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While this list is not all inclusive, it’s enough to give you an idea of what people sublimate onto for the purpose of making gifts or as a side business for making money.
- coffee mugs
- travel cups
- earrings
- wallets
- lunch bags
- wine totes
- purses
- canteens
- business cards
- flip-flops
- hats
- wine tumblers
- blankets
- pillow cases
- sheets
- bibs
- bags
- dog collars
- flags
- bookmarks
- bracelets
- ornaments
- keychains
- phone grips
- phone cases
- puzzles
- totes
- slate decor
- air fresh.
- coasters
- shirts
- socks
- towels
If you are new to sublimation, you may benefit greatly by purchasing low cost designs that look absolutely stunning!. We love DesignBundles.net as it’s a great way to get started for very little cost – Plus, the designs are endless. You can click here to see some of our favorites, or click the below picture.
link to sublimation design bundles…
What Type of Material Can You Sublimate On?
Fabric
If you are using an Epson and sublimation paper, your best results will be achieved on high count polyester material. 100% white Polyester is best, but aim for at least 65% Polyester and then preferrable the other 35% is cotton. If you don’t want white, you can choose light grey and light pastels but colors will be most vibrant and clear on an all white substrate.
Sublimating Rayon is not fun in a heat press. Stay away from it.
As for cotton and sublimation; read our article here for best results. But we’ll talk more about cotton in just a moment.
And to help you with pricing all of your hard work, we invite you to use our totally FREE calculator to see what you should be charging for your completed designs.
Polymers
Aside from fabric material, you can sublimate onto polymers and polymer coated items that are made for sublimation. Polymers include plastic bookmarks, business cards, notebooks, specially coated license plates, special MDF, etc.,
Sawgrass Users
If you have a Sawgrass, you can do all of the above with regular sublimation paper. On top of that, Sawgrass users can insert special Heat Transfer Paper into their Sawgrass printers for the purpose of sublimating onto cotton or dark colors. Nice!
Can You Sublimate on Wood
People have been known to paint a piece of wood with “polymer” paint, let it cure and then sublimate onto it. It works! The secret is to apply about 3 coats and let it cure an entire day before trying to sublimate on top.
Sublimating onto Cotton or Dark Colors – Epson Users
Sublimation ink adheres to polymers and cotton is not a polymer. Therefore, in order to sublimate onto a cotton t-shirt (or dark fabric), you have to think outside the box.
Most people who want to sublimate a design onto a cotton t-shirt will sublimate their image onto what’s known as White Glitter Vinyl. The white glitter vinyl contains polymers and takes the sublimation ink just like a polyester shirt would.
After they sublimate their image onto a piece of white glitter vinyl, they cut around it and then use their heat press to press the white glitter vinyl onto the cotton shirt.
Can You Sublimate on Dollar Tree Mugs?
Here is the thing…every once in a blue moon, a certain Dollar Tree will buy a closeout of mugs that are actually good for sublimation. When this happens, word gets out, people race to the Dollar Tree, buy all the mugs, put them in their mug press, and …..nothing.
Please know that most of the time the Dollar Tree mugs are NOT good for sublimation. So if you want to take the chance, make sure you save the receipt and double check you can return them all.
For our complete troubleshooting guide click here.
To see our favorite inks and paper click here.
To read about Heat Presses and Required Circuits/Outlets click here.
For more info about starting your sublimation journey visit our introduction page
Thanks for visiting!
