Sublimation printing is a great way to add vibrant colors to your black garments. Sublimation is when you print color onto a transfer paper, then put it onto a garment.
Sublimation transfers onto white and light-colored fabrics are straightforward. However, it can be tricky to sublimate white on dark garments, like black.
This guide will discuss how to sublimate white on black successfully. This guide will discuss the best transfer papers and inks to use and how to properly prepare the garment for sublimation.
With these tips, you’ll be able to create vibrant, eye-catching white prints on black garments.
Supplies Needed to Sublimate White on Black
You will need a few items to sublimate white on black successfully. Some of these supplies include:
Design Software
There is a variety of software you can use to create a sublimation image. One of the most common software is Adobe Photoshop. With Photoshop, you can create various effects and edit existing images to create something new. Other software includes Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator, and Inkscape. Each of these programs has a different set of features you can use to create a unique image.
Sublimation Paper
Sublimation paper is specifically designed for sublimation printing and is essential for creating stunning, vibrant images. A sublimation paper is specially coated with a coating that allows for the transfer of dye sublimation inks. It is available in various sizes and weights, depending on your needs.
Sublimation Printer
A sublimation printer is an essential tool for printing images onto sublimation paper which you can transfer into substrates, such as mugs, mouse pads, and t-shirts. This type of printer uses a special ink that is heated to a high temperature and then transferred onto the surface of the sublimation paper. The ink is then permanently embedded on the surface, creating a vibrant and durable image. Using the correct settings to print a high-quality image is also essential.
Cricut Machine/Scissors
A Cricut machine is essential for any sublimation process. It is a vinyl cutter, plotter, and scissors all in one. You can use the Cricut to cut out detailed designs that would otherwise be impossible to create with traditional scissors. It is capable of producing intricate designs with precision cuts. You can also easily use it to make multiple copies of the same design. If it is not intricate, you will need scissors to cut out any excess sublimation paper or cut out your image.
Black Substrate
Using a dark garment such as a t-shirt as a sublimation substrate is a great way to add a unique twist to your designs. The process of sublimation involves transferring a design or artwork onto a substrate like a t-shirt using heat and pressure. The design’s colors are transferred onto the substrate through dye sublimation. The white design will stand out brightly against the dark fabric, creating a bold, eye-catching design.
Lint Roller
When preparing a substrate for sublimation, cleaning the surface thoroughly before proceeding with your project is essential. Lint rollers are a great way to do this quickly and efficiently. To use a lint roller, simply roll the adhesive surface of the roller across the substrate in a back-and-forth motion. This will pick up any visible debris or fiber and remove it from the substrate.
Heat Resistant Tape
The function of heat tape in the sublimation process is to hold down the sublimation paper on the substrate during the transfer process. The heat tape acts as a barrier between the paper and the substrate, preventing the paper from shifting, curling, or lifting during sublimation. This ensures that the image is accurately transferred to the substrate and that the colors remain consistent.
Parchment or Butcher Paper
Parchment paper or butcher paper is a key component of the sublimation process. You use it to protect the heat transfer paper from the direct heat of the press. It also helps to prevent the dye from sticking to the press, which can cause the transfer to be uneven. Additionally, the parchment paper absorbs some of the pressing heat, creating a smoother finish on the transfer.
It also helps to prevent the dye from bleeding through the transfer paper and onto the fabric, which can cause a discolored and uneven look. Finally, parchment paper helps keep the transfer paper flat during the press, thus helping evenly distribute the heat across the substrate, essential for achieving a more accurate, crisper transfer.
Heat press
A heat press is a critical part of the sublimation process. It transfers dye sublimation inks to various substrates, including fabrics, mugs, and t-shirts. The heat press applies heat and pressure to the ink-coated substrate, which causes the inks to vaporize and transfer the image to the substrate. This process helps to create vibrant, durable, and long-lasting images with a sharp, clear finish. The heat press also helps to ensure that the inks are properly bonded to the substrate and that the colors remain true and vibrant. The sublimation process is completed quickly and efficiently by applying the correct pressure and heat.
