If the designs on all of your favorite t-shirts look worn or faded, you might want to switch to sublimation printed t-shirts.
With this one-of-a-kind way of printing, you can make detailed pictures that will never fade.
So, are you ready to learn how to use a sublimation printer to print on T-shirts?
Sublimation printing uses high temperatures and dyes that react to heat to turn the dye into a gas.
The gas is then used to join the threads of the polyester fabric together to make intricate patterns that will last.
This method is for printing on polyester t-shirts and uses a heat press, sublimation inks, and a sublimation printer.
In this article, you will learn how to print with sublimation and how to make your own unique sublimation print for t-shirts by using the best sublimation printer.
Getting Started
Before you can start printing a T-shirt, you have to prepare it by downloading your design.
How to get a T-shirt ready to print on:
- Use a heat press or an iron to ensure the surface is level and smooth wherever you want to insert the design.
- Your artwork may acquire wrinkles and smudges.
- If you’re using an EasyPress or similar little hand press instead of a full clamshell heat press, ensure you have a clean, level surface to work on.
- Acquire an abundance of lint rollers. Before putting it on the clothing, repeatedly apply the transfer paper to it.
- This is a crucial step since any excess fluff might cause stains and blotches to appear on your photograph.
- Before using the heat press, place a piece of thick paper inside the shirt to prevent the dye from accessing the other side.
The Design:
This procedure may be as sophisticated or as simple as you choose. If you would prefer to utilize a pre-made design, several sites provide free visuals.
OR snap a digital photograph. Using Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape, you may create your own lettering or image.
Corel Draw is another paid alternative for designing shirt graphics. Be conscious of the distinctions between raster and vector graphics when selecting a shirt design.
Pixels form raster graphics.
There are three image formats: JPEG, GIF, and PNG. Due to their large number of pixels, stretching them might lead them to become fuzzy.
The majority of images are in this format, and their digital resolutions vary based on the number of pixels they contain.
A more detailed picture will have more pixels. Vector graphics employ more intricate lines, curves, and angles to generate expandable visuals.
Although creating a vector artwork does need some expertise in graphic design, many artists prefer this approach due to its versatility.
These pictures are offered in EPS, PSD, and JPEG formats. Keep in mind that you must reverse the transfer paper before applying it to the garment.
This specifies that you must “reflect” any text that occurs anywhere in your design. This capability is widespread in design software and is simple to locate.
Create a Print
The finest aspect of sublimation printing is printing on garments, and you may utilize the best DTG printer! You get to see the manifestation of the magical part of the procedure.
- Print your picture or text on sublimation transfer paper using your sublimation printer. The pattern may seem drabber than you had envisioned, but it will glow brilliantly when heated.
- Ink the facing side and apply your design to the fabric of the garment. Ensure that it is placed without slipping or spreading on the ground.
- For further security, you might also opt to adhere to the paper’s corners using heat-safe glue.
- Next, protect the paper by covering it with a Teflon sheet. This kind of protection sheet is often provided with heat presses.
- Refer to the transfer paper packaging for heat-press temperature specifications. Typically, a temperature range of 360°F to 400°F is required for sublimation printing.
- Underneath the heat press, position the Teflon sheet. You would shut a clamshell press and permit the application of pressure.
- If you have an EasyPress or an equivalent hand press, you will be responsible for a substantial amount of labor.
- The duration will vary according to the kind of sublimation paper you use. Refer to the paper package for precise instructions. The design should be put in the heat press for between 30 and 40 seconds.
Immediately after using the heat press, remove the Teflon layer and transfer the paper.
Now, observe your attractive T-shirt!