Can You Remove Sublimation Ink From Shirt? The 185 Detailed Answer

Sublimation printing is a fairly new method that creates super vibrant and durable designs on fabric. This process uses heat to bond a special dye to synthetic fibers. But you can also learn how to sublimate on cotton fabrics with a few special tricks!

One of the best ways to sublimate onto cotton is to use heat transfer vinyl between the cotton and the dye. Attaching special sublimation fabric sheets also provides a good workaround for sublimating onto cotton. Printers also use synthetic spray coatings on cotton to help bond the natural fibers with sublimation dyes.

In this article you will learn why sublimation dyes work. You will learn seven techniques for sublimation printing on cotton. Finally, find tips on making your own spray coating to sublimate onto cotton!

Can you sublimate onto 100% cotton fabric?

You cannot sublimate 100% cotton yourself, but you can get around this by applying special treatments to the cotton to make the sublimation process work. These workarounds include using different types of heat transfer vinyl or applying a special coating to the surface of the cotton before using a heat press to start the sublimation process.

Why doesn’t sublimation work on cotton? During the sublimation process, heat causes the sublimation dye to become gaseous. At the same time, the heat also causes the synthetic fibers in the polyester to open up, allowing the gas to slip inside.

As the synthetic fabric cools, the dye reverts to a solid form and the polyester fibers truly close, keeping the dye and fabric chemically bonded at the molecular level.

This process – the actual chemical sublimation – is only possible between sublimation dyes and plastic.

If you try this on pure cotton the design will look great at first. Cotton has a high natural absorbency, so the color absorbs a little and looks nice. But the sublimation ink will wash out of the cotton as soon as it touches water because the chemical bonding process hasn’t taken place.

For a long time, printers and home artists had no choice but to do without cotton T-shirts and hoodies. But recent innovations in printing technology have resulted in several simple methods for successfully sublimating cotton shirts.

This is great news because cotton fabrics often feel much softer and more breathable than synthetics like polyester. For this reason, many t-shirt printers and small business owners prefer to print on cotton.

Sublimation temperature for cotton

Sublimation on cotton requires quite hot temperatures from 360℉ to 400℉. The pressing time varies. You can usually find recommended times and settings for heat pressing on the packaging of your sublimation transfer paper.

Sublimating requires a heat press. You can use a small press like the Cricut EasyPress, but an iron and ironing board don’t apply enough heat and pressure to create a chemical bond.

How to sublimate onto cotton: 7 methods

You can successfully sublimate cotton using several different methods, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that you need some sort of intermediary between the dye and the cotton.

Many home artists like to use vinyl for this. You can also make or buy a special synthetic spray coating for cotton fabrics that works very well.

1. With vinyl

Create your digital design with a graphic design program of your choice. Place a sheet of Siser EasySubli in your sublimation printer and print the image directly onto the vinyl. Siser recommends using a Sawgrass printer and EasySubli ink for best results. Next, place the printed design in a Cricut or other cutting machine to cut out the outline of the design. Remove the excess vinyl. Mask the vinyl by carefully applying a clear masking film with a squeegee. This way you can lift the vinyl design and wear it with your shirt or cotton garment. Line up the vinyl design on your shirt. Place a teflon sheet over the design to protect it during hot pressing. Set your heat press to 311℉. The lower temperature than usual works best on the vinyl surface. Just press the design for 15 seconds.

Special types of thermal transfer vinyl such as Siser EasySubli make a great substitute surface for sublimating onto cotton. Note, however, that you can’t just sublimate to just any old HTV! With sublimation you always need to find the right surface that contains polyester for the dye binding process to take place.

You will find some advantages and disadvantages of this method. The vinyl has a slightly stiff, raised feel on the fabric surface, just like any other HTV application on cotton. But the sublimation process works, and you can safely wash the shirt after using your heat press to seal the Easy Subli onto it!

2. With glitter HTV

Start by creating, editing or downloading an SVG design of your choice. Flip the design so it doesn’t end backwards. Send the design to your electronic cutting machine, cut out and remove the excess vinyl. Apply the glitter vinyl to your cotton surface according to the instructions on the vinyl packaging. Typically you use a heat press to seal the vinyl to the cotton at a temperature of 400ºC for about 60 seconds. Once the cotton has cooled you can proceed to the sublimation part of this method. If you haven’t already done so, print your design onto sublimation transfer paper. You will need a sublimation printer for this. Place the transfer paper printed side down so it lines up perfectly with the vinyl cutout on the cotton. You can use heat resistant tape to keep the design aligned. Set your heat press again to 400C for about 60 seconds. You should now have a colourful, glittery design on your shirt!

Before commercial products like EasySubli came along, home printers had already figured out a way to sublimate cotton with white glitter HTV. You have to like glitter to try this method, but the cool thing is that the tiny glitter particles on the surface of this heat transfer vinyl contain polyester, which allows for the sublimation process!

The downside to sublimating onto HTV is that you have to do that extra step of cutting and weeding the vinyl before applying the design to the cotton. But the big advantage is that you can use this method on any shirt color. Actual sublimation only works on white or light-colored fabric, but you can also apply Glitter HT to black or dark-colored fabric!

Also, if you wanted to make an intricate design out of HTV only, you would have to cut out many pieces for each color of vinyl. This way you can simply ink on white glitter vinyl to create a multicolored design!

3. With spray coating

The most popular professional method of sublimating cotton is to apply a synthetic coating to the surface of the cotton and then proceed with the sublimation process. Popular coating sprays like Poly T get good reviews, although you might find them a little pricey.

With this method you use two sprays. The first removes the sizing from the cotton shirt and the second creates a synthetic surface for the sublimation transfer.

Start by spraying the shirt thoroughly until it feels damp. Set your heat press to 330℉ and place a cotton cloth over the bottom platen if you have a clamshell press. If you have a small press, place a cotton cloth on your flat pressing surface. Spread a piece of parchment paper over the top of the damp shirt. Hold the press for 30 seconds. Steam comes out as the spray removes the size from the cotton shirt. Next, apply a second coat of the spray to the shirt. Apply again the 330° heat press for 30 seconds to fix the coating. After cooling, you should feel a plastic surface on the fabric. Place a piece of parchment or butcher paper under the cotton shirt. Line up your sublimation transfer on top of the cotton fabric, then place another piece of parchment or butcher paper on top for protection. Set your heat press to 385℉ and apply pressure for 70 seconds to allow the sublimation process to take place.

One of the challenges you face when using a spray coating like PolyT is that the coating tends to attract dust. Even a small speck of dust or dirt will leave a mark on your design, so try to work in a dust-free environment!

4. With sublimation fabric sheets

Sublimation fabric sheets like Forever Subli Light allow you to most closely mimic the appearance of actual sublimation on polyester fabric. These lightweight sheets don’t form a thick barrier like HTV, making it appear as if the dye has actually penetrated the cotton fabric.

Additionally, using these special panels of fabric does not require the complex cutting process used at HTV!

