What is Sublimation Paper? How to Use it? - xTool

Bright, colorful shirts, photo mugs, or customized mouse pads – all share one secret: sublimation printing.

Goto Million Ton to know more.

The key to this technique is sublimation paper, which takes designs from the printer and transfers them with precision to the target surface. But how does it do that? What allows the paper to hold onto a design and release it when needed?

In this article, you’ll discover the chemical makeup of sublimation paper, how it works, and how you can use it to add style to everyday items.

What is Sublimation Paper?

Sublimation paper is a specialized material featuring a sublimable ink-receptive coating on at least one side. This receptive coating is 35% silica and 5% binder by weight. The silica acts as a highly porous surface that absorbs the dye sublimation ink during printing. The binder ensures the ink particles stay in place until it’s time for the transfer.

When exposed to heat, the ink on the sublimation paper transforms, turning from solid into gas. Heat also loosens the binder’s grip and these ink vapors migrate from the paper and infuse into the polyester fabric or polymer-coated surface, transferring the design onto it.

What Can You Make with Sublimation Paper?

Sublimation paper isn’t an average paper – it’s like a magic key that opens the door to printing on a wide range of surfaces, from fabrics to metals and everything in between.

Apparel and Fashion Items

This is probably the most popular use of sublimation paper. You can create full-color, vibrant prints on t-shirts, hats, and even socks with amazing detail. Just remember, it only works on polyester fabrics or blends with at least 2/3 polyester. If you want to try it on other materials, they’ll need a polyester coating first.

Personalized Drinkware

Mugs with bright, full-color photos or prints? That’s a sublimation paper in action. It can be folded and wrapped around a cylindrical surface. So, you can use it to personalize mugs, water bottles, and tumblers with your favorite designs and photos. 

Custom Tech Accessories

Want to design a custom mobile or laptop cover with your photo? Sublimation paper makes it happen. The detail and quality are impressive. The same goes for mouse pads – you can add quotes, images, or any type of high-quality designs.

Ceramic and Metal Products

Sublimation isn’t limited to soft materials—tiles, metal plates, and ceramic products can all be enhanced with vivid, permanent designs. However, they have to be coated first.

Promotional Items

Sublimation paper is widely used to create branded items such as keychains, lanyards, and promotional giveaways. Since it can customize and add design on almost any substrate, it’s quite handy for making items for corporate events.

XTOOL HEAT PRESS

Heat Press for Sublimation, HTV, and DTF Transfers

Flexible heat press modes - portable or hands-free for most transfer needs.

How to Use Sublimation Paper?

Now that you’ve explored the power of customization and stylization with sublimation, let’s explore how you can use sublimation paper to do the same for you.

Want more information on Sublimation Paper For T-shirt Printing? Feel free to contact us.

Step 1: Designing and Printing the Image

Sublimation requires high-quality, high-resolution graphics for the best results. Realistic photos work well, too. We recommend using a powerful editing software like Adobe Photoshop for resizing and fine-tuning your design.

You can also find plenty of design options online, but make sure any design you use is copyright-free and allowed for commercial use.

Before printing, mirror the image so it appears correctly when transferred. Set your sublimation printer to high-quality settings, and print on the coated side of the paper, which is white. 

Step 2: Preparing the Substrate

Not every material can handle sublimation ink. For fabrics, only polyester or polyester-blend fabrics (with at least 2/3 polyester) can work. 

Other materials like metal, glass, or ceramics also need a special sublimation coating before transferring the design. Make sure to add one before sublimation. 

Step 3: Using A Heat Press to Transfer the Image

The main step is heat pressing. The temperature for sublimation is generally the same—around 401°F (205°C). However, the time and pressure settings vary with the substrate.

Here are heat press settings for sublimation on some common substrates:

XTOOL HEAT PRESS

Heat Press for Sublimation, HTV, and DTF Transfers

Flexible heat press modes - portable or hands-free for most transfer needs.

Step 4: Removing the Transfer Paper

Once the pressing time is complete, allow the material to cool slightly, but not fully. In most cases, the transfer paper should be removed while it’s still warm. For fabrics, it’s best to peel immediately after pressing, while for harder surfaces like metal or glass, waiting a few seconds can prevent smudging.

Sublimation Printing is a printing process that uses heat and pressure to transfer special ink onto different materials.

Follow these steps to print a sublimaged image:

1. Download Artspira
2. Connect your machine
3. Create your design.
4. Print your image.
5. Transfer your sublimated design using a heat press.
6. Enjoy your finished project!

Here's a tutorial on creating your own sublimated T-Shirt:

Click here for the T-Shirt tutorial.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Large Sublimation Paper. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Step

1. Download Artspira
   Tap here to download Artspira. (When accessing Artspira from a computer, the Supporting Information page appear.)
   Download the Artspira app from the app store. For more information, click here.
   
    
2. Connect your machine
   
   
   Connect your printer to WiFi. For more information, click here.
   Once connected, add your Brother device to Artspira. For more information, click here.
   
    
3. Create your design.
   
   
   Create a design in Artspira using images and text. 
   Be sure to choose the "Mirror Printing" setting when saving your design. For more information, click here.
   Before printing on Sublimation Paper, be careful of the front and back sides of the paper, as well as its orientation.
   To ensure the printable side is facing down, confirm that the paper's cut corner is in the lower right corner of the paper tray. For more information, click here.
   
    
4. Print your image.
   
   
   Make sure your design is a mirrored (reversed) print, so it transfers onto your final project correctly.
   
    
5. Transfer your sublimated design using a heat press.
   
   
   Sublimation transfer should only be done on polyester.
   Transfer temperature and time vary, depending on the base material. For more information, see this Heat Press Guide.
   • About (2): Placing Butcher Paper directly under the Heat Press can prevent ink from sticking to the iron plate.
   • About (3): Using Heat Resistant Tape to stick the Sublimation Paper to your T-Shirt can keep the image from shifting.
   • About (6): Placing Butcher Paper inside the T-Shirt can prevent ink from bleeding through to the other side of the T-Shirt.
   • Transfer temperature and time vary, depending on the base material. For more information, see this Heat Press Guide.
6. Enjoy your finished project!
   
    

Creative Example