Sublimation is a printing technology that utilizes a heat transfer process to embed a print on a surface. This printing technology is quickly gaining popularity primarily because of its high-quality results compared to other printing processes.
It produces high-quality results mainly because the ink is embedded into the material, not the surface. This means that designs have better color gradients, last longer, and are less prone to fading after prolonged use.
This is currently one of the go-to printing technologies for industries like apparel, decorative, ceramic, wood, and metal, looking to produce high-quality designs. It has also become a favorite of many small-scale and at-home projects where people use sublimation printers to create at-home craft designs.
If you’re new to sublimation printing or want to explore sublimation ideas for your home projects, you may wonder which materials you can sublimate on.
The truth is there are various materials you can sublimate on but with varying quality depending on how sublimation-friendly the surface is.
This post will explore a few of the best materials to sublimate on with tips on achieving the best results.
1. Polyester
As noted earlier, textile industries are some of the primary sublimation printing users mainly because the sublimation produces vibrant and durable designs. One of the best fabrics for sublimation is polyester. Polyester threads open when heated, allowing the die to sip and thoroughly soak the targeted fibers. The result is an intricate design that is high-quality and durable.
Another reason polyester is an excellent sublimation fabric is that it doesn’t wrinkle like natural fibers. You’re less likely to make mistakes when sublimating polyester because dye transfer will only happen to the targeted areas. Even though polyester is the best sublimation fabric, it can be uncomfortable to wear, especially when it’s 100% polyester. The material isn’t as soft as natural fibers and can sometimes cause itchiness. It also can’t withstand many wash cycles, meaning it’s less long-lasting than natural or blended fabrics.
If you’re new to sublimating and are experimenting with fabrics, polyester fabrics or shirts are an excellent place to start.
Tips for Sublimating on Polyester
Here are some things to keep in mind when sublimating on polyester:
- Adjust your heat press settings to 385°- 400°F and apply medium pressure when sublimating 100%polyester fabrics.
- Use a pressing pillow to prevent press marks from appearing on your materials.
- Use parchment paper to ensure the transfer stays in place and for better and more accurate results.
- Allow your polyester fabric to cool before peeling the transfer.
2. Synthetic Fibers
Examples of synthetic fibers include Lycra, Spandex, Nylon, and Rayon. Even though polyester is better than synthetic fibers in sublimating, synthetic fibers are more common because they offset the disadvantages of 100% polyester. Synthetic fibers usually blend polyester and other fabrics, such as nylon, to improve durability and comfort. Most synthetic fibers also respond well to sublimation because of the polyester element.
Synthetic fibers have multiple uses. Examples include making bags, machine components, backpacks, sports gear, and everyday clothes. Unlike polyester, most synthetic fibers have low absorption. They are usually combined with polyester for better sublimation printing results. With the correct information and technique, you get equally good results from sublimating on synthetic fibers as with polyester.
Tips for Sublimating on Synthetic Fibers
Here are some tips to remember when sublimating on synthetic fibers:
- Aim for at least 50% polyester for your synthetic fabrics.
- Synthetic fibers burn easily, so use low temperatures when sublimating.
- To a quick test before you begin sublimation on a synthetic fabric. It will inform you what heat press temperature works best and how long to let the fabric cool before peeling the transfer for the best results.
3. Aluminum and PVC Coated Sheets
Aluminum and PVC-coated sheets are another sublimation favorite. They are versatile and can be used to make items like water bottles, bookmarks, mirror frames, key rings, and other materials. Sublimating aluminum sheets is similar to other materials, including fabric. However, the heat press temperatures may be higher than when working with textiles.
Overall, aluminum is highly responsive to dye sublimation and produces some of the most unique and high-quality craft items you can make. One of the advantages of using aluminum sheets for sublimation includes being scratch resistant, meaning your designs will last long without on-surface damage. Aluminum is lightweight, making it ideal for various designs and projects. You can use it to make items to hang on the wall, place on counters, or decorative items like earrings and bangles.