Create or download a colorful vector design. Make sure you mirror the design before printing. Place the blank side of the fabric sheet, printed side down, in your sublimation printer and print the design onto the sheet. Prepare your shirt by pre-ironing it for 15 or 20 seconds. This creates a smooth, wrinkle-free surface for your design. Align the printed fabric sheet where you want it on the shirt. Cover it with a piece of parchment paper or a silicone press mat. Press for 30 seconds at a temperature of 365℉. Peel off the transfer paper while it is still hot. Immediately apply finish paper and press again for 30 seconds. You can get either matte or gloss finishing paper that will help seal the design in permanently.

The only catch with using these fabric sheets is that you have to use very bright vector designs. They must have a CMYK color value of at least 150%, which you can check on your printer. You need bold, vibrant colors for this method to show off well.

5. On dark cotton

You can use HTV white glitter and Siser EasySubli to create bright, vibrant sublimation designs on dark cotton. For step-by-step instructions on how to use these two methods, read the sections above!

The cool thing about using a medium between the sublimation and the cotton is that you can use it to add a white background. This allows you to apply colorful designs to dark or black fabrics, which you cannot do when sublimating directly onto polyester fabric.

6. With Cricut

The best way to use a Cricut as part of the sublimation process is to cut out a white glitter HTV shape and then apply sublimation transfer paper over the glitter.

If you want a bright, multicolored design, you probably don’t want to create it out of vinyl. You would have to cut out many tiny pieces of different colors from vinyl and then put them together like a puzzle! For this reason, most printers will use one, two, or three color HTV designs when they want to use vinyl on a shirt.

But if you add the step of applying a sublimation transfer to the vinyl, you can use whatever colors you want!

Check out these tips to get the best result when using your Cricut for sublimation:

For a glitter look, use types of white glitter HTV that contain polyester. You can read the product descriptions carefully or buy glitter HTV specially made for sublimation.

Alternatively, you can use Cricut’s dedicated line of Infusible Inks. You need to buy accessories from Cricut, but with them you can easily master sublimation on HTV.

Other vinyl products like Siser EasySubli work great with certain printers like the Sawgrass models, but deliver excellent results because they’re specifically designed for sublimation.

7. With silhouette

Once you have your design ready, leave an image in color for printing and create a transparent outline for cutting. You can easily do this using the tools in the Silhouette program. If your design includes lettering, make sure to mirror it. Cut out the outline of the shape on the white HTV with your silhouette. Follow the instructions on the HTV packaging to apply the vinyl to your shirt with your heat press. Print the color design onto a sublimation transfer paper using a Sawgrass sublimation printer. Set your heat press to 400℉. Carefully place the transfer paper, printed side down, onto the vinyl. Spread a protective Teflon sheet over the transfer paper. Apply the heat press for one minute.

Will sublimation wash out of cotton?

The Silhouette Cameo line works much like a Cricut machine, allowing you to cut out vinyl shapes for heat transfer to use as the base for your sublimation cotton print. Brother makes the Silhouette electronic cutting machines, which have an excellent reputation in the crafting world. Also, they come with a very nice design product called Silhouette Software that you can use to create your sublimation printing designs.

Sublimation will wash out of cotton when attempting to seal the sublimation transfers onto untreated fabric. This happens because the synthetic sublimation dye cannot chemically bond with the all-natural cotton fibers.

But you can sublimate onto cotton by creating a synthetic surface on the fabric. If you apply a coating spray to the cotton before sublimating or use HTV vinyl, sublimation will take place and the dye will not wash out of the cotton.

Why did my sublimation ink fade after washing?

Sublimation ink can fade after washing for a number of reasons including poor quality transfer paper or improper heat settings. One of the main reasons sublimation printing is used is that it creates permanent, vibrant designs on fabric. The sublimation process bonds deeply with the fabric and creates a more durable print than any other method on the market today.

But something can go wrong resulting in the ink fading rather than maintaining that vibrant and lasting hold on the fabric.

Leaving a print in the heat press for too long can cause fading. You may need to test temperatures and times on a few t-shirts to get the right settings.

Cheap transfer paper can also produce unprofessional or faded prints. Make sure you use authentic sublimation transfer paper for this process.

Finally, printing onto untreated cotton or a 50/50 blend of polycotton will also result in a faded design.

Can you sublimate to 50/50?

You can sublimate onto 50/50 fabric if you want a slightly worn, vintage style design. Using a cotton and polyester blend fabric is a popular way to get the best of both worlds in the printing industry. You get the sublimation ability of polyester while retaining the softness and breathability of cotton.

However, you should expect some fading to occur during the first few washes as any design that touches the cotton fibers in the blend will be washed away.

For this reason, it may be more practical to sublimate onto fabric blends that contain 65% polyester and only 35% cotton.

How to make poly t spray for sublimation?

You can make your own version of Poly T-Spray for sublimation with polyacrylic.

Poly T is a commercial product that is one of the most popular treatments used by anyone doing sublimation prints on cotton. It contains a polyester resin that encapsulates the cotton fibers, allowing the dye to sublimate and bind to a synthetic surface.

The downside to this spray is that it’s often quite expensive, so many enterprising home artists prefer to mix up a DIY spray coating.

If you want to try making your own coating, try this recipe:

Measure 8 ounces of room temperature water into a disposable bowl. Add two tablespoons of polyacrylic. You can find this at most hardware or craft stores. Don’t shake the can until you’ve scooped out the two tablespoons. Gently stir the water and polyacrylic together in your disposable bowl or cup. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle.

Best sublimation paper for cotton

Sourcing the best cotton sublimation paper will help you get quality results no matter which of the seven methods in this article you choose!

Siser EasySubli This extremely popular product allows you to print designs directly onto this special form of thermal transfer vinyl. It adheres to cotton, polycotton blends or polyester. You can use it to apply sublimation printing to cotton or sublimation designs to dark colored polyester. This product works best with the popular line of Sawgrass sublimation printers, but you can use it in other sublimation printers as long as you use sublimation dyes. This matte thermal transfer vinyl combines with sublimation dye to create bold, vibrant designs that hold up well after many wash cycles.

Printer’s Jack Inkjet Sublimation Paper If you want to do a traditional sublimation transfer print and then apply it to glitter HTV on your cotton shirt, try this excellent inkjet sublimation paper! This paper is compatible with most major sublimation printers including the Epson range and Sawgrass models. Of course, you should not apply these transfers directly to 100% cotton fabrics. You need an intermediate layer such as B. Use white glitter HTV between the transfer and the cotton for good results.

Best sublimation spray for cotton

You can find many other brands of spray coatings for sublimating onto cotton, but the brand that most professionals prefer is called Poly T Pro. You can buy a concentrate to mix with water and spray, or buy the product in a ready-to-use spray bottle. Poly T Pro allows you to quickly apply a coated layer to the top of cotton fabric. You can then apply a sublimation transfer page to this coating and seal it to the fabric! You can use a heat press to set the PolyT coating or throw the shirt in the dryer for a few minutes.

