Sublimation Beginner Series

Welcome to the Sublimation Beginner Series

Where I teach you Everything You Need to Know to Start Sublimation 

Whether you want to Start a sublimation business from home make custom items OR wether you want to learn a new craft to make super cute things for Friends and Family!

What Is Sublimation and How Does It Work?

Sublimation is a heat activated printing process where special ink turns into gas and permanently bonds into polyester fabric or specially coated surfaces.

·        There is no texture, the design becomes part of the material. It also won't peel of crack!

When you press sublimation at high heat (usually around 400°F) the ink transforms into gas and embeds itself into the fibers or coating.

That’s why it only works on:

Polyester fabric (the closer to 100% the better)
Sublimation coated blanks like mugs, tumblers, ornaments, license plates, notebooks, and sooo much more!

Important beginner note:

Sublimation does NOT print white ink. White in your design will show as the color of the blank.

That’s also why you cann't sublimate directly onto black shirts unless you use specialty products like EasySubli or sublimation spray.

What Supplies Do You Need to Start Sublimation?

A sublimation printer
Sublimation ink
Sublimation paper
A heat source (heat press, tumbler press or oven)
Heat resistant tape
Heat resistant gloves
Sublimation blanks
Design files (Pngs)

Let’s walk through each one in detail!

Choosing a Sublimation Printer (Converted vs Actual)

There are two main options:

Option 1: A Converted Printer

A converted printer is usually an Epson EcoTank printer that has been filled with sublimation ink instead of the regular ink that was included with the printer.

When I first started with sublimation I converted an Epson 2760 because I couldn’t afford an actual sublimation printer. The pro to this is that is more affordable upfront! However there are quite a bit of cons to keep in mind.

Cons:
• Adding 3^rd Party ink Voids the warranty
• Requires more maintenance, Don’t worry I have a free purge sheet for you to use!
• You’re responsible for troubleshooting any problems that come up

Not many printers can be converted but Epson EcoTanks work best because they have refillable ink tanks. Here is a tutorial if you’d like to convert a printer!

Option 2: Dedicated Sublimation Printer

These are printers made specifically for sublimation:

•       Epson F170 |  Sawgrass SG500/1000 |  Brother SP-1

They come with actual sublimation ink and because they are made for sublimation ink they last longer and don’t give you as many problems as converted printers.

After my first converted printer I upgraded to the Sawgrass SG1000 and then the Epson F170 once my business grew. Honestly I wish I had switched sooner!

Pros of Actual converted printers:
• Plug and play (No having to guess color settings)
• Easier for beginners (Tech support included)
• Warranty intact ( In case anything goes wrong)
• Reliable color profiles

Cons:
• Higher initial cost

I currently have the following printers for my Small Business:
• Converted Epson 2803 ( For pressing cups and mugs)
• Epson F170 (For small designs)

• Sawgrass SG1000 ( For large prints like blankets, full T-shirts and stoles)
• Epson 8550 (Converted for large format prints and cheaper ink cost than the SG1000)

Sublimation Ink

If your printer is converted, you need to use sublimation ink. Regular ink that comes with your printer will not work for sublimation. Dedicated sublimation printers (Like the F170) come with dedicated sublimation ink.

Ink brand differences matter less than:

• Heat settings
• Sufficient pressure
• Color settings
• Correct paper

I’ve used many brands from Cosmos Ink to Hippoo Sublimation ink. 

For F170 I use the Epson brand Ink (Use code CRAFTYKARI to save)

For Sawgrass I use the Sawgrass Ink

Just a note that with actual sublimation printers you have to use their branded ink or it does void warranty.

Sublimation Paper

You print your design onto sublimation paper 

Brands I use: A-Sub /Koala | HTVRONT |  TruePix

Most common sizes I use:
• 8.5 x 11
• 11 x 17
• 13 x 19

Heat Press Options

Sublimation requires high heat usually around 385-400°F. Meaning you need a dedicated press, you won’t be able to use a regular iron. Most importantly Pressure will make all the difference when transferring your design so it’s super important to pick a good press!

Heat Press

Best for shirts, blankets, flat blanks like coasters, mouse pads etc.

My favorite beginner press! HTVRONT Auto Press 2 Heats up quick, easy to use and has adjustable pressure settings.

For large orders or very specific pressure I use my 16 x 24" Signature Series Heat press from Heat Press Nation

Tumbler Press

Perfect for mugs and tumblers.
I use the Craft Pro press and the Signature Series Tumbler press, both from Heat Press Nation

Sublimation Oven

You can use a convection oven but it must become a dedicated sublimation oven. Never use it for food again. There are also dedicated Sublimation ovens as well!

Keep in mind tho that pressure is everything and it’s a little harder to get proper pressure with a sublimation oven.

Too light pressure = possibility of faded designs
And Always  ALWAYS protect your press with parchment paper or Teflon sheets to prevent ink from transferring onto the plate!

Essentials for Beginners

Heat resistant tape
Tape dispenser (I use a pre-cut style and a standard one)
Heat resistant gloves

When you’re just starting out use more tape than you think you need! Trust it me it helps prevent ghosting and smudging of your deisgn.

I use gloves from Heat Press Nation because I’ve found cheaper ones can melt and leave marks on your items

Sublimation Blanks (What Can You Sublimate On?)

You can sublimate on soooo many things! That’s why I love sublimation! Because the possibilities are seriously endless! Here are a few of the items I’ve Sublimation before

• Shirts • Baby Blankets • Tumblers • Ornaments • License plates • Coasters

My best Sellers - Mugs and Baby Blankets!

My favorite place for blanks is JPP! Use code CRAFTYKARI to save off your next blank purchase

Sublimating T-Shirts

To sublimate on Shirts they need polyester fabric. The closer to 100% the brighter the design be. You can go as low as 65% but it will look a bit faded.

You can also use sublimation coating sprays for certain surfaces.

Check out the Full tutorial here!

Design & Printing for Sublimation

You need a PNG file with a transparent background.

You can create designs in:
• Canva
• Illustrator
• Silhouette Studio
• Cricut Design Space

Or purchase pre made designs like I do! 

If you’re a Mac users like me you can print right from Preview.
Windows users can print from Design Space, Silhouette Studio or even a Word document.

BTW Color settings make a huge difference. If you have a small format printer like the 2800 series here are the color settings I use and if you have a large format printer like the Epson 8550 you can check the full tutorial here!

My Sublimation Story

When I first got started with sublimation I couldn’t afford an actual sublimation printer so I started with a converted printer.

I was still able to scale my business to a 6 Figure business in the first year that I added sublimation to my business! As my small business grew I did reinvested into better equipment and now I am blessed to have multiple Sublimation printers and presses. I love to teach beginners because I remember exactly what it felt like starting out. Confused and so Overwhlemed!

If you're feeling confused or overwhlemed I want to remind you that it takes time! You do not need to learn everything at once. You just need to start.

Final Recap: What You Need to Start Sublimation

• Printer
• Sublimation ink
• Sublimation paper
• Heat press or tumbler press
• Heat resistant tools
• Sublimation blanks
• Design file

That’s it. You can grow from there!

Ready to Start?

If you’re just getting started with Sublimation don’t forget that it takes time! There is so much to learn but don’t worry I am here so that you don’t make the same mistakes I did!

I’ll continue adding tutorials, troubleshooting videos and business tips to help you!