Hey Folks, it’s Friday Morning, and I am writing this post for our lovely viewers who have been following our blogs for the most detailed sublimation techniques available on the internet.
While we were constantly taking up orders for t-shirt printing, we always thought of adding another material into our arsenal which can produce some excellent results and is great for gifting purposes.
The global digital printing market is expected to reach around USD 45.93 billion in 2029, with a CAGR of 6.56%. A market that is growing at this pace must have something uncommon. There is an increased demand for personalized things. People want their clothes, hats, mugs, and tumblers to be unique and abstract. People think of this as ‘making a statement.’
To step into the creative world of personalized printing, you must first understand what sublimation printing means. Sublimation printing is a process of printing on a surface known as a substrate with the help of heat.
In simple terms, a design is first printed on a sublimation paper with the help of a sublimation printer. The paper is then attached to a blank or the printing surface. Heat and pressure are applied to the surface to start the magic.
After testing different materials, our search drilled down to Acrylic. Acrylic is a transparent solid plastic that is lightweight and made of methyl methacrylate polymer. You might have seen transparent keychains or artifacts; those are made of acrylic.
Its ability to be shatter-resistant and less prone to scratching makes it a good substitute for glass. Acrylic is durable and can be molded easily when heated.
If you have a small business and want to add some SKUs to your shop, then acrylic items are the future. But first, let me tell you the 2 most important things to remember when you proceed with sublimating on acrylic.
There are different kinds of acrylic blanks available in the market, so you should test out all of them before finalizing your favorite ones. We really like Clear Ice and White blanks, whereas we rejected the frosty acrylic blanks.
Thickness matters, seriously. We tested blanks with variable thickness, and the blanks,s that were really thick tend to warp up a little after they are heated, so make sure you treat them with more caution and immediately place some heavy objects on them after using a heat press.
With this information, you are ready to enter the creative battlefield and build your sublimation army. To get some blanks, you can order them on Amazon or buy them from Walmart.
Materials required:
- Sublimation Printer
- Sublimation Paper
- Heat Resistant Tape
- Acrylic Blank
- Heat Resistant Gloves
- Weeding Tool
- A heavy object
- Butcher Paper
Sublimation on Acrylic Step-by-Step Breakdown
Step 1: Create and Print your Design
Use software like Canva or Cricut Design Space. Measure the dimensions of your blank and create a design slightly bigger than those metrics. The color may bleed, so your edges won’t fade if you have a bigger print than your blank.
You should frame your art form according to your acrylic blank. For example, if you are using a round blank, then make your design in a round format. This applies to any geometric blank, such as a rectangle, star, square, etc.
If your designs are small in size, you can print multiple designs on a single sheet. Load up your Sublimation Printer (we are using Epson Ecotank ET-2760) with high-quality Sublimation Paper and hit the “ Print “ command on your software.
Another thing to keep in mind while printing is that you need not select the “ Mirror Image “ option for this method. Yes, it’s different here because most acrylic blanks are clear, so it doesn’t matter mirroring them.
Step 2: Prepare your Acrylic Blank
Most of the blanks are covered with a protective film on either one or both sides. Use a weeding tool to carefully remove those films; otherwise, your project will be ruined completely. If you do not have a weeding tool, you can use a popsicle stick or even your fingernails to remove the film.
Now, clean your blank with a lint roller or rubbing alcohol. Make sure there is no dust on your blank before printing.
Step 3: Marriage between Sublimation Paper and Acrylic Blank
Carefully cut out the paper and place it facing the printable side. Secure the paper using heat-resistant tape or adhesive spray. I mentioned the spray here because sometimes the tape leaves its mark after using a heat press.
Preheat your heat press for 10 seconds. After that, place a butcher paper on the base of your heat press. Now place your blank’s printable side facing down on the butcher paper. Cover your blank with another butcher paper and apply enough pressure using your press.
Set the temperature to 380F and the time to nearly 120 seconds. You need to test different temperatures and times based on your heat press and acrylic blank.
Step 4: Peel off the Sublimation Paper
Wear heat-resistant gloves and remove the blanks from the heat press. Let them cool down for a bit, and then slowly remove the paper. It will come out easily, but if you see any paper residue, immerse your blank in water and rub the paper off using a scrubber.
There you go—beautifully looking acrylic night lamps and keychains are ready. Just add a hanger clip or any tassel, and you are good to go. Use them yourself or gift them to somebody. They’re very cost-effective to make but look like very expensive gifts.
You can even make your own online store on Facebook/Whatsapp or Shopify and start your Customized Printing Business.
Now that you know how sublimation works on acrylic surfaces, start printing your favorite designs on your favorite articles and let your artistic side shine! Have fun creating something unique 🙂
To sum up, sublimation printing is the best way to print on any surface. You can create your personalized acrylic articles by referring to this guide. All you need is a sublimation printer, available on the market at affordable rates. Sublimation paper, ink, and a heat press to start your creative journey.
The process is as easy as it sounds. You can turn this hobby into a profitable business with proper knowledge and skills.