Conclusion

Although you cannot sublimate directly onto 100% cotton, you can create high quality sublimation designs on cotton material using HTV cutouts or by applying special synthetic spray coatings. One of the easiest methods for sublimating cotton at home is to cut out white glitter transfer vinyl, glue it to the cotton, and then place the sublimation transfer on top of the glitter vinyl. Using a spray coating on the cotton also gives you an easy way to tie sublimation dye onto cotton.

You must use special products designed for sublimation onto cotton. You can buy sublimation fabric sheets that work on cotton. You can also find sublimation vinyl, which is receptive to sublimation dyes and adheres to cotton.

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Do you want to get started in the personalization industry? Have you heard of sublimation printing and are you considering starting a business using this technique? If so, many of your questions will be answered in this post.

Sublimation printing is the technique that allows designs or images to be transferred onto rigid objects or polyester fabrics. This process impresses with its ease of learning, the low initial investment and the large selection of products that are already prepared for sublimation.

The sublimation process consists of two simple steps:

Print your design/photo with an inkjet printer that you will use exclusively for this technique. It must be equipped with special sublimation paper and inks. Transfer the design to a sublimation-prepared surface using a heat press to apply heat.

This technique offers many ADVANTAGES:

This is one of the few methods that allows printing on rigid surfaces (mugs, photo boards, plates, clocks, etc.)

Surfaces (cups, photo boards, plates, clocks etc.) It is relatively easy and has a very short learning curve (quick learning curve).

and has a very learning curve (rapid learning curve). It offers an unlimited range of colors. By using four color ink (CMYK) you can achieve thousands of different colors. There is no additional cost when you add a new color to your design. That’s why it’s a fantastic option for printing photos.

. By using four color ink (CMYK) you can achieve thousands of different colors. There is no additional cost when you add a new color to your design. That’s why it’s a fantastic option for printing photos. You don’t have to set a minimum print run. Whether you personalize 1 or 1000 units, the unit cost remains the same.

. Whether you personalize 1 or 1000 units, the unit cost remains the same. After sublimation, the print is integrated into the substrate and becomes part of it. Unlike transfer paper, the result does not feel, cannot be scratched and does not lose its color.

into the substrate and becomes part of it. Unlike transfer paper, the result does not feel, cannot be scratched and does not lose its color. Because it’s quick and easy, you can produce your orders the same day.

. Today there are hundreds of items prepared for sublimation: mugs, plates, photo boards, wallets, flip-flops, clothes, decorative items, etc.

But it also has a few CONS:

The fabric must be 100% polyester or at least 2/3 polyester.

or at least 2/3 polyester. Only articles with a special polyester coating may be used for non-textile surfaces.

can be used. Sublimation items must have a white or light print area. Black or dark surfaces cannot be sublimated.

or light print area. Black or dark surfaces cannot be sublimated. The item may lose color over the months due to exposure to UV rays if left in continuous direct sunlight.

. As with all inkjet printers, the printheads can become clogged if they are not used frequently. For this reason, it is recommended to leave the printer on at all times. It automatically cleans them daily.

As with any mark made by digital image transfer, the size of the print is limited by: The original resolution of the image, which defines the maximum size to which it can be enlarged. The dimensions of the lower platen of the press.

of pressure is limited by:

If you are new to this field and starting from scratch, it would be useful for you to have prepared a pack with everything you need to start sublimating. There are several options available in our sublimation packs category. You can also find all the instructions for sublimating our products, as well as some templates, on our Brillor.com website.

You no longer have an excuse not to start your personalized gift project!

And you? What advantages and disadvantages do you see in sublimation printing?

What are the reasons for fading of sublimation prints on T-shirts?

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There is a strong relationship between the fading of sublimation prints and sublimation transfer paper. Because the dye ink is easy to dissolve in water and fade due to poor quality sublimation paper. At present, the ink-jet printing method uses a principle that the sublimation paper is set at a high temperature like the ink-jet printing press method. The principle of sublimation paper is that the ink film continues to melt at high temperature and then melts in the fabric. Therefore, the above condition implies that the sublimation printing with a poor quality transfer paper will wash out the ink after washing. So gradually leads to fading.

Inkjet printing is commonly used in sublimation printing. Therefore, the cloth should be made of cotton or a polyester fiber material.

Discoloration from sunlight:

Sublimation prints easily fade when exposed to direct sunlight from UV rays. It has nothing to do with the sublimation paper and ink. The main reason is long-term exposure to pressure under direct sunlight. It fades sublimation printing faster.

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I’ve actually played around with shirt bleaching a number of times, so I wanted to make a comparison of different methods for you. I use sublimation, HTV and even some masking techniques so literally EVERYONE can have a bleached shirt in their life! Grab your bleach bottle and start creating unique shirts that are perfect for you and can be given as gifts.

Looking for a different look? Try making a sublimation tie-dye shirt instead!

bleach shirts

Want to start bleaching shirts? The easiest way to do this is to watch the video below. Just click play and everything you ever wanted to know about the bleaching process is included. You may also hear this process referred to as reverse tie dye. You will definitely learn how to do this process in the video below too!

Can’t watch the video or missed some of the steps? You can also follow below as I walk you through everything you need to know.

Supplies are needed:

Designs or SVG files I used:

Ways to bleach a shirt

There are several ways to make shirts with bleach spray. I will cover some of the methods and which are my favorites as well. Please see the shirt brand options I mention in the listing. I’m not sure if other brands will work as well.

safety tips

First, as you are working with bleach and chemicals, let’s talk about some safety tips. Always work outdoors and wear gloves to protect your hands. I also have recommendations for stopping the bleaching process below. Please be sure to follow these instructions and wash your shirts a few times after the process to remove excess chemicals.

You should also wear clothing and shoes during the process to protect your skin. I like wearing old clothes so I’m not worried about bleach getting on it. Even a little bleach can ruin your clothes!

Preparing your shirt

You should prepare your empty shirt inside with some cardboard or even a plastic garbage bag. You don’t want your bleached area to show up on the back of your shirt as well. I like to use scrap boxes, but anything you have on hand that is disposable will work for this. Otherwise the only other preparation would be if you add a mask or sublimation before bleaching. You can read more about this below.

Bleach with a spray bottle

First, let’s spray a shirt with a regular spray bottle filled with undiluted bleach. Spray an area on the front for your design that you will add later or over an existing design. Use the design as a guide for how big the bleached area should be. I also like to squirt the bottle a bit over the shirt during this time.

Once your shirt has been sprayed, take paper towels and lightly blot the large front area to remove excess bleach. After the front has sat for a few minutes, be sure to turn the shirt inside out and spray the back a little to make it fit. I like doing the back of the shirt as well as the front.