Best Sublimation Fabric Type
The best fabric material for sublimation is polyester. Polyester is an extremely durable synthetic fabric that can withstand high temperatures. It is also highly porous, making it an ideal substrate for sublimation.
Sublimation dye is transferred to the fabric when polyester is exposed to heat and pressure. The result is a vibrant, long-lasting image embedded in the fabric itself. Polyester is also extremely versatile. You can use it for various applications, including banners, flags, t-shirts, and other apparel. You can also sublimate on other materials. For best results, though, it is better to use a material that has polyester as one of its components.
Sublimation Process
Below is the sublimation process which you should follow to create amazing white designs on a black substrate.
1. Create the Design
Creating your design is the first step in sublimating white on black. You can use various software programs such as Adobe Photoshop, CorelDraw, or Adobe Illustrator to create your design. You can also download images online or buy pre-made designs from online stores. You can also upload a photo to your computer.
- Adobe Photoshop is a powerful image editing software that allows you to quickly and easily create and edit photos, graphics, and designs. You can create high-quality images in various formats, including jpg, png, gif, and tiff.
- CorelDraw is a vector-based software that allows you to create logos, illustrations, and other vector graphics. You can create highly detailed images with a clean and professional finish.
- Adobe Illustrator is a powerful vector-based design program that enables you to create complex illustrations, logos, and graphics. You can create intricate and detailed images with a polished and professional finish.
You can use these and other programs to create high-quality images for sublimation, with Adobe Photoshop and CorelDraw being the most popular choices.
2. Print Your Image on the Sublimation Paper
Select the print quality of “photo” and set the paper type to “glossy.” to get the best quality print on your sublimation paper. Doing so will ensure the image has vibrant colors and a crisp finish. Additionally, it is often better to use a higher resolution setting, such as 1200 dpi or 1440 dpi, as this will create a more detailed and high-quality image.
Additionally, ensure your sublimation paper is loaded correctly into the printer by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Finally, when printing with sublimation paper, it is important to use a sublimation ink designed for your media. This will ensure the ink dries properly and does not smudge or run. You should also select “mirror” when printing your image if the orientation of the image will matter in the final printout.
When printing with sublimation paper, these steps will help you achieve a high-quality image.
3. Cut Out Your Image
Cutting out an image or excess sublimation paper using scissors or a Cricut machine is relatively simple. First, place the paper on a cutting mat and select the desired image from the design software. Next, place the scissors or Cricut machine over the image and trace the outline with the cutting tool.
You can remove the excess paper once you have traced the outline by carefully cutting around the edges of the image. Finally, remove the image from the cutting mat and discard the excess sublimation paper.
4. Prepare Your Black Substrate
It is essential to have a sublimation surface before you proceed with the sublimation process. One way to do this is to use a lint roller. Rolling a lint roller over the fabric will help to remove any dirt and lint that may be present, allowing for a better printing result. You can also preheat your fabric in the heat press for 20 seconds to remove any moisture, allowing the ink to adhere better to the fabric.
5. Position the Image on Your Substrate
You use the heat tape to secure the printed sublimation paper to the substrate to ensure the printed design does not move or shift during the sublimation process. This is important for achieving a good quality transfer of the design onto the substrate. The heat tape also helps to prevent air bubbles or wrinkles from forming in the paper as it is heated and pressed.
6. Place the Substrate on the Heat Press
To begin the sublimation process, you must place the substrate into the heat press. Using Teflon paper or butcher paper to protect the heat press panels from the sublimation dyes is essential.
The Teflon or butcher paper will also protect the substrate from any damage that may occur during the pressing process. Adjust the temperature and time settings once you place the substrate and the Teflon or butcher paper into the heat press.
