Sublimation printing has changed the world of custom printing but many crafters always find themselves wondering how you can achieve the same colorful, and vibrant effect on dark clothes.
Traditional dye – sub printing works best on light color materials, but innovative techniques and materials have now allowed you to make amazing designs on darker garments.
Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or a small business owner who wants to expand your services to explore new creative avenues, you can trust me.
I have been practicing printing on dark shirts for the last year and I have mastered the right technique to print dark shirts. To know more follow along.
What do you need to sublimate a dark shirt?
For printing artwork on dark color shirts, you will need usual elements which are needed for the standard dye – sub process like printer, special ink, transfer paper and heat press. To get the best result you should choose a 100% dark color cotton shirt.
What are the challenges to print black shirts?
Dark shirt sublimation bit tricky and there are few challenges which I faced initially. These are.
1. Color limitations
The special ink used in printing is transparent and blends with the fabric color. Because of the dark background, many colors, mainly lighter shades will appear less vibrant or are even muted compared to the appearance on lighter fabrics.
It means that if you print on the black color shirt, the design will be invisible or dull as the ink cannot overcome the black color.
But here is the magic. To make the artwork stand out on black fabric, you need to use white under base, which could be the layer of vinyl or white ink which covers the area where you wish to print.
The white base acts as the reflective layer, providing the bright foundation for the design colors, thereby enhancing the visibility and vibrancy. However, making the white base can be tricky and time – consuming as you require to align it perfectly with your design, and use the correct materials and tools for it.
2. Color fading and bleeding
Another challenge is when printing dark shirts there is a chance of color fading or bleeding. This can occur if the settings of the heat press is not optimized for the specific ink and fabric combination. In addition, insufficient pressure or heat may result in incomplete ink penetration, causing the design to fade prematurely.
How to sublimate on a dark shirt?
Sublimation for dark textile can be done in two ways.
Method 1 – Using Vinyl – Best way
Sublimation vinyl, also known as the HTV(heat transfer vinyl) is the two – layered versatile material which allows you to print amazing designs onto dark fabrics along with black shirts.
The top layer is coated with polyester which is ideal for dye – sub printing. The bottom layer is the heat activated adhesive which adheres to the fabric when heat is applied.
You print your image on the vinyl using the special heat transfer printer, and cut it out with precision and then transfer to the shirt with the help of a heat press.
Materials required
- Dark shirt
- Cutting machine
- Teflon sheet
- Weeding tool
- Heat press
- Sublimation vinyl (white or clear)
- Ink
- Printer
- Software like photoshop or Cricut design space
Steps to follow
Here are the steps to sublimate dark shirts using vinyl.
Step 1 – Create a design
First create the design using graphic software like Photoshop, CorelDraw, or Cricut Design Space. You can also download a ready-made design from the internet. However, make sure to mirror it and adjust its size and resolution as per your vinyl size and shirt.
Also, do not forget to save the artwork as a JPG or PNG file and always print a test copy on the regular paper for checking the alignment and quality.
Step 2 – Print design on sublimation vinyl
Once the design is ready, print it using printer and ink. Ensure to lead the sublimation vinyl in the printer and place coated side facing upwards and then print the design on the vinyl at the highest resolution of the printer.
Step 3 – Cut the design
When the ink is completely dry, cut the design with the help of a cutting machine and ensure that the cutting machine has proper speed, blade and pressure settings. For cutting with precision, you need to load the vinyl in the cutting machine with the printed side facing upwards and then cut the design from vinyl. You can also leave the small margin around the design and can avoid cutting through the vinyl backing.
Step 4 – Take out excess vinyl
Make sure to carefully cut out the excess vinyl around the artwork. Always take your time, mainly with delicate and thin sections. Ensure to leave the vinyl backing intact and also avoid peeling off the vinyl which is the part of your design.
Step 5 – Preheat the heat press
Now you have to transfer the print on the black fabric. So, first preheat the heat press at 375°F to 400°F. It will be best to press the shirt before printing to remove wrinkles and moisture. Use the Teflon sheet to protect the vinyl and shirt from scorching or sticking.
Step 6 – Place shirt on the heat press
Now position the shirt on the heat press and then position the vinyl design on the desired areas of the shirt. Make sure the printed side is facing down.
Step 7 – Press the vinyl and shirt
Now heat press the timer to 45 seconds and apply medium pressure i.e. around 35 to 50 psi evenly. Refrain from lifting the heat press too early as it will prevent proper adhesion. The pressure and heat will do the magic of turning ink from solid to gas and then again to solid state, making a permanent bond with the fiber.
When the timer beeps, lift the press. Allow the vinyl to cool down before peeling off the transfer sheet.
