Sublimation printing
Published on January 23 2025
Ever thought about selling custom mugs, tiles, apparel or other sublimation products? This blog will tell you all you need to know about what sublimation printing is, how it works and how you can sell custom sublimation products on your ecommerce business.
What is sublimation printing?
Sublimation is a method of printing an image onto a product using heat and pressure. This process requires sublimation paper and sublimation ink. These are applied to a product suitable for sublimation, such as a T-shirt or hoodie.
When heated to a temperature between 180°C and 200°C, the ink transforms into a gas that bonds with the material it is pressed onto.
This is why sublimation printing produces high-quality prints that do not fade. The products that this technique works on the best are light-colored, polyester-based surfaces or specially coated materials.
How to make sublimation designs?
Creating sublimation designs can be done using popular design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Canva, or Illustrator. However, if you’re looking for a simpler approach, the 2D & 3D Product Customizer that we offer streamlines the process, making it also easy and efficient.
When designing, it is essential to work in RGB color mode to achieve vibrant, lively colors that remain bright and perfectly suited for sublimation printers. As a reminder, sublimation printers use heat-sensitive ink and transfer paper to produce stunning, permanent print on polyester or coated surfaces. For the best results, always ensure your designs are high-quality by checking that the resolution of the prints are at least 300 DPI (dots per inch)
In addition, be sure to mirror the designs horizontally before printing. This ensures that the final output appears correctly after the transfer process. When using a design tool, this step is often automated, just to make your life a bit easier.
The file format required for sublimation printing depends on the specific printer you are using, with PNG, PDF, and JPEG being the most common options. Sublimation designs uniquely bring colors to life, creating prints that are vibrant, dynamic, and almost magical. This makes them perfect for giving your customers an unforgettable experience when they order their own personalized products from your assortment.
Which products can you sell through sublimation?
Products that are ideal for selling normally consist of apparel, such as t-shirts, hoodies, sports uniforms, bags, hats and even socks. But also products such as tiles and mugs. In addition to artwork, popular printed designs often feature logos, names, and vibrant full-color photos.
The difference between sublimation and screen printing
Sublimation and screen printing are two popular printing methods, each with unique advantages. Screen printing uses stencils to apply ink, making it ideal for simpler designs with few colors. It is cheaper than sublimation but limited to smaller print areas. Sublimation is perfect for full color designs that cover the entire surface of a product. It offers long-lasting results. While screen printing works on a variety of materials, sublimation is best for polyester fabrics and polymer-coated items.
How can Instant Design Tool help with sublimation printing?
As mentioned earlier, you can streamline the sublimation printing process with our 2D & 3D Customizer. This tool allows you to easily add designs to apparel and lets your customers see their creations in real-time on the product. Beyond apparel, it is also perfect for items like mugs and other customizable products.
With our software, you can take it a step further by selling products on a print on demand basis through our sister company, Print API. This solution is ideal for starting a business without inventory risks, and it even supports white label options for a fully branded experience. Contact our sales for all the possibilities!
