Hey Guys, I know you always try sublimation on different things and I do too. Everyone always does something different. For the last few days, I was just thinking about sharing my experience with sublimation on tumblr. What is a sublimation tumbler, how to do sublimation on it and many more things that I experienced and want to share with you. So without delay, let’s go onto the trip of tumbler sublimation.
What is a sublimation tumbler? – Definition
It is nothing but a tumbler made up of stainless steel. It comes in white or light colours and has a polyester coating on it. One more thing it is susceptible to heat means it is heat resistant and can withstand high temperatures in the heat press. So you can say that it is made up of sublimation printing only.
Let us have a look at the supplies needed to sublimate the tumbler.
Know what do i need to make sublimation tumblers?
- Sublimation Printer
- Sublimation Ink
- Heat Press (compatible with the tall tumblers too)
- Heat Resistant Tape
- Gloves
- Blank Sublimation Tumbler
- Lint Roller
- Sublimation Wrap
How to make a sublimation tumbler?
The step-by-step guide on how to do sublimation on the Tumbler is as follows:
Step 1: Be prepared with your design:
Here your first task is to finalise your design. First, decide whether you want any of your own personal designs or photos or want to download them. Or use others also. First, finalise it.
Step 2: Resize your design:
Once you finalise your design, then resize it because it is not necessary that your design will rightly fix the size of the tumbler. For resizing you can use software like Adobe Photoshop or Canva. I always use Canva for my projects as I feel more confident and comfortable with it.
Some things you can keep in mind while resizing are:
If you want to sublimate a full tumbler, then don’t measure it manually. Just read the product description. You will get the information about its size.
If you want to sublimate on the specific area of the tumbler then you have to measure it manually and resize it accordingly.
Step 3: Now it’s time to print your design. Print your design on the sublimation transfer paper using the sublimation printer or the converted inkjet printer that you have. But before printing just mirror your design.
Step 4: Now you have a print in your hand. Just cut the edges of your print with the help of a scissor or a cutter. What if I don’t cut the edges? The lining occurs on the final design along the paper edges. And it completely destroys your work.
Step 5: Turn on the heat press. Read the product description to know the exact temperature and time required to transfer your design onto the tumbler. Every tumbler material will be different so the need for temperature and time also vary.
I took my heat press on 3400 F for 60 seconds.
Step 6: Clean the tumbler properly with the help of a lint-free cloth to remove the dust and other particles from the tumbler.
Now wrap your design print around the tumbler and secure it with heat-resistant tape. So that the design will not move while heat pressing.
Step 7: wrap your set-up (Tumbler+design) with the butcher paper.
(Why butcher paper? Butcher paper absorbs any bleeding ink or vapour of the ink and it secures your heat press from sticking the ink and ghosting in future projects)
Step 8: Put your set up in the heat press and wait for 60 seconds. But before that adjust manually the heat press plates tight so that the sublimation will be perfect.
Step 9: Turn off the heat press. Wear your gloves and take out your tumbler. Give it some time to cool and remove the transfer paper.
Step 10: Blow your imagination to the world.
Any other option for the Tumbler sublimation?
Yes, you can sublimate the tumbler by using a convection oven. It is quite an easy and fast process. Let us have a look at the sublimation of a tumbler with the help of a convection oven.
Now follow step 1 to step 6 as it is.
Step 7: Wear heat-resistant gloves. It protects your hands from burns.
Step 8: Use the sublimation shrink-wrap
Step 9: Bake it at 400 degrees for 6 minutes. But wait! You have to rotate it to another side after 3 minutes so that the sublimation will be done correctly and properly.
Step 10: Deep the tumbler in the cold water. So that the sublimation process stops.
Step 11: Remove the shrink wrap and blow your creativity to the world.
Conclusion:
I hope you don’t get confused after reading this blog. Just read it properly. Follow each and every step carefully and make your tumbler sublimation ready. And wait as always if you have a query in your mind do let me know in the mail. I’ll be more than happy to help you. Till then Bye and happy printing!