Bleaching with a brush

Instead of using a spray bottle, you might have more control with a brush. Put your bleach in a container and simply apply with the brush. I find I like to spray the edges with the spray bottle too, just so they’re not so perfect. Once your shirt has been sprayed, take paper towels and lightly blot the large front area to remove excess bleach.

Also, after sitting for a while, you may have to go over the area again if you haven’t gotten a good coat on it. You should also spray the entire shirt with the spray bottle to get a few spots on the front and back of the shirt.

Using a cardboard mask

You can also use the spray bottle method with a cardboard mask. Here I cut out my circle from an old piece of cardboard and simply placed it on the shirt. Spray the circle well. Take off your mask and squirt around the outer edge of the circle as well as all over the shirt for a more imperfect look. Remember to take paper towels after your shirt has been sprayed and lightly blot the large front area to remove excess bleach.

Application for a sublimation design

You can use any of the above methods to apply bleach to a shirt that already has a sublimation design on it. In general, I like to use my design as a guide when applying my bleach. The same notes above on methods apply as you can use any of them on your sublimation shirts.

Bleach over a mask

You can also add a variety of masks to your shirt and apply bleach directly to these. Here I used self-adhesive vinyl cut on my Cricut machine as a mask and applied bleach over it with a spray bottle.

How to stop the bleaching process

After applying your bleach, let your items sit in the sun and work their magic. You should see your shirts start to change color. With the help of the sun, the bleaching process is accelerated. You can actually stop the bleaching process at any time. So you can whiten the spots or stop if they are another color that you love. To stop the bleaching process, mix 1/2 hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 water in a container. Soak your shirt and give it a really good rinse. Then wash your shirt twice in the washing machine to remove any residue.

FAQs:

When bleaching shirts, you may have a variety of questions about the process or problems you encountered. Here are some of those questions answered, but feel free to ask other questions in the comments section below.

Which shirts are best for bleaching?

You need a shirt with at least some polyester, as cotton shirts can get holes. For the sublimation I use a soft Gildan style. It is 65% polyester, 35% cotton. The ones I use HTV on are a Bella+Canvas shirt, but it’s 52% cotton and 48% polyester. For longevity I would use at least a part polyester shirt. Please note that some colours/brands/types simply do not bleach. I’m linking to the ones I’m using above and I know these will work. However, if you plan on buying a lot of shirts, I would test each one before bulk ordering.

Can you bleach a cotton shirt?

It is NOT recommended as they can puncture very quickly and do not usually hold up. Please see the question above for my recommendations.

Should you bleach before or after sublimation?

You can do both! I have a feeling that post-sublimation bleaching results in a more “worn” look. In other words, if you bleach before sublimation, the colors will be more vibrant. You can see a bit of it in the image below. The shirts on the top have been bleached and then sublimated, while those on the bottom have been sublimated and then bleached. You can get a different look by changing the process just a little bit.

Can you use self-adhesive vinyl as a mask?

Definitive! There’s a really rustic and worn look to it, but if that’s what you love then I say go for it! If you want a distressed shirt look, this is the option to go for!

Can HTV be applied to a bleached shirt?

Yes! Simply apply the HTV after the shirt has bleached. I use the size of the design to approximate my bleached area.

How long does the whitening process take?

It totally depends on the shirt and the color you want to achieve. However, I would say between 20 minutes and an hour on average.

Why didn’t my shirt turn white?

Some shirts simply WILL NOT turn white. Others require multiple applications of bleach before achieving anything remotely white. It all depends on the shirt and the color it starts with. Maybe try a pure white or you can always stop the bleaching process if you just really love the color your shirt is.

Why is my shirt singed when ironed?

Sometimes adding sublimation or even HTV after bleaching can scorch your shirt. Here you will see a faint brown mark where you pressed. Don’t worry! You can get rid of that! Spray your shirt with some hydrogen peroxide and put it under the heat press just to warm it up (don’t press again) and the stains should go away.

My favorite way to bleach shirts

So, now that we’ve looked at a number of ways to bleach shirts, which ones do I love? Which ones will I keep using? I have to say I really love the method where I sublimate before bleaching and then use a brush over my sublimation design. I had to go over the center twice in this case, but the results are stunning!

Personally, I actually like that the sublimation ink fades a bit as it adds to the rustic nature of the process. Also, it took me a while to get the hang of spraying the shirt all over with the spray bottle, but I really think I mastered it on this one too. This is a great way to sublimate onto a dark shirt.

My other shirt that I sublimated before bleaching looked good too, but I probably over-bleached it a bit, at least for my liking. But this shows you that you can get any look you love after mastering the technique.

Sublimation after bleaching is a great option, but I find it harder to control where the design is and how big your bleached areas will be.

Also, there’s the burning issue we discussed above. You can use peroxide to get rid of that, but you run the risk of it ending up on your shirt when sublimating after the bleaching process.

My second favorite method of bleaching shirts is to add HTV at the top. I love how this result turned out and I definitely think using the cardboard mask in this case helped me locate and size my bleached area.

And if you’re looking for something more rustic I’d try adding self-adhesive vinyl as a mask. This shirt looks well worn and loved and is brand new!

I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Which of these shirts did you like the most? Which method will you try yourself? Will you make your own bleach spray shirt?

I’ll rock my new bleached t-shirts and figure out how to make some more designs. What should I do next? I am literally full of ideas for this method.

Shirt bleaching is fun and actually quite easy once you get the hang of it, so be sure to try it yourself. I truly believe you will love the results!

Dye and sublimation inks are commonly used in inkjet printing. Contrary to what many people believe, there is a big difference between the two inks.

Here’s a look at the main characteristics of dye and sublimation inks:

dye ink

Before we get into the pros and cons of using dye ink, it’s important to talk about what dye ink actually is.

Dye ink is the standard ink used in inkjet printers. It consists of water and dye. The dye gives “color” to the ink.

Advantages and disadvantages

Dye inks typically come in a wide variety of colors, making them suitable for decorative or artistic purposes. The ink adheres easily to textile fabrics, printing paper or other suitable media.

Due to its small molecular size (1.5-4 nanometers), dye ink can produce vibrant colors. Another benefit of using dye ink is that it is more economical than other inks such as B. Pigment ink.

On the other hand, the main disadvantage of dye ink is that water or excessive heat can affect the quality of printed products. When using dye inks for printing, take great care to ensure that the end product does not come into contact with water. A few drops of water can cause the ink to run across the paper.

When should you use it

Dye ink is a good option when you need to print documents and photos. It is much more economical than pigment ink.

Dye sublimation ink

Dye sublimation ink is a dye that is printed onto specific items such as t-shirts, mugs, signs, coasters and more using heat and pressure. Heat and pressure help turn the dye into a gaseous state without turning into a liquid.

Advantages and disadvantages

Dye sublimation ink is a high quality, waterproof ink. The ink does not smudge due to the high temperature. In addition, dye sublimation ink lasts longer than other inks.

Because the prints are dye-based and not ink-based, the dye becomes part of the product. Dye-sublimation ink has higher print accuracy and performance, delivering impressive results. Sublimated products will not crack, peel or wash off.

