Making a photo shirt

What is sublimation?

Your everything sublimation resource!

Items you will need:

 

1. Printed sublimation transfer (mirror image)

2. Heat press

3. 100% polyester shirt (bright or white color only)

 

Turn you heat press on and make sure it has reached 400 degrees, or the appropriate temperature for the polyester garment you are decorating. You also want to test your heat press to make sure it will provide medium to medium-light pressure. Once your heat press has reached the right temperature, lay your shirt our evenly on the heat press platen.  Make sure you completely flatten our the garment.  Any bumps or folds will negatively affect the transfer.  Also be sure to clear away and dust or lint that might be present as that will block out parts of the design. 

 

Next, place the transfer face down on the polyester garment.  You can place the transfer anywhere you want on the shirt.  Just keep in mind that is must all fit under the heat press.  Trying to press a large design in phases will not give you good results.  When the transfer is in the right location, clamp your heat press down and let the transfer dwell for the appropriate time for your polyester garment.  Generally sublimation on polyester takes about 35 seconds.  However each garment behaves differently, so check with the manufacturer first for the best pressing times.

 

Once the transfer has dwelled for the correct amount of time, unclamp your heat press and remove and discard your transfer.  The shirt will be hot so be careful! Shake the shirt out to help cool it down.  You’re finished!  You just decorated a shirt with sublimation!

 

I know what your next question is...can I use a single transfer multiple times.  The answer is...no.  There still will be some ink left on the page after you heat press your transfer, but the majority of it leaves the page on the first transfer.  You can try using the same transfer again, but it will come out looking dull and faded.  It is not recommended.