Sublimation How-To Guide on a Budget

Sublimation is a great technique to learn how to use because it makes certain projects last longer. However, it can take an investment to get started but there are ways to do it without breaking the bank.

Sublimation is a process where the ink changes from a solid to a gas when heat is applied to it. Once the heat is removed, the ink will turn back into a solid on whatever surface can take the ink.

Higher end sublimation requires a special printer and ink specific to sublimation. There are printers that are made to print using special ink cartridges and paper. But this post will explain how to try this out on a much cheaper scale before deciding to invest in the more expensive equipment.

Printer

An Epson printer like the one linked below is perfect for converting into your own sublimation printer. It is important to note that once you convert the printer into a sublimation printer, it can only be used for that and cannot be changed back to a regular printer.

Amazon.com: Epson EcoTank ET-2760 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scanner and Copier : Office Products

Ink

The ink is the most important part because it will not work if the ink is not meant for sublimation. Since you will be converting a regular inkjet printer into a sublimation printer, you will need to remove the regular ink from the printer cartridges. Using a syringe, you can inject the sublimation ink into the now empty cartridges. The items linked below I have used and found to be the most effective.

Amazon.com: Printers Jack 400ML Sublimation Ink for Epson C88 C88+ WF7710 ET2720 ET4700 ET2760 ET2750 WF7820 Inkjet Printers Heat Press Transfer on Mugs, Plates, Polyester Shirts, Phone Cases etc : Office Products

Paper

Another important piece is the type of paper you print on. The ink and the paper work together when applying heat to transfer the image. The paper I use is linked below, but there are lots of options out there.

Amazon.com: A-SUB Sublimation Paper 8.5×11 Inch 110 Sheets for Any Inkjet Printer which Match Sublimation Ink 125g : Office Products

Sublimation Blanks

After you have printed out your design using the sublimation ink and paper, you will want to transfer it onto an item. This can be done on any item that has been made with a sublimation coating. It is important to use an item that has this coating on it or the image will not transfer. There are so many items out there that can be used. Coffee mugs, stainless steel tumblers, coasters, and ornaments are some examples of items I have done before. I purchase the blanks from a couple websites that I have listed below, but Amazon also has some.

Heat Transfer Vinyl & Materials | Heat Transfer Warehouse

HeatPressNation.com – Digital Heat Press Transfer Machines

Additional Items

These additional items will help when making your projects and you can find various options online within a price range that fits your budget.

Heat tape – holds image on the item during the heat transfer
Heat press – there are various heat presses available that can be used for mugs, tumblers, hats, shirts, etc
Cricut Infusible Ink Products – This is another option to look into for a more budget friendly way to do sublimation