Sublimation is a great technique that allows you to create customized and personalized full color products on demand. When sublimation inks are heated to 400*F, they turn into a gas and form a permanent bond to white/light colored fabrics or items that have a polymer coating. The transferred images are full-color, photographic-quality that will not crack, peel, or wash away. Typically, you cannot sublimate directly onto a dark colored garment.
But if you use a white glitter heat transfer vinyl as a base for the sublimated image it gives you the ability to create your designs on more than just light colored surfaces. It also opens the door for using more detailed images and designs without having to weed the vinyl.
Would you like to try sublimating on white glitter vinyl? Here’s how:
1. Gather your materials and your tools.
2. Print your top image with your sublimation printer.
3. Preheat your heat press to 320*.
4. Design the image or quote for your vinyl. Once you have it set, be sure to mirror the image before you print.
5. Print and weed your vinyl.
6. Once your heat press reaches the desired temperature, place your garment on the heat press, and then place your design, vinyl side down, where you want it. Place your non stick sheet on top of the vinyl and press for 15 seconds, making sure the pressure is adjusted properly.
7. Once it’s done, open up your heat press, remove the non stick sheet and peel off the vinyl backing. Then adjust the heat setting to 400* for sublimation.
8. Once your heat press reaches 400* place your printed image face down over the vinyl, cover it with the non stick sheet, and then press for 60 seconds.
9. Once it beeps, lift the press, remove the non stick sheet, peel the paper off, and admire your work!
For more details and to see step by step how we sublimated on the white glitter vinyl, check out our Facebook live post.
Be sure to join us every Friday at 12:15pm ET on our Facebook page for a live tutorial. We have some ideas for the coming weeks, but we would love to know what you want to see. Do you have a project in mind, but you’re not sure how to complete it? Let us know and maybe you’ll see it on a future Facebook live.