Sublimation ink is used for textile printing or personalized or promotional items. However, the ink can be used on certain materials such as polyester and polyester-coated substrates. Other materials such as cotton cannot withstand the heat of printing.

When should you use it

By Lily Hunter, Dye Sublimation Technology Product Manager at Roland DGA.

Digital printing technology has been improving rapidly and as a result it has merged and diversified industries so that screen printers can now offer digital printing and sign shops can offer apparel. We’ve seen this type of industry adaptation with the advent of eco-solvent printers, and we can now see it with dye-sublimation printers.

Our Texart line of dye-sublimation printers allow users to digitally add custom graphics onto apparel, chairs, snowboards, fabric, promotional items and more. For many sign and graphics companies, this fast and effective digital printing method is replacing traditional screen printing processes for shorter production runs and for outputs that require multiple colors and photographic images.

If you’re considering incorporating this type of technology into your graphics business, here are three things you should know about dye-sublimation.

1. There are many profitable items that you can sublimate

When people use the term “dye sublimation” I’m sure snowboards, sheet metal and floor mats aren’t the applications that naturally spring to mind. However, thanks to large format printers such as the Texart RT-640, which enables cost-effective customization of everything from large banners to ceramic tiles, dye sublimation of both fabrics and rigid materials is now possible.

Dye sublimation works by infusing ink into the surface of the substrate. Man-made materials such as nylon, certain plastics, and polyester fabrics contain polymers that allow ink to bond when heated.

Dye sublimation printing results in beautiful and lasting colors embedded in the substrate or fabric rather than being printed on the surface. Images on fabric will not fade or crack even after multiple washes. Images on hard substrates will not chip, peel or scratch.

Here are some of the material possibilities you have with dye sublimation:

Rigid Substrates – No longer limited to just fabric substrates, there is a plethora of different product and promotional opportunities. New polymer treated materials have been specifically developed for dye sublimation applications including aluminum, brass, glass, fiberglass, acrylic, plastic and hardboard materials.

Rigid Products – Common rigid “blank” products include mouse pads, keychains, smartphone cases, food bowls, light switch panels, and more. These are easy to sublimate and make a fantastic addition to the range of custom branding items your business can offer.

Soft Signage – Create high-impact POP, trade show, and indoor signage on demand. The sublimation process is quick and ideal for time-sensitive promotions.

Fabrics – Choose from a range of 100% polyester fabrics. The choice of fabrics comes in two different types:

Woven texture for strong and durable banner stands, outdoor banners, outdoor signage and upholstery

Knit fabric that drapes and flows more naturally for custom apparel, indoor flags and banners, photographic backdrops and tablecloths.

Sportswear and fashion clothing – Everything from t-shirts and cycling jerseys to handbags and baseball caps is possible. The ever-growing popularity of sports and fashion apparel opens up new sublimation opportunities every day.

Photo Printing – From personalized gift items such as magnets, wall mounts and photo apparel to photo backdrops, sublimation is perfect for delivering high quality photographic images to a variety of markets.

Ceramic Tiles – Interior designers and decorators can create custom ceramic tiles for kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, museums, restaurants and offices.

All of the above materials are heat transfer grade polymers or available as “blanks” for instant heat transfer. In addition, the user also has pre-treatment options that enable the printing of an even wider range of articles.

2. You need different machines for dye sublimation

Printing is just the first step in the dye sublimation process. In order for the sublimation to take place, you need heat and pressure.

Successful dye-sublimation requires the following two-part process:

Print graphics onto special transfer paper using sublimation inks. Use a heat press to transfer the ink on the paper to the object you want to decorate

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Note: To ensure correct ink transfer, even saturation and good image quality, do not cut corners on your paper and use coated sublimation transfer paper with excellent ink absorption and high ink delivery.

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If you plan to use your dye-sublimation printer for applications ranging from clothing to decoration to soft signage, you’ll also need the following essential items:

computer and RIP software

First and foremost, you need a computer and software to design and process your digital graphics for print and to manage your entire print production. Not all sublimation printer manufacturers ship software with their device, which means you’ll need to look for other RIP software and make sure it’s compatible with your printer. Luckily, the Roland DG Texart RT-640 comes bundled with ErgoSoft Roland DG Edition RIP, specifically designed to support 4-color and 8-color sublimation printing.

cutting device

Initially you will need a rotary blade and hot knife for easy cutting of knits and cutting and sealing of woven fabrics, but ultimately you will need an X/Y table cutter or a digital flatbed cutter/plotter with registration capabilities for accurate cutting of knits and wovens and effective pattern cutting when you want to print and sew your own clothes.

sewing machine

Apparel and soft signage production requires some type of sewing and hemming for custom apparel, custom upholstery, banner pole pockets, and sewing silicone edges for SEG graphic applications (a special tenter frame system used to create easy-to-install soft signage ). This requires a manual sewing machine for apparel and small signage solutions, and a computer controlled automatic sewing machine with auto command and auto feed capabilities for large format joints and hems.

3. You need a high quality heat press

Heat presses are available that vary in size and application. Despite these variations, they all work the same way; At 400 degrees Fahrenheit, they simultaneously heat the ink on the transfer paper and the polymer fibers in the substrate, allowing the ink to transfer to the media. After approximately one minute, the heat is removed and the transfer paper peeled away, leaving a permanent, full-color graphic on the substrate.

While this may sound daunting to some, it really is a simple and effective way to apply graphics to fabric and other media. It saves hours and even days of printing work compared to traditional printing methods and with the right machine the quality results are comparable to screen printing.

Once you’ve spent around $20,000 on a dye-sublimation printer, you need to at least match that price for your press if you plan to create large format signs and graphics long-term. A reliable large format press should last for decades and deliver increasing sublimation performance as your business and presses grow. Invest in a reliable heat press and plan your business growth.

There are four main types of heat press equipment available:

Transfer press in small format

If you are planning to sublimate t-shirts and small items like hats, mugs, plates and shoes, you may not need to spend much on a heat press. Expect to pay around $1,500 and up for a decent 16″ x 20″ shirt press from brands like Geo Knight and Hotronix with heat and pressure controls.

Calender transfer press

Heat presses like Klieverik’s GTC series are large format printing machines built for flags, large outdoor banners and other large soft signage applications, as well as everyday soft signage and fabric sublimation. With the addition of the table top to your calender unit, users can cut and sew garments.

Flatbed Heat Press

While they can’t effectively handle the type of rolls and fabric sizes that a calendar heat press can, flatbed heat presses like the Geo Knight Max Press are versatile presses that can transfer heat to fabric as well as aluminum, hardboard, floor mats, and other unique media .

3D vacuum press

A 3D vacuum heat press is a compact, desktop machine that enables heat transfer onto materials with curved edges or shapes. Sublimation blanks and pre-treated items such as smartphone cases, mugs, ceramic plates, picture frames, sporting goods, buttons and others are available for sublimation with this handy device.

