If you have just begun your sublimation journey and are worried if your transfers will come out vibrant or not, then don’t worry.
Few years back when I started my printing, I faced multiple issues due to which my prints were not coming right. I utilized many resources to know the reason.
During my learning phase I did lots of experiment and after hours of learning I was able to print correctly. However, I wasted multiple resources while mastering the skills which was on expensive end.
I don’t want you to waste your expensive resources and time and for that I have compiled a list of sublimation tips for beginners to get the right outcome. Follow along to know more.
Tips for successful sublimation for beginners
1. Select right substrate
This is a common mistake done by beginners. I have seen people who are in the initial phase of their journey choose the blanks which are not polymer coated. Due to which they are unable to transfer colors properly.
Substrate should be the right material as your ink will make a bond with its fiber. While selecting the substrate you should choose the product which has polymer coating on it or is made from polyester fabric.
Alway check your substrate before printing if it is made to accept dye – sub ink or not. There are mugs, cotton shirts, glass plates, bag etc. available in market for sublimation but are not polyester coated. So, you should first coat them with polyester and then follow transfer process.
2. Use good quality printing ink
Using high quality ink is important for getting long lasting and vibrant prints. Poor quality ink will generate dull colors which will fade over time.
3. Invest in high quality sublimation paper
Sublimation paper is actually a carrier sheet which holds the ink before it is actually transferred to the material. Get the transfer paper which is specially designed to work with your substrate and printer.
Do not invest in too thick or too thin transfer paper as it will result in poor quality. Always select the paper compatible with your material and printer.
4. Always use butcher paper
Using butcher paper while sublimating is the best way to protect your heat press from getting extra ink, which may transfer to other projects. The butcher paper will absorb the ink before it reaches the platen of the heat press.
When the ink is heated, it becomes gas and it can really cause issues if it reaches the pressign surface. To get a non coated and non waxy butcher paper to keep the heat press clean.
5. Printer settings
It is quite common to have color issues when you are beginning your first few projects of sublimation. In order to produce the best results, you should change printer settings. The common printer settings which everyone should follow is to turn on print quality option to high and second is to turn off high speed print option.
If you do not get these settings options on your sublimation printer then you should reinstall the drivers. After reinstalling the drivers you should have these settings done to get beautiful prints.
6. Printing your sublimation design
After tweaking your printer settings you need to think about the platform from where you will print your designs. You should choose a program which offers vibrant colors and uses genuine amounts of ink. Means there should not be ink wastage.
I suggest using graphic design softwares like Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Inkscape etc to create your artwork. These platforms are designed to work with vector and high DPI images for generating best quality prints.
7. Knowing right temperature and time
For transferring your beautiful artwork on the substrate you need to place transfer paper and your blank in the heat press and apply right pressure, temperature and pressure to transfer the design.
However if your heat press time, temperature and pressure settings are not right then you may ruin your design and will get a bad quality final print. Make sure to check the manufacturer’s website to get the right settings for the heat press.
8. Most useful tip – Be kind to yourself!
This is a very useful tip which reminds you to be kind to yourself. We all make mistakes, ruin multiple projects and face some failures. Which is OK and that is how we all learn. Even after four years of experience I mess up sometimes.
Whether you forget to mirror an image, burn your project, press it wrongly, it is OK! Always remember that no one is perfect and we all learn from mistakes. You should always take a step back and forgive yourself!
Tricks you should not miss as a beginner
Here are some amazing tricks which you should not miss as a beginner.
1. Clean equipments
Always clean all equipment regularly as it will help you to maintain longevity and will also make sure that you are getting best possible results. For cleaning instructions you can follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Drying time
According to substrate, drying time may vary and you should always allow sufficient drying time before passing it for final printing. It will avoid smudging of transfer issues.
3. Design placement
Always be mindful of the placement of your design on the material you are printing. Most of the designs may not look great in certain placements or they may get distorted if they are placed too close to the edge of the substrate.
4. Test prints
Always test your designs on waste pieces of your substrate before beginning the final product as it can help you to identify any issue.
5. Quality control
Always inspect the final product and make required adjustments if needed. Save these settings as it will help you to save time in future.
Conclusion
With the help of these sublimation tips for beginners you can prepare yourself to face less failures in the initial phase of your printing journey. Follow these guidelines and if you have any questions, you can comment below or you can message me.
