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How to Sublimate Bottles
With customers set to spend £1 billion on personalised gifts over the next 12 months, is now the time to take advantage? What better way than by offering the simple yet effective printed reusable water bottle? Take a look at our guide to sublimating bottles below...
1. Create your design and print in mirror image.
2. Once printed loosely cut around the design.
3. Position the design face down on the bottle and use heat tape to secure in place.
4. Remove the bottle lid and place in the mug press (porcelain mug element required). Press the bottle for 170 degrees for 170 seconds using medium pressure.
5. Once pressed, carefully remove the bottle from the heat press and peel the paper.
6. Your personalised water bottle is complete.
Sublimation is speedy and efficient, making it perfect when you need smaller batch orders turned around quickly. It really shines with more complicated designs, giving you the creative freedom to bring intricate artwork to life with excellent results.
You can choose a design that covers nearly the entire product if you want maximum impact, and the best part? Your designs won't crack, peel, or fade over time, so they'll keep looking sharp for years to come.
1. What equipment is required for sublimation?
For a full sublimation setup, we recommend the following equipment:
- Heat press (for mugs, a specific mug press is required)
- Sublimation printer & ink
- Computer or tablet for designing
- Heat transfer tape
- Protection sheets/pillows
- Sublimation paper
2. Why can’t I sublimate on dark garments?
It isn't possible to sublimate on dark coloured garments because there is no white sublimation ink.
We do offer black mugs with white squares for sublimation as a close alternative.
3. Why does the image on my screen differ from the final printed result?
A print from a sublimation printer can look different to the image on your computer screen. This is because sublimation inks often change colour during the heat pressing process.
As the ink reacts when it is heated, it sometimes becomes brighter and more vibrant than the image printed on the sublimation paper. We highly recommend that, during your testing stage, you heat press the image onto a product to see the final result before beginning a batch order.
4. Can I use an iron instead of a heat press?
No. You need a continuous, even heat and pressure to be applied simultaneously to the entire surface area. This can only be effectively achieved using a heat press.
Get Started Sublimating T-shirts
Now that you know how to sublimate a t-shirt, you’re ready to start creating professional-quality, personalised garments. Explore the full range of sublimation printers, blanks, and accessories to bring your unique designs to life.