These are just three of the many facets of dye sublimation printing to consider. As you can see, it’s a versatile application with growing appeal for sign and graphics companies – a convenient solution that not only allows for apparel and product printing, but also allows for easy-to-transport and set-up sign output. Invest in a quality machine like the Texart™ RT-640 Dye Sublimation Printer with Texart inks and transfer paper to open up a whole new category of custom graphics and prizes.

On our fabric and apparel page you can also see our full range of dye-sublimation equipment, which includes powerful, professional and even direct-to-fabric dye-sublimation printers:

TEXART PRINTER

Lily Hunter is Product Manager for Dye Sublimation Technology at Roland DGA. In addition to being an expert in dye sublimation technology and products, she is also an accomplished trainer and speaker.

Sign up now for our helpful series of sublimation startup webinars. And for those who would like to see a sample of our amazing Texart dye sublimation print quality, request a free sample today.

1. Wash the mug in the dishwasher

If you want to get rid of a photo on your coffee mug, try running your coffee mug through the dishwasher several times at high temperature on the lower rack. You may still see patches of the old design, but after a few cycles most of it should go away.

2. Paint over the logo or image

Go to your local hobby store and search “ceramic paint”. From there, be creative and follow the instructions to hide the logo or photo on the custom coffee mugs. The thicker and darker your paint, the less likely it is that something will show underneath.

3. Use rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover

Apply rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover to the printed design on the personalized photo mugs and try to gently scrape the image with a razor blade. Check if the alcohol or nail polish remover contains acetone for best results.

4. Apply paint remover to the coffee mug

Fill a bucket with paint stripper, which you can find in the auto section of most stores like Target and Walmart. Protect yourself by wearing a disposable face mask and rubber gloves to protect your hands. Dip your cup in the solution and let it sit for between 20 and 30 minutes. Finally, remove the coffee cup from the solution and repeat the process until the logo or image is completely gone!

5. Heat the mug and rub with Scotch-Brite

Hold your coffee mug over a gas stove for about 3 to 5 minutes. Make sure the logo or photo is directly above the flame. Once your mug is super hot, remove it and start scrubbing the logo/photo with Scotch-Brite, a scratch pad, or even sandpaper. The design should end up being completely scraped off, especially if you apply enough pressure.

6. Cover the logo/photo with a fabric koozie

Have you ever seen the adorable tea cosies that sometimes adorn kettles? You can get the same rustic look on your personalized coffee mugs. If you know how to knit, make one yourself. They can also slide onto a regular bottle or koozies if they fit. The fabric will hide any photo or logo you don’t like! Also, you can reuse the cups to drink coffee without any health risks.

While these strategies may not work 100%, they will at least give you a starting point if you just can’t live with the logo or photo on your custom mugs. If nothing works, it might be time to sell or donate your logo coffee mugs instead.

Final Thoughts

Coffee mugs bring us warmth and can make us smile when we’re feeling grumpy in the morning. Why would you have to sip from a mug that has a bad photo or ugly logo on it?

Try any of the techniques listed here to remove photos from your coffee mugs and you’ll have something you love again! Put your coffee mug on your desk and use it to store your pens or your makeup brushes. If you still want to drink coffee from your mug, slide on a tea cozy and hide the design underneath. No matter what, there are plenty of ways to use your new photo-free coffee mug!

references

Smith, D. How to remove sublimation ink from mugs. Retrieved from https://tshirtprinterschool.com/remove-sublimation-ink-mugs/

Rodrigues, V. (2017, June 14). How to Remove a Logo from a Coffee Mug Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoszu49szqg

tech guru. (2018, November 18). How to Remove Print Off Mug & Cup at Home. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXd_9INaFnk

About acetone

Acetone is a colorless, volatile liquid with a pungent, sweet odor. It is a solvent used to clean liquid polyester and vinyl ester resins. It dissolves liquid resin and allows cleaning of spills, rollers, brushes and other equipment. Once polyester resins are fully cured, acetone cannot dissolve them. Acetone is not an effective solvent for epoxy resins.

Acetone is good at dissolving substances, including the fat in human tissues. This means that with prolonged or repeated contact with acetone, skin strips natural oils, causing dryness or cracking. Therefore, acetone must not be used to clean hands.

Acetone is completely water soluble and easily washes off the skin. Acetone forms a vapor easily at low temperatures. In small or poorly ventilated spaces, this vapor can accumulate and, in high concentrations, can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Acetone is also highly flammable.

Special protection information

Respiratory protection: Ensure adequate ventilation. If above NOHSC exposure standard level, use SA-approved respirator.

Eye Protection: Use SA approved chemical splash goggles.

Protective Clothing: Wear chemical resistant gloves such as butyl rubber or neoprene rubber gloves. Apply barrier creams to exposed skin. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and safety boots.

CONTACT YOUR SAFETY EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.

effects of exposure

Eyes: May cause moderate to severe irritation.

Inhalation: May cause eye and upper respiratory tract irritation and CNS depression.

Skin: May cause moderate irritation – defatting and dermatitis.

Ingestion: May cause gastrointestinal irritation, CNS depression, drowsiness, and kidney and liver damage.

First Aid Procedures

Eyes: Flush with water for at least 15 minutes.

Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, seek medical attention immediately.

Skin: Flush with water.

Ingestion: DO NOT induce vomiting. If the person is conscious, they should drink large amounts of water. Get medical advice immediately.

Spill or Leak Procedures

Eliminate all sources of ignition and ventilate area. Wear protective gear, stop spill at source, dam area and pump liquid to recovery tank if possible. Alternatively absorb spilled liquid with vermiculate or sand. Pick up in designated waste container using non-sparking tools. Flush the area with water, but avoid getting into bodies of water. Dispose of waste in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. Let the supplier advise you. Spill/leak reporting may be required by EPA and Dangerous Goods regulations.

fire extinguishing procedures

Wear protective equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus. For small fires, use dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Use alcohol-type foam on larger fires. Cool fire exposed containers with water spray.

Storage and Handling Procedures

DG class 3. Highly flammable. Keep away from sources of ignition in tightly closed, labeled containers. Store in a cool, well-ventilated area with an automatic sprinkler system or fire suppression system. Ground containers when pouring to prevent static electricity discharge. Do not transfer to unmarked containers. Provide ventilation both at floor level and in the breathing zone. Open containers outdoors to allow any vapors to escape, especially when heated. Store away from oxidizing agents.

KEY to Abbreviations – CNS: Central Nervous System EPA: Environmental Protection Agency NOHSC: National Occupational Safety and Health Commission (Worksafe Australia) PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride SA: Standards Australia

Disclaimer: The facts and information contained on this page are believed by Composites Australia to be correct at the time of going to press. Composites Australia accepts no responsibility for the use or misuse of information on this site. Composites Australia accepts no responsibility for any damage or injury caused by any information or omissions on this page.

