What is Sublimation?

The sublimation transfers are a little different than htv (heat transfer vinyl) and plastisol.
First off, they are just a piece of paper. So that is different.
They are printed in reverse so they are placed face down on the shirt.
The shirt itself needs to be white or light and a high content of polyester. 100% is best but you can go down to 50% but note that the more poly, the more bright/vibrant your colors of your print will be. The less poly, the more faded/vintage the print will look.
Also, the colors on the transfer don't necessarily represent the colors that will appear on the shirt, so don't be alarmed if you see the print and it looks a bit different than you thought. I will more than likely look like what you think after you press it.
Another difference is that the press needs to go up to 400 degrees and you set your timer for 60 seconds. Now that is a standard, but I usually use a blend with Rayon, so I bring my temp and dwell time down so I don't scorch the shirt.
You also cannot use a teflon sheet. They retain heat and can effect your print. Also ink migrates and you don't want ink migrating to your teflon sheet because no matter how much you clean it, it can still transfer ink to another shirt or your platen.
What you need to use is butcher paper. That is the best but you can use parchment, copy paper. Something that will catch migrating ink so it doesn't transfer to the other side of your garment or your platen. So you need it in between your shirt or bag or whatever and on top. AND you throw it away every time. Do not save or reuse these. It may look like no ink migrated to it, but it does! (don't ask me how I know)!
Also, the transfer will look like it has enough ink on it to be reused, but I just throw mine away. Because I have tested it and the second press is very dull and sometimes ink can migrate around it leaving a fuzzy area. If you like the design your self and want it for your self, you can press it on a personal shirt, but I wouldn't ever sell a shirt with a 2nd pressed sub transfer.
ALSO your pressure needs to be very light. AND I would use a pressing pillow AND I would tear the edges of the transfer. Sublimated tee shirts often get a press box. It us usually due to too much pressure. It is where the fibers of the fabric were squished down so hard and it is permanent. Some people say they take a clean crumpled up piece of paper and rub the lines to smooth them out. Some say they take the shirt and shake it /snap it to get them out. I have done ALL of these things and I still get them slightly. So just know it is the nature of the game to have them. The trick is to make them the least amount of noticeable.
I absolutely allow anything I make to be re sold on finished products. So yes, you get a commercial license from anything I sell. Even if I didn't create it, if I bought it, I only buy graphic assets that come with a commercial license, so you're safe.
I hope I answered all of your questions... Tanya

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published