Sublimation printing has made it possible to customize almost anything, from personal mugs and pillows to a wide range of commercial products. The print quality is flawless, and you can achieve just about any style. Consequently, sublimation supplies are becoming more popular – and so is the sublimation printing business.
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Sublimation printing mostly relies on ink and heat pressure. However, you need a range of sublimation supplies to get started.
Here is a brief overview of the supplies you will need for sublimation printing:
A sublimation printer handles the bulk of the sublimation printing process. Consequently, it is the first thing you should consider getting.
Sublimation printers come in different brands and offer varying features. Ensure that your sublimation printer meets all of your requirements. Size is one of the most important factors to consider – the largest printers can print up to 24'' of paper. Printing variety is also an important consideration – some printers only print paper, while others can print a wider range of materials, such as doormats and signs.
You will need a computer and printing software to operate your sublimation printer. The computer should be powerful enough to handle popular design programs such as CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.
Most printers come with built-in sublimation printing programs. These programs vary in quality, but most are easy to use and can create versatile designs. However, you can buy third party sublimation printing software or create your own. Remember, your software's quality will affect the quality of your sublimation printing products.
You will need a steady supply of ink and paper for consistent sublimation printing. Get a full set of ink to manipulate any color. Additionally, remember that the quality of ink and paper will directly affect the quality of your sublimation printing products.
Some people use a standard home iron for heat transfer. However, a home iron is cumbersome to use, and you need a heat press for professional sublimation printing.
A heat press is hot enough to deliver consistent and high-quality prints. Additionally, a heat press has a surface large enough to handle large papers. On that note, heat presses come in varying sizes and designs, so ensure that you get one that meets your requirements. Additionally, the heat press's design will also affect the quality and versatility of your prints.
You will also need a mug press if you want to print mugs and other ceramic utensils. However, a mug oven is recommendable as it can accommodate multiple utensils simultaneously, reducing your workload.
Sublimation blanks essentially are the products you want to print. Most sublimation printers can only print paper, as mentioned. However, advanced printers can print products such as mugs and fabrics such as mugs and pillows.
Ideally, the products must be blank before printing. Additionally, the products must either be made of polyester or feature a special polyester coating for the ink to stick to the surface.
The supplies covered above are most notable for their importance. However, you will also need a range of miscellaneous supplies that are also important for the printing process. These supplies include:
These are the sublimation supplies you will need for sublimation printing. You will also need a creative mind, keen eye, and sublimation printing skills.
Ever thought about sublimation? I remember thinking a few years back, "As though I really need another type of crafting to do." I loved my Cricut and Cuttlebug machines. I was very happy with the heat press. YouTube came along and did the same thing.
While looking at tutorials for vinyl and HTV videos, I noticed a video on sublimation in my "recommended feed." It was so interesting that I decided to watch it. Then, I watched the next one. Sublimation was something I tried very hard to avoid. However, my crafting FOMO (fear and obsession of missing out on) voice grew stronger. Finally, the battle was won.
I discovered that I had everything I needed to start basic sublimation. Okay, maybe not all. I just misplaced the printer. Yes, that's it. It's the most crucial element. That was until I found a very affordable option on eBay for a sublimation printer. It took less than a week after I ordered it. I was ready to roll with the big boys. Just kidding.
It is possible that I am not at the top in sublimation. I might not have the most up-to-date equipment. What I did have when I started sublimation was the same as what I have today. I also had the desire to explore and create. Let me give you a quick overview of sublimation basics.
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What is Sublimation?
Sublimation can also be called dye-sublimation or dye-sub printing. This is basically when you heat-dye your material. Sublimation is different from heat transfer vinyl in that dye becomes part of the material after sublimation. What supplies, equipment, and materials are required to start sublimation?
Sublimation Printer
A sublimation printer is the most important piece of equipment. There are many brands of sublimation printing machines. They range in price from $600 to thousands of dollars.
Hobbyists can save money by purchasing an inkjet printer, especially Epson. They can then "convert" the printer to sublimation. Epson is an excellent choice for beginners because it allows you to add sublimation ink from Amazon to your tanks. This was what I used during the initial stages of my sublimation journey. It worked, and I was able to make beautiful prints. An Epson EcoTank printer can be purchased on Amazon and in many stores such as Target and Office Depot.
My current printer is a Sawgrass 500. Sawgrass is a well-respected sublimation equipment manufacturer. Stay with me here. This is not an advertisement for Sawgrass. The Sawgrass 500 sublimation printer is their most basic model. Basic is what I need. Sublimation is not my main business. This is something that I do for pleasure and sometimes for small orders. More information on Sawgrass can be found on their website. Michael's recently started selling the Sawgrass 500.
Sublimation ink is also required, as I said earlier. There are many types of ink. Sublimation ink was what I used to order from Amazon when I first got my printer converted. You might get messy filling the tanks, so make sure you have gloves and towels.
The ink for the Sawgrass printer I use is different. SubliJet ink is required. They are similar to cartridges, and you don't need to refill tanks. This is probably the most difficult part of sublimation printing. It will all be simple from this point on.
Sublimation Paper
Sublimation papers are designed to absorb dye and release it when heated. Sublimation is a process that requires high temperatures. The paper is designed to withstand these temperatures. Although the transfer may look faded after printing, it is vibrant once pressed. Hayes Paper Co. is my current favorite sublimation paper.
There is an affordable alternative. Because I was new to sublimation and didn't know if it would be something I enjoyed doing, I didn't want to spend too much. YouTube showed me that laser copier papers could be used instead of sublimation. Others have used regular paper. Laser paper is my recommendation because it can withstand higher temperatures. This is important as we will soon learn that these are very hot temperatures. Walmart had a great deal on laser copier paper, lasting forever.
Sublimation Designs
Sublimation is my favorite part. You can create your sublimation prints if you own a printer. You can use Cricut Design Space or Silhouette Studio to design, but these are not necessary for basic sublimation. Microsoft Word, Publisher, and Google Docs are all options for designing. Photos can be printed directly from your smartphone or computer to your sublimation printer. Cool, right?
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