Another advantage of aluminum is that it is robust but still malleable, meaning you can mold the sheet into a different item after sublimation.
Tips For Sublimation Aluminum and PVC Coated Sheets
- Consider aluminum and alloy blended sheets for the best sublimation results for a DIY craft project.
- The standard timeline for pressing a substrate on an aluminum sheet is approximately 90-120 seconds but you should check the manufacturer’s instructions to be sure.
- The best heat press temperature for aluminum sheet sublimation is 375-400 F.
4. Fiberglass
Fiberglass has two distinct meanings. The first refers to a fabric made of woven glass filaments, and the other is reinforced plastic. Both work well with sublimation. To make a fiberglass fabric, glass fragments are flattened into a sheet and then woven into cloth. Fiberglass is strong, lightweight, and comfortable to touch. It also withstands heat and absorbs dye well, making it suitable for sublimation printing.
Even though fiberglass clothing is not as common as cotton or synthetic fabrics, they have some of the best textile qualities. For example, fiberglass fabrics don’t rot and are mildew resistant. They don’t overstretch or shrink, meaning they withstand more wash cycles than synthetic fibers.
Additionally, they have relatively high thermal conductivity but low thermal expansion. This means fiberglass fabrics are less likely to burn if you increase your heat press level by a few degrees. Generally, fiberglass fabrics are durable and available in different finishes and weave types. Try fiberglass if you’re looking for a different fabric type for a home sublimation project.
Tips for Sublimating Fiberglass
Here are factors to remember when sublimating fiberglass:
- Use moderate to heavy pressure.
- Maintain the temperature at 375-400 F on average
- To a few fabric tests before attempting the final sublimation printing
- Refer to the packaging or the manufacturer for tips on how to sublimate the material.
5. Polymer Coated Items
Like fiberglass, polymers come in two distinct groups: thermosets and thermoplastics. Most polymers are thermoplastic, meaning they can be reheated and reformed into different items. Examples of everyday use polymer items include pens and markers, Tupperware, plates, cups, phone cases, coated licenses, key chains, business cards, notebooks, and others.
Polymer-coated items are some of the most popular sublimation project materials because of their heat resistance and customizable nature. Additionally, they are the backbone of many small and medium businesses, as people can purchase blank polymer-coated items online and use sublimation printing to make customized items.
Polymers are highly resistant to chemicals. For example, they are used in making bottles for cleaning chemicals like disinfectants and soap. Additionally, they absorb dye quickly and are resistant to fading. Some of the sublimation projects you can try with polymer-coated items include:
- Homemade toys.
- Reusable water bottles.
- Custom key rings.
- Decorative phone cases for sale or personal use.
Tips for Sublimating Polymer-Coated Items
Some factors to remember when sublimating polymer-coated items include:
- Because polymers are highly heat resistant, experiment with different designs, colors, and patterns for unique craft projects.
- Use high-quality images and designs so they don’t pixelate when transferred to the polymer-coated surface.
- Follow temperature and sublimation process recommendations on the polymer-coated product packaging of excellent results.
6. Ceramics
Ceramics is another heat-resistant material that works well in sublimation. Ceramics typically make different items like plates, mugs, bottles, and kitchenware. The best thing about sublimating on ceramic is the design will be vibrant and resistant to wear even if you frequently use a dishwasher or microwave.
Like polymer-coated items, online and physical store stock ‘blank’ ceramics to allow users to create custom designs on different things, sublimating ceramics can have excellent results and even transition to a business when done right.
One of the most straightforward ceramic items to sublimate is a mug. You can start with a simple design before experimenting with intricate patterns. Please note that the ceramic items you use for sublimation must be polymer coated. The polymer coating will be the absorbent material allowing the dye to transfer from the machine to the item.
Also, note that some ceramics are covered in a clear film. Ensure you remove the film before sublimating the item. For round objects like mugs, sublimation is done with a mug press machine.