Method 2 – Using glitter HTV
GHTV(Glitter heat transfer vinyl) is the type of vinyl which adds a texture and sparky element to the sublimated design. GHTV works for the printing on dark/black fabrics and it adds the shine and sparkle to the print and makes it stand out on the dark fabric.
Material required
- Teflon sheet
- Lint roller
- Cricut easy press or heat press
- Blank shirt
- Weeding tool
- Cricut machine for cutting
- Siser glitter HTV
- Transfer paper
- Printer
Steps to follow
Sublimation on dark fabric requires below steps to be followed.
Step 1 – Create a design
The initial step is to make a beautiful artwork using any graphics software. But make sure to mirror the design, adjust size and the resolution as per the HTV size and shirt. Also save your size in JPG or PNG format.
Step 2 – Print and Cut
Once your design is ready, load the transfer paper in the printer and print it at the highest resolution. When the ink is dried completely, load the glitter HTV on the cutting machine and carefully cut the design, ensuring precision and also avoid cutting through the adhesive backing.
Step 3 – Weeding
Now grab the weeding tool and remove excess glitter HTV.
Step 4 – Preheat the heat press and shirt
Turn on the heat press and then set it to the recommended temperature of 375°F to 400°F. Always preheat the heat press and shirt to remove the wrinkles and moisture. Make sure to use the Teflon sheet to cover the heat press plate and to avoid using the moisture and steam on the heat press.
Step 5 – Position and press
Lay the shirt on the heat press and press it without design to remove wrinkles. Next place the sublimation paper on the top of glitter HTV design, with the printed side facing down. Now cover it with the teflon paper for protecting HTV from any excessive heat. Press the machine at medium press for 45 seconds.
Step 6 – Peeling off
Once the pressing is complete, carefully lift the heat press after the beep sound. Now allow the print to cool down a bit and then peel the paper, backing slowly and evenly, ensuring the design remains stuck to the shirt.
After care tips for sublimated dark shirts
It is necessary to follow after care tips for maintaining the durability and quality of printed dark shirts. Here are the tips which I found useful.
1. Wash care
Always prefer to hand wash sublimated dart shirts or you can choose a gentle cycle only with cold water in the washing machine. Also use mild detergent as it helps to preserve the color and prevents the potential bleeding. Make sure to turn the shirt inside out for protecting the outer artwork while washing.
2. Avoid bleach
Bleach is a very strong agent which can compromise the integrity of prints. It is mandatory to avoid bleach when washing the black fabric for preventing any damage, discoloration or fading in the vibrant design.
3. Drying method
For sublimated dark shirts, air drying is the best method, however make sure to avoid direct sunlight as the UV rays may result in early color fading.
4. Ironing instructions
Never iron on the printed area as it may damage the print.
What are the benefits of sublimating dark shirts?
Designing dark shirts can benefit in below three ways.
1. Vibrant and long lasting prints
The artwork looks vibrant and sharp on dark surfaces. Also the color will not run or fade even after multiple washes. The ink will not crack or peel off over time. All the factors make dark printed shirts an amazing choice for promotional giveaways or team uniforms.
2. Versatile
You can create complex designs with various colors and to your surprise, the result is always going to be of high quality. Additionally you can play with different color combinations and can do experiments as you are not limited by the number of colors in the design.
3. Easy and quick process
The process of printing is relatively easy and quick. As soon as your design is ready you can print it in minutes. So, this is the best option for a last minute project. Also if you need to print a large number of shirts in less time, this is a good choice.
Things to consider while washing printed dark shirts
There are a few things you should consider while washing dark printed shirts.
- Make sure to wash the shirt in cold water as it will prevent ink from fading.
- Use mild detergent and also avoid using fabric softener or bleach.
- Always hang and dry the shirt instead of putting it in the dryer. It will help to prevent the dye from peeling or cracking.
Conclusion
Being creative is something I love, even when there is a problem, there are solutions. Identifying how to sublimate on dark shirts is the big step in refining my sublimating skills. Using above guidance, you can also take a step forward and enhance your printing knowledge. If you have any other idea of printing dark shirts or have any question comment below or contact me directly.
FAQs
Q- How long will the sublimated dark shirt last?
If proper care is taken, then sublimated shirts can last for years as the print will not fade or peel off even after multiple washes. For this you need to follow wash method and drying instructions and after that you should understand how to store the printed shirts.
Q- Can I sublimate on any color shirt?
Yes, you can easily sublimate on any color shirt, but make sure it is made of polymer or should have polymer coating. But if you are printing on dark or black color shirt then you should follow proper steps of printing as you won’t be able to directly sublimate on dark fabrics.