As you work towards becoming an experienced dye-sublimation printer, you may encounter one or more obstacles such as: For example, your transfer may appear blurry, dull, or faded. Do not be discouraged! This is all part of the learning process and most of our new sublimation customers go through a period of trial and error. We’ve rounded up some of the most common issues associated with dye-sublimation printing, in case you ever experience one.

Why aren’t my transfers appearing glowing?

There are a few reasons why your transfers might come out less vibrant than expected. First, make sure you’re printing on the correct side of your sublimation paper, which is usually bright white. The other side is generally off-white. If you are printing to a Sawgrass SG500 or Sawgrass SG1000, the bright white side is loaded face down in the tray. Next, make sure you’re printing with the correct color correction program. For example, if you are printing to a Sawgrass sublimation printer, we recommend printing with Virtuoso Print Manager. If you have any questions about which profile/software your printer requires, contact our Technical Support Department at 1-800-562-7760, option #3.

Why is my picture ghostly?

When you see a second version of your transfer as a shadow slightly to the side of your image, this is known as ghosting. Ghosting occurs when the sublimation transfer paper shifts during the sublimation process, e.g. B. when you open or close your heat press. For this reason, it is recommended that you thermally tape your hard substrates to the sublimation paper. For fabrics we recommend an adhesive spray to keep the paper from moving. After pressing, make sure to remove the transfer paper immediately. For sublimation we also recommend avoiding using an automatic opening press as they tend to open too quickly causing the paper to shift if not glued well enough.

Why won’t my substrate accept sublimation ink?

It is important to note that not all products accept sublimation ink. For dye sublimation to work, your product blank must have a polyester coating (or be made of a polyester material). At Coastal all of our sublimation blanks come with the required polyester coating.

For fabrics, we recommend 100% white polyester for best transfer. It is not possible to sublimate onto 100% cotton – and your transfer will wash away in the first wash. You can sublimate on polyester/cotton blends, but the transfer will appear less vibrant and give a vintage look. In general, the higher the percentage of polyester, the better.

Why am I getting ink from a previously transferred image on a new blank transfer?

Sublimation ink tends to bleed to the bottom and top plates of your press during heat transfer, which is why it is very important to protect your press with the right material. To prevent ink from getting onto your top or bottom roller, we recommend using a Teflon sheet for each roller, as well as a protective sheet. Teflon is completely reusable and it is enough to wipe off the excess ink after each print. You can also use silicone coated slides that can be discarded after use.

Why am I seeing small dots in my transfer?

If you notice small dots on your finished product, it’s probably due to excess moisture. We recommend pre-pressing most substrates to ensure you get all the moisture out. Then allow the substrate to cool, apply your transfer and press as usual.

Why are my broadcasts blurry?

If you notice a blur in your image when peeling off the transfer paper, it may be because your substrate has received too much time/temperature in the heat press and the image has now started to bleed. In this case, we recommend reducing the time and trying again.

Why do my images appear faded?

Image fading is usually caused by too much time and temperature and/or pressure. We recommend checking the recommended settings from the company you purchased your sublimation blanks from. Each heat press is different, which is important to note. Another suggestion is to check the top platen temperature of your press to make sure it matches the listed temperature; we recommend heating tapes for this.

We hope this article will help solve potential problems you may encounter as you grow and gain more experience in the sublimation business. This blog is by no means comprehensive, and there may be an issue that occurs outside of these issues. If you are having trouble finding a solution to your sublimation issue, do not hesitate to call our Technical Support Department at 800-562-7760, option #3.

Every beginner sublimation printer will at some point ask themselves, “Why is my sublimation ink dull and fading?”

If you’re worried about your sublimation print fading, this tutorial explains why you should (probably) not worry!

Sublimation produces bold, vibrant prints, so it can be a concern if the sublimation paper that comes out of the sublimation printer is fading and dull in appearance.

The good news is that you don’t need to troubleshoot your Sawgrass sublimation printer if you’re getting faded prints. (Note the color of the printed sheet on the left.)

Unlike an inkjet or laser printer that prints with full color ink, the sublimation ink on the sublimation paper is matte but becomes full color until heat and pressure are applied.

It is absolutely normal for sublimation ink to appear dull on the first print. Once the print is sublimated onto the substrate using high heat and pressure, the ink turns into a gas and permeates the polyester material and the colors become bold, bright and vibrant.

If you are having other color printing problems with your Sawgrass SG500 or SG100 sublimation printer, you may not be printing through the Sawgrass Print Manager. This can result in lines being “off” in sublimation prints and colors (as seen in the overly dark prints here). To fix these sublimation printer problems, read this tutorial

Get Silhouette School lessons delivered to your email inbox! Choose Once a day or Weekly.

6 ways to avoid dye migration during hot printing

With the growing popularity of casual and performance apparel in the sporting goods industry, we are seeing more and more garments incorporating materials that present a challenge to the apparel decoration community. This is especially true with regard to printing and the need to avoid dye migration.

I’m sure we’ve all had requests for this 100% polyester moisture-wicking garment.

These and others are difficult to print on not only because of the materials used like polyester, spandex, nylon etc. but also because of the dyes in the materials used to dye the fabrics.

Sublimated clothing adds problems to the print mix due to the special dyes used during this particular printing process.

When apparel decorators try to print on these types of fabrics, especially polyesters, the apparel dyes tend to “wander” through the finished design added to the garment.

What does that mean?

Well, for example, your white letters on your red shirt end up turning pink instead of white.

Image source: Stahls’

This is known as dye migration.

Dye migration occurs in screen printing and hot printing. It doesn’t matter if it’s heat transfer vinyl (htv), screen printed transfers or direct screen inks. It occurs with both water-based inks and plastisol inks.

So how can you combat this dye migration problem?

Telling customers you can’t print on performance clothing or sublimation is not an option. You don’t want to lose business.

Mainly because there are ways to avoid and reduce the migration of dyes.

What is dye migration and what causes it?

Color migration is when the ink “bleeds through” the ink or transfer that has been applied to the garment.

This happens because of the heat required to cure the ink or apply the transfer during the screen printing or hot stamping process.

However, the same heat also “activates” the dyes used to dye clothing, especially polyester fabrics. This allows the dyes in the garment to begin to permeate the ink used to decorate.

Image source: Stahls’

It may not be visible immediately and often becomes visible within a few days of the decorating process.

Dye migration is also very common in sublimated clothing. During the sublimation process, dyes are actually incorporated into a garment, with the dyes being in a gaseous state. Heat also activates these dyes back into a gas state, which allows the dye to bleed through your ink.

Image source: Siser

The most common fabrics that allow bleed or dye migration are polyester or polyester blends.

[Related Content: Pros and Cons of Heat Printing Polyester]

Clothing with a deep or light color, such as B. Red, tends to bleed more frequently.

It’s a similar concept when you wash your clothes. Adding a red shirt to your white shirt, especially in hot water, will turn your white shirt pink.