Tips for Sublimating Ceramics
Here are some pointers to help you achieve the best results when sublimating on ceramics:
- Sublimation instructions vary for different ceramic materials and items. Ensure you read the instructions before beginning your project.
- Ensure you check and remove any clear protective film covering your ceramic item to avoid ruining your design.
- Check if you’re sublimating the right side when sublimating tiles and coasters. Note tiles don’t have a poly-coating on the wrong side.
- Some ceramic blanks require pressing upside down. Ensure your sublimation print is facing the right direction.
- Check the manufacturer’s instructions on using a pressing pad for your ceramic sublimation.
7. Wood
Wood is another material quickly gaining popularity in the sublimation craft world. Working with wood has various advantages. It is light, versatile, robust, and renewable. Wood signs are already a popular DIY project, but using sublimation ink can take your designs to the next level.
Even though wood is a unique and durable craft item, using it for sublimation isn’t as straightforward as other materials like fabrics and polymers. This is because wood requires special techniques to correctly and accurately transfer sublimation dye to its surface. Remember, sublimation is a heat transfer process. Attempting to sublimate wood directly will burn it.
Sublimating wood requires at least three coats of polymer paint. The polymer will absorb the dye through the heat transfer process without burning. After painting the wood, you’ll have to let it cure for at least 24 hours.
If you don’t want to go through the lengthy painting and curing process, you can order pre-cured and sublimation-ready craft wood from stores or online.
Tips for Sublimating Wood
Here are tips to remember when sublimating wood:
- Painting your wood pieces white can help your designs pop.
- If you’re sublimating wood for the first time, it’s best to order pre-cured woodcuts from a store instead of attempting to paint and cure it yourself.
- Preheat the wood before sublimating to ensure it doesn’t have any moisture. Having moisture will ruin the dye quality and produce dull designs.
- Read the instructions to avoid missteps in the sublimation process.
8. Vinyl
Vinyl is one of the best materials you can use for sublimation. It’s a popular fabric decorating item because of its lightweight nature. Vinyl comes in different weights and types meaning you can always find a suitable style for your project. Vinyl and polyester have similar physical and absorption qualities but varying chemical compositions. This means vinyl is an excellent sublimation material with fantastic results.
Additionally, you can use vinyl to customize fabrics that are not sublimation-friendly, like cotton. There are two types of vinyl: heat transfer vinyl and adhesive vinyl. You can sublimate on both, but HTV has the best results. Besides being made explicitly for sublimation, HTV comes in solid colors and finishes like glitter, metallic, patterned, flock, and puff. This means you have more design options with HTV than with adhesive vinyl.
Examples of sublimation craft projects you can make with vinyl include DIY T-shirts, birthday cards, notebooks, posters, and many more.
Tips for Sublimating on Vinyl
Here are some factors to consider when sublimating on vinyl:
- Different vinyl types require different temperatures. Refer to the instructions to ensure you use the correct temperature.
- Use a pressing pillow when making vinyl designs on fabrics.
- Use heat transfer paper when using permanent vinyl.
Conclusion
Sublimating is one of the best printing techniques today. Unlike other printing methods, sublimation embeds the ink into the material instead of leaving it on the item’s surface. This technique produces durable designs that are less prone to shine or fade. Some materials you can sublimate include polyester and synthetic materials with a blend of polyester and fiberglass. Wood is also an excellent sublimation material because of its versatility. However, you’ll have to paint it with polymer paint and cure it for 24 hours before sublimating it.
FAQs
Can You Sublimate on Cotton?
You can sublimate on cotton. However, fabrics with natural fibers like cotton burn quickly and don’t retain the dye, as well as polyester. For your sublimation projects, aim for fabrics with 50% polyester.
Can You Sublimate Uncoated Polyester Material?
Uncoated polyester materials like ceramics or metal can’t absorb the dye, making them unsuitable for sublimation.
