Table of Contents
What kind of shirt is best for sublimation?
As mentioned above, the sublimation works with polyester which is why the best shirts to use for sublimation are 100% polyester or shirts with a high poly/cotton ratio. The higher the polyester the more vibrant and permanent the colors will be.
Can you sublimate on any shirt?
Short answer: no. It is not possible to sublimate onto cotton fabrics at all. The sublimation process transfers inks onto fabrics by bonding the dye with polymers in the transfer material. Polymers are an artificial part of different fabrics and materials, and are not present in natural fibers.
Can you sublimate on 50 50 shirts?
Sublimation will bond to blended shirts, though the colors will not be as bright as with 100% polyester. With a blend, the more polyester you have, the brighter the color, so with a 50/50 you typically end up with a “washed out” or “retro” look – which can be useful.
Can you sublimate on cotton shirts?
Now you can sublimate onto cotton using Forever Subli-Light! Sublimate onto cotton and no longer use those heavy polyester shirts. There is also no need to weed or contour cut your transfer since only the inks itself transfer over onto your textile.
Can you sublimate 65 polyester 35 cotton?
If your talking about sublimating a print on 65% polyester 35% cotton the answer is yes. But, the sublimating dyes on the print paper are disperse dyes that will only work on the polyester fibers on the blend. So, the color will be 35% weaker because it will Not go on the cotton portion of the fabric.
Can you use a Cricut for sublimation?
Turns out, it’s totally possible to use Cricut Design Space for sublimation printing! You can also use Print then Cut images from the Cricut Image Library, but I’ve found that occasionally the color can be a bit unpredictable with these images, strangely.
Is sublimation better than vinyl?
HTV gives you more options when it comes to garments as it works on any color, unlike sublimation which can only be done on white or light colored fabrics. But if you are personalizing phone cases, mugs, frames, etc., sublimation is a more simplified process that gives you more options.
What do I need to do sublimation on shirts?
Supplies Needed Sublimation printer and ink. Sublimation blank shirt (or other apparel) – You’ll notice that sublimation blanks are lighter colors, since the inks would not show well on dark fabric. Sublimation paper. Heat press.
What happens if you sublimate on 100 cotton?
In the case of products that allow cotton sublimation, the resulting image will be on the surface instead of in the surface, and may crack, peel or fade over time.
Can you sublimate 100% polyester?
If you have a colored 100% polyester tee, you can still sublimate it. However, the color of the tee will heavily affect the final look. For example, we tested the same image on a blue 100% polyester shirt. The darker parts of the transfer looked good, but the lighter parts got lost in the blue.
Can you use Gildan shirts for sublimation?
SUBSTRATE: Only 100% polyester garments such as the GILDAN PERFORMANCE® 42000 and 42400 T-shirt families are suitable for dye sublimation. White or very light coloured garments are also essential, since any background colour will affect the appearance of the Image.
What fabric can I sublimate on?
The best fabric for sublimation is 100% polyester. What is this? Other blended materials will do but aim for a minimum of 50% polyester. Apart from polyester, other good options include nylon spandex and lycra.
Can you sublimate on dark shirts?
While it’s not possible to sublimate dark colors directly, with a Silhouette CAMEO, Sawgrass Sublimation Printer, and white glitter HTV you can make it work! The process to sublimate on dark t shirts is the same as the process to sublimate on cotton shirts that are other colors – including white.
Will 50 polyester work for sublimation?
Dye sublimation, or DS, must be applied to polyester-based goods. The process will work on blends, but remember that if the garment is a 50/50 blend, then 50% of the ink will not saturate 50% of that garment. This results in a lot less color. Also, some polyester garments are not made specifically for sublimation.
What is the minimum polyester for sublimation?
The general rule of thumb with a blend is that at least 50% of it must be polyester and the remaining fibers must be able to withstand about 400˚F on the heat press. Because 100% polyester is the best fiber choice, the natural assumption is that any polyester product can be sublimated, which is not true.
Can you do sublimation on Bella canvas?
Bella + Canvas has no problem putting some of their most popular poly-blend tees up for the sublimation test. It’s a sublimation how-to guide by one of the best brands in the business. It’s soft, so much softer than a cotton tee.
Can you print sublimation on any printer?
Can any printer be used for dye sublimation printing? Inkjet printers that use a thermal printing head cannot be used for sublimation printing. Printers that use a Micro Piezo printing head can be used for sublimation printing. Commonly these are Epson or Ricoh inkjet printers.
Where can I get free sublimation designs?
Freesvgdesigns.com – Their files are listed as SVG, but they also come with a EPS and PNG file. Canva.com – I LOVE Canva and have their subscription. They have free mug design files. Eboss247.com – They have a few free files.