7. Heat Press the Substrate
The heat press process is a quick and efficient way to transfer your sublimation design onto a substrate. Set the temperature to 380 degrees to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and heat press the fabric for 50 to 60 seconds. Also, set the pressure to medium firm for the best results. Doing so will ensure the design is properly transferred onto the substrate and will be durable and long-lasting. Remove the Teflon or butcher paper after the sublimation process is complete.
Use heat-resistant gloves when handling hot sublimated fabric to protect your hands from the heat. Sublimation involves pressing a fabric at very high temperatures, which can easily cause burns and other injuries if you do not carelessly handle the fabric. Heat-resistant gloves provide an extra layer of protection against heat and help to keep your hands safe.
8. Heat Press the White HTV Onto Tthe Sublimation Design
Print the same image as you did on your sublimation paper on a white HTV. Next, place the HTV with the image on the sublimated dark t-shirt. Note that the sublimation image on the t-shirt or black substrate will be black. It is black because the sublimation ink itself is translucent and takes the color of the base substrate, which in this case, is black.
Make sure to place the white HTV paper to perfectly align with the image you have already sublimated on your black substrate. Secure the HTV paper with heat-resistant tape. The tape prevents the white HTV from moving during the heating process. Place a protective piece of paper inside and on top of the black garment. Make sure the paper covers the entire sublimation print.
Press the HTV paper onto the shirt and set the time and pressure recommended by the manufacturer of the HTV you are using. Failure to do so may result in poor quality and incomplete adhesion.
Open your heat press and remove the protective paper, then peel off the HTV carrier paper depending on the HTV’s brand peel temperature. The peel-off temperature of a HTV paper depends on the type of vinyl you are using. Generally, you use cool peels with thinner and more delicate vinyl, while thicker HTVs are hot peels.
Congratulations, you have successfully sublimated white on a black substrate.
Conclusion
Sublimation is an effective way to transfer images to a black substrate. It is a relatively simple process that requires the right substrate, ink, and printer. It also requires a heated press to heat the substrate and ink. The results of a successful sublimation transfer are a vibrant, detailed image that will last for years. Sublimating white on black can be challenging since no white sublimation ink is available. However, you can achieve great results with the right techniques and materials. White HTV is one of the most effective ways to create white sublimation prints.
When sublimating white on a black substrate, it is important to ensure the substrate is completely clean and free from dirt or residue. You should also place the transfer paper with the coated side down. It’s also important to ensure you set the heat press to the proper temperature and pressure. Following these steps, you will create a vibrant white image on a black substrate in no time. You can become an expert in sublimating white on black with little practice and experimentation.
FAQs
What is sublimation?
Sublimation is a printing process that uses heat transfer to print graphics and text onto various items, including apparel, mugs, and more. It is also referred to as dye sublimation.
How do you sublimate white on black?
You will need to use a sublimation printer, sublimation transfer paper, and ink. Start by printing your design in reverse onto the transfer paper. Then, transfer the design onto the black material using a heat press. Finally, use a white HTV to create a stunning white design.
What type of printer do I need?
You will need a sublimation printer with sublimation ink. These printers have special ink cartridges designed to work with sublimation paper.
What type of transfer paper do I need?
You will need to use a sublimation transfer paper. This type of paper is specially designed to work with sublimation ink.
How do I know if my design is in reverse?
When you print your design, check your printer’s “Mirror Image” or “Reverse” setting. This will ensure that your design is printed in reverse, so it will print correctly when transferred to the material.
What type of heat press do I need?
You will need to use a heat press with a compatible platen size for your material. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct temperature and time settings for your material.
How do I know when the transfer is complete?
The image will be fully transferred onto the material when the transfer is complete. You can check the image by peeling away the transfer paper. Additionally, the heat press has a timer that sounds an alarm once the time you have set is up.
Are there any tips for getting the best results?
Yes, there are a few tips for getting the best results when sublimating white on black. Make sure to use high-quality transfer paper and ink, and check the transfer paper and material before you start the transfer process. You should also use a heat press with the correct temperature and time settings for your material.
