Sublimation is a printing method that utilizes heat to imprint a design onto fabric or other materials. The design is printed onto specialized paper using sublimation ink and then placed onto a blank material. Upon application of heat, the ink transforms into gas and firmly bonds with the material's surface, resulting in a permanent and high-quality print that is robust and long-lasting.

Sublimation, unlike heat transfer vinyls, uses heat to turn sublimation ink into a gas which is able to permeate the "pores" of the material you are printing on. This results in the design and the material becoming a cohesive item. Sublimation printing allows for permanent designs, similar to a tattoo, where as heat transfer vinyl will still be sitting on the surface of the garment or blank.

Sublimation allows you to print any designs permanently in any color you want. Unlike vinyl printing, sublimation is not limited to the brand of vinyl you purchase which gives you the ability to print any design in any color combination you want.

Sublimation works best with clothing garments made from polyester or hard surface polymer-coated items. These would be products such as coffee mugs, t-shirts, mouse pads, and more.

Fabrics that are already colored are not great candidates for sublimation as the material already has color. If you want to create custom clothing that is dark, we recommend using heat transfer vinyls.

If you are a beginner or hobbyist, we recommend a printer from Sawgrass . If you are looking to create large batch order, Epson printers are a great option.

Sublimation printing is a great option if you want your designs to last a long time. Since sublimation printing uses heat to transfer dye into the fabric or surface, it creates a bond making the design seem to be a part of the fabric or surface. It wouldn't be surprising to see it last for 10 years or longer without fading.

The transfer is moving while heated and transferring dye. Either you are pressing, moving, then pressing again, or you are peeling while hot and then laying the hot paper back down.

If your images are coming out blurry, it is likely a printer problem. I would first recommend making sure you have a high res / good quality image. Then double check that your printer nozzles / heads are clean.

For Soft garments: 385 degrees for 45 seconds medium pressure.

For Hard blanks: 400 degrees for 60 seconds medium pressure