Guide on how to Sublimate on Dark clothes
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to sublimate on dark garments. You can follow this step-by-step guide if you want to sublimate even light shirts and add some additional flare into it by using glitter or holographic as a base vinyl.
Let’s start off by gathering the following materials.
Supplies Needed
- Light-coloured heat transfer vinyl of your choice (preferably Neon PU Heat Transfer Vinyl or Glitter White Heat Transfer Vinyl)
- Cutting machine (Silhouette Cameo or Cricut)
- Scissors
- Weeding tool or pen
- Heat press machine
- Sublimation heat transfer paper
- A garment you want to print on
- Inkjet printer (sublimation printer) with dye sublimation ink
- Heat-resistant tape
- Parchment paper of Teflon sheet
Step 1: Cut the Vinyl
When preparing the design, you have to make sure the sublimation vinyl when cut in the cutting machine and the sublimation transfer paper has the same size. Use your cutting machine’s software to adjust the size of the vinyl and the sublimation print.
Depending on the final look of the project you envision, you can cut the vinyl in a square, round or the actual shape of the design. For more complicated designs with bigger spaces in between them, it is easier to cut the vinyl with the outline of the design as a whole rather than with cavities in between.
Make sure you only use light-coloured heat transfer vinyl, preferably white. You can use white glitter HTV or white PU HTV. After cutting the vinyl, weed the excess parts of the design.
Step 2: Print and Cut the Sublimation Paper
In your cutting machine’s design studio, print the design on the sublimation paper. Remember that the vinyl and sublimation paper must be the same size. So make sure to make appropriate adjustments.
When printing the sublimation paper in your cutting machine’s design studio, print using the highest quality, slowest time for printing, and don’t forget to mirror the design. All of these settings are found on the printing preferences of the design software.
Any excess ink may transfer on the garment or vinyl. You don’t need to use the cutting machine to cut the excess area of the sublimation paper. Using scissors will suffice. The cut doesn’t need to be perfect, but at least the right outline of the design.
Step 3: Heat Press the Vinyl First
Once the vinyl and sublimation transfer sheet, it’s time to heat press the vinyl. Of course the usual steps of printing shirts still apply. Don’t forget to align the design, pre-press the fabric for 5 to 10 seconds, and use parchment paper or Teflon sheet.
Follow the recommended time, temperature and pressure of the type of vinyl you’re using. If you're using PU HTV or glitter HTV , press at 266 °F to 284 ℉ within 8-12 seconds of pressing time. If you used other types of vinyl, make sure to check out this Heat Press Temperature Guide for Vinyl.
Step 4: Press the Sublimation Paper
After pressing the HTV, let it cool for a while. Then prepare to press the sublimation paper over the HTV. Place the sublimation paper over the HTV, and align it correctly. Make sure to use a thermal tape to keep the sublimation paper from moving when heat pressing.
Do not use your mini heat press machine when pressing the sublimation paper. Using a mini heat press machine on the sublimation paper may cause the print to ghost or scatter. Thus ruining the whole project.
As for the time and temperature, use 190℃ for 50 seconds. There you have it! Is sublimation on dark garments easy or what? You can use this process if you want to use the sublimation process on 100% cotton shirts as well, whether it’s light or dark t-shirts.
Recommended Heat Transfer Vinyl for Sublimation Printing
So you may be curious, what kind of heat transfer vinyl can you use to sublimate on? Unfortunately, not all HTV can be sublimated on.
First of all, it is recommended to use light-coloured vinyl only. Secondly, any patterned or coloured vinyl may alter your print’s overall look. So if you want to maintain the overall print, it is better to use white HTV, preferably flock or PU. If you want an added special effect to it, you can always use the white glitter HTV.