So the most common culprits are the polyester fabric types, bright colors, and the dyeing process used, such as B. Sublimation.

If you have this combination of factors, take careful steps to avoid dye migration.

Ways to avoid dye migration

Dye migration is a big problem, but there are several ways it can be managed so that it doesn’t occur or is imperceptible.

1. Use low temperature application transmission

As mentioned above, the heat during hot printing activates the dyes in the clothing which starts the dye migration process.

The good news is that this generally happens above 300°F, around 300°F to 320°F.

Our first suggestion to prevent dye migration is to use a thermal transfer type that can be applied in this range or lower at 300°F or less. To achieve this, there are several transfer options.

Our Elasti Prints® screen printed transfer type is a plastisol ink applied to 100% polyester at 290°F.

[Related Content: Combating Dye Migration with Elasti Prints®]

You can also use our full color transfer UltraColor® Soft which is also valid at 290°F.

2. Use a transfer sheet with blocker to avoid dye migration

If low temperature thermal transfer is not sufficient to block dye migration, another suggestion is to try thermal transfer where a ‘blocker’ has been added to the transfer.

This pressure technology adds an extra “hmph” to block those mischievous bleeds.

UltraColor Stretch with Blocker is optionally available with a dye blocker.

It is available with Dye Blocker technology for extra precautions on these sublimated garments.

CAD-PRINTZ sub-block digital heat transfer is another option that also automatically has a blocker with this type of transfer.

Both of these transfer types apply below the 300°F mark, at 290°F and 265°F respectively, and the addition of the blocker to these transfer types will help mitigate the toughest of dye migration problems.

[Related Content: CAD-PRINTZ Sub Block – Ideal for Decorating Sublimated Fabrics]

3. Back your design with a darker ink

Another way to prevent your ink from bleeding is to underlay your design with an additional color of ink, preferably a darker color.

The double layer and dark color may not “block” color migration completely, but the bleed will not be visible to the eye since the darker color is used, especially when used on a lighter color of clothing.

Colors such as black, navy blue, or dark green are great background colors that help hide dye migration. This can be used as an extra precaution on transfers such as our Elasti Prints which are already applied at a low temperature.

If you are unsure what we mean by background color we are referring to the order of colors printed during the screen printing process.

In other words, if you have a common outline color for all your graphics in the design, the entire design will be backed with that color, adding a full layer of ink on the back.

Imagine printing the layers of ink one by one, first black on the shirt and then white on the black.

With screenprint transfers you have the advantage of printing both colors at the same time in a one-step application process.

[Related Content: Hot Stamping Digi Camo]

4. Choice of clothing

Choosing the right clothing can also help combat dye migration.

Depending on whether your client wants a specific brand or not, you have the option to work with the garments of your choice.

There are so many different brands offering functional clothing and popular fabric blends. As you work with the different clothing offerings over time, you’ll know which brands and fabrics tend to bleed more or less.

Because dye migration is an issue that manufacturers are well aware of, brands like Augusta help create unprinted garments that are suitable for the printing process. Augusta offers a variety of garments with True Hue Technology®, which helps prevent dye migration and keeps the garment’s color longer, wash after wash.

You can also get recommendations for clothes from other apparel decorators in online forums or at networking events, workshops or trade shows. It’s just one of the benefits of growing your hot press network and attending in-person events.

5. Test before printing

Even with dye blocker transfers, there may be times when dye migration cannot be avoided.

If so, testing is your friend.

While testing may not be a real answer to preventing dye migration, it will save you from giving your customer a bad batch of decorated clothing.

It’s always good to test beforehand so you don’t ruin a large run of shirts and end up with an unhappy customer.

We offer samples of all of our heat transfer types that you can use to test your specific apparel and colors that you are printing your design onto.

Not all garments and brands are created equal, so it’s difficult to tell what works and what doesn’t when it comes to combating dye migration.

However, all the above tips will give you a great chance to avoid the bleeding.

Remember, to make sure you don’t ruin an entire order of shirts, it’s best to test test the specific garment you have.

Not only will the brands vary, but the different colors can also vary in the results you get.

Tip: Make a note of what you tested to know what works and what doesn’t for future reference.

6. Experience

Once you become comfortable with the clothing you provide and the transfers you know you can use, the process becomes easier as you gain experience.

After you’ve printed on multiple types of polyester and fabric blends, and know the brands and inks you use, as well as the types of transfers, you’ll be a pro in the fight against ink migration and bleed in no time.

By following our tip above and taking notes, you’ll always have a reference when ordering clothes or meeting with a customer to make recommendations on clothing deals.

Even as new brands and offerings become available in the market you will have a 6th sense of what is more likely to bleed and what to use to stop dye migration.

Do you have problems with dye migration? Request a free heat transfer sample pack to try.

Imagine this: you sublimate a picture frame with the words “Happy Mother’s Day” and a picture of mother and child. After carefully printing the picture on transfer paper and attaching it to the photo frame, press the frame for the appropriate time.

When you take the frame out of the heat press, you lift the transfer paper to reveal the sublimated surface, but you accidentally drop the paper back onto the sublimated surface. If you move the paper again, it looks like there is a shadow behind the text.

What happened?

In sublimation this is known as “ghosting” and is one of the most common problems with this decoration process. However, below are some tips that can help you avoid this problem completely.

STOP SHIFT

Shifting the transfer paper while the plate is still very hot from the heat press will result in a duplicate or “ghosting” behind the original image. Ghosting can ruin an otherwise pristine piece and is particularly common with dark text on a light background. By being careful, you can eliminate the “ghosts” and return to the great sublimation.

The easiest way to avoid ghosting is to make sure the transfer paper doesn’t move when you stick your panel to it. Ghosting can occur anytime air or air pressure gets under the transfer paper – even if the paper is still glued to the plate. After removing the panel from the heat press, leave the transfer paper taped and untouched until the panel cools. Once cool, there is no risk of ghosting and you can safely remove the transfer paper. Give the panel time to cool down to avoid the double image.

Some sublimators prefer to separate the transfer paper from the plate once they remove the plate from the heat press. Be very careful and make sure you peel your transfer paper off the plate vertically. Do not drag it across the hot sublimated surface. You should peel off the transfer paper in one quick, fluid motion to keep the panel free of ghosting.

By taking the time to allow your panel to cool after pressing and quickly removing the paper in one smooth motion, you can ensure that you end up with a great product, ready to advertise for any occasion!

Quick Tip: For those who are new to hard surface sublimation, remember to do some extensive research. Take the time to think carefully about what you want to do with the sublimation, particularly understanding the tools that will be needed to create the final product. By first taking the time to understand what tools work best for your system, you’ll be faster and more successful in achieving perfection with the product you intend to offer.

Shira Allego is a sublimation specialist for Unisub. About sublimation she says: “The whole process of sublimation is interesting. Sublimation is chemistry and I really love it. Now all I need is a lab coat to truly be a scientist!” For more information or comments on this article, email Shira at [email protected].