Use the Layers Panel to make sure you have the Offset layer selected and change the Operation to "Basic Cut." The shape will automatically change to gray, which is fine. This will be my clear HTV layer. Now that you know how to sublimate clear HTV, I’d love to see YOUR awesome sublimation creations. Please share them with me! You can post a photo in our Facebook group or tag me on social media with #jennifermaker.

If the HTV recommends a warm peel, remove the plastic carrier film right away at this point. If it needs a cool peel, let the shirt cool down before you touch it.Any kind of heat press will work for this process. You can use a small hand-held type like the Cricut EasyPress, or a large clamshell-style press. Type of Vinyl What you typically cannot use is a household iron, because it just doesn’t get hot enough. Sublimation ink activates at 350°F, or 175°C and typically irons just don’t get hot enough for the dye sublimation process.

Clear sublimation HTV is my favorite way to achieve this result on a non-polyester shirt. And I’m going to walk you through the whole preparation and sublimation process! To prevent blurring or distortion of designs, it is essential to ensure that the heat and pressure settings are calibrated correctly. This can be achieved by following the manufacturer’s guidelines and conducting test prints before applying the design to the vinyl. Additionally, using high-resolution images and graphics can help maintain the fine details and prevent any loss of clarity during the sublimation process. Loss of Vibrancy or Detail White Polyester T-Shirts and Colored Polyester/Cotton Shirts— look for polyester count of at least 65% or higher This well-known brand is the perfect option to get yourself started with vinyl printing on t-shirts and other flat surfaces. Adding a protective coating or sealant to your sublimated vinyl can provide an extra layer of protection against fading, discoloration, and wear. These coatings act as a barrier, shielding the design from external factors such as UV rays, moisture, and abrasion.

Use heat-safe tape like ThermoTape to attach the transfer paper face-down on top of the vinyl. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top and bottom of the vinyl and transfer paper. Avoid overcrowding: To prevent any unnecessary stress on the vinyl, avoid overcrowding when storing sublimated items. Make sure there is enough space between each item to allow for proper airflow and minimize the risk of damage. Heat Press to Transfer — Finally, you utilize a heat press that infuses your design with the fabric or other material. Depending on the product, the temperature could reach 400 degrees.

You normally need to press for a full minute to complete the sublimation. You may want to do a sample run and try just 30 seconds first to see if that produces vivid results, though, as the precise timing can vary depending on the brand of glitter HTV you select. At an affordable price point than most sublimation printers, the Epson WorkForce is fantastic for beginners. It’s economical and efficient, allowing you to print on a variety of fabrics and products.You use a sublimation printer loaded with special disperse dyes to print the image onto a transfer paper. The special physics process of sublimation only works when you use the appropriate kind of ink. There are methods like printable heat-transfer vinyl that only require an inkjet printer, but I often find that the image will fade sooner than hoped for. I’ve tried Easy Subli too, which gives good results — but is kind of time-consuming, with lots of extra steps. Sublimation spray is fine in a pinch, but in my experience the image will fade the first time you wash the shirt.

You can effectively sublimate on certain types of Circut-brand vinyl, so long as it has a polyester coating. Circut’s white glitter HTV works especially well for this purpose. You can work around this by using special sprays or coatings on the vinyl before printing if you want to print on vinyl with a sublimation printer. But it is much easier to just use transfer paper! What Materials Can You Not Sublimate On? One big reason this newer printing method has taken off so fast in the t-shirt industry is that sublimation prints hold up over time better than other printing methods like DTG. This is because of the way the gaseous ink sinks inside the polyester fibers and fuses into the fabric instead of resting on top of the cloth like other types of ink. Also, because one method utilizes ink and another polyurethane, the durability is likely to vary. Both sublimation and vinyl are print methods, but the different processes limit certain colors designs and even products one can print on.When it comes to cleaning sublimated vinyl, gentle handwashing is the preferred method. This approach helps to preserve the integrity of the design and prevent any damage to the vinyl itself. Here are some steps to follow when handwashing sublimated vinyl: To get the best out of your sublimation printing efforts, you need a good sublimation printer. You’ll also need to buy specialty inks and dedicated sublimation paper. These magnetic coasters are a great way to start your sublimating journey. Although, feel free to try other blanks if you want to turn your hand to lots of different materials. Now I know I haven’t covered everything there is to know about sublimation here, but I am always happy to help more! Watch for more sublimation tutorials and please ask any questions you have in our Facebook group or tag me on social media with #jennifermaker. Follow the same steps in Step 3 above to print and cut your design and HTV layers. Note that here you will have three mats instead of two. Make sure all are mirrored before continuing to print and cut.