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How To Sublimate Mugs
1. Using our recommended template, print your design in mirror.
2. Once printed cut around your design. When printing a block design leave a few millimetres around the edge of the print when cutting out.
3. Position your design face down onto the mug and tape the long edges.
4. Using a standard mug element, place the mug in a heat press. We would recommend that you press for 200 seconds with medium pressure at 180°C. If your design features a lot of black, the pressing time can be reduced to 180 seconds.
5. Once your mug has been pressed, remove it from the heat press and peel hot.
6. Admire your finished sublimated mug!
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. What Colour Mugs Can I Sublimate Onto?
Sublimation works best on white or light-coloured mugs because the dye bonds to a special polymer coating and stays slightly transparent, which means the mug colour underneath will always affect the final print.
White gives the most accurate, vibrant results (especially for photos and bright colours), while light shades like cream, pale grey, and soft pastels can work well but will subtly tint your design—for example, a cream mug will warm the colours, and a light blue mug will cool them.
You can sublimate successfully onto stainless steel, but only if the item is specifically made for sublimation (typically stainless steel with a white or light-coloured polymer-coated surface). Bare stainless steel won’t take sublimation ink on its own, and dark finishes (including brushed steel, black, navy, etc.) aren’t suitable for traditional sublimation because the print won’t show up clearly.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Enamel Mug Sublimation Settings
For enamel mugs in a standard mug press, the recommended settings are 375-400°F (190-204°C) for 80-270 seconds with medium to moderate pressure. The wide time range depends on your specific press type and mug thickness; thinner enamel mugs typically need around 80-90 seconds, while thicker 12oz camp-style mugs may require up to 240-270 seconds.
Always apply medium to moderate pressure; too much can distort the enamel coating, while too little won't transfer the design properly. After pressing, submerge the hot mug in room-temperature water immediately to cool it down and set the sublimation ink.
