts and the art too. It is the heat-resistant paper that transfers the design onto your shirt.
- Sublimation Ink:
It is a special type of ink specifically designed for sublimation printing. It is a dye-based ink. Converted directly to the gaseous form from the solid form with the heating effect given by the heat press.
Sublimation Printer:
Go with the inkjet printer. Which are specially designed for the sublimation process.
Computer:
- Design/image (you want to explode on the t-shirt):
Here you can use your own design/images. Or if you don’t have your design ready then don’t worry! You can download it from my website.
- Heat press:
It is used to transfer the design from the paper to the shirt by giving heat treatment. Always try to use the heat press specifically designed for the sublimation process. Don’t use the regular heat press or the home use irons as it is unable to reach the high temperature required for the sublimation.
- Substrate (The item on which you want to do the sublimation)/T-shirt:
Always go with the 100% polyester shirt. Sublimation ink does well with the polyester.
- Heat Resistant Tape:
This is used to secure the design of your shirt. So that during heat press the setup does not move and the process does well.
- Butcher Paper/ Protective Paper:
This is used to protect your heat press from sticking of the ink to the heat press plates.
How to make it happen?
To do the sublimation on the t-shirt, you must follow the following steps.
Step #1: Get or prepare a sublimation design:
The first task you have to do here is to finalise your picture/image/design. Do you have any images? If yes, then edit it if you want to do any and save it in the PNG format. Why PNG format? The sublimation works great with the image saved in the PNG format. If you don’t have any of your designs then you can use or download it from my design list from my website.
Step #2: Prepare your print and shirt for sublimation:
Now it’s time to print your design. For that just mirror your image first. And now print your design. But while designing use the inkjet printer. The sublimation special ink works best with the inkjet printer rather than the other one. Here you notice that the print is not as bright and vivid as you think. Don’t worry.
This is the sublimation ink and it blows with the effect of heat. So your print also blows on the substrate after sublimation.
Also, prepare your shirt to sublimate. For that, take the t-shirt. And press it in the heat press for some time. So that the dust and debris will be removed from the t-shirt and also it will be crease-free. With all that preparation, your t-shirt will be sublimation-ready.
Step #3: Press your sublimation print:
Now it’s time to do the sublimation. Take your T-shirt. Place your design/print inverted on your t-shirt in such a way that the design faces towards the t-shirt. Secure the setup (substrate/t-shirt and the print) with heat-resistant tape. Also, cover the setup with the butcher paper above and below the setup. Now press the setup in the heat press at 4000F for 60 seconds.
- Why butcher paper?
During sublimation ink gets heated and converted into the gas vapour. These vapours accumulate inside the heat press. And it will affect the ghosting of the print in the future. To avoid this type of scenario you have to use butcher paper to protect the heat press for future use.
Step #4: Sublimation Done:
Now it’s time to show off your imagination to the world. Let your heat press to cool down. Remove the transfer paper from the t-shirt. But wait, what if the print quality is not like what I want? Just stick the transfer paper to the t-shirt and heat-press it for some time. It will help you to get a bright, vibrant image without ghosting.
- Can I sublimate on any type of t-shirt?
No, you cannot sublimate any kind of shirt. As sublimation best works on the 100% polyester material or the polyester blended cloths.
- What if you want to sublimate on the pure cotton material?
And here I say yes, you can sublimate on the pure cotton t-shirt but for that, you have to first apply the vinyl on the cotton substrate.
Vinyl: a coating applied to the cotton material for the sublimation which provides the polyester touch to the place where you want to do the sublimation.
But you can’t get the result like the polyester or the blended material.
I got an email a few days ago and she wrote to me “Shall I sublimate on the dark-coloured cotton t-shirt?”
And my answer is ‘Yes’, you can. To make this happen you have to use the vinyl or the bleach to make that area light and then do the sublimation.
Why is mirroring of the image done?
You have to stick your design to the shirt in the inverted position. If you didn’t reverse/mirror the image then the final result will be the reverse of your design.
You may also check – How to Sublimate on Dark Color T-Shirts/Shirts?
Conclusion:
So with this, I hope you understand the process well. Right! Just go through the article. Read each and every step carefully and properly and follow the process. And you will be blown away by the beautiful result and an awesome sublimation. So give it a try and let me know if you have any doubts. I’m here to help you. Till then happy sublimation, happy art.So with this, I hope you understand the process well. Right! Just go through the article.
Read each and every step carefully and properly and follow the process. And you will be blown away by the beautiful result and an awesome sublimation. So give it a try and let me know if you have any doubts. I’m here to help you. Till then happy sublimation, happy art.