Sublimation is one of the most popular ways to turn a PNG design into a shirt, mug or tumbler. This guide walks through the basics so you can go from a downloaded file to a finished product with fewer mistakes.
What you need
- A sublimation printer with sublimation ink, and sublimation paper
- A heat press (or a mug or tumbler press for round items)
- A sublimation blank, such as a polyester shirt, a polymer-coated mug or a tumbler made for sublimation
- Heat-resistant tape and butcher paper
- Your PNG design file
Step by step
- Download your PNG from the email you receive after checkout and save it on your computer.
- Open it in your design software and resize it to fit your blank. A 300 DPI file stays sharp when you scale it down. Enlarging a lot can soften the edges, so always check the preview.
- Mirror the design before printing. Sublimation transfers flip, so the design must be reversed on the paper to read correctly on the product.
- Print on sublimation paper using your printer's sublimation settings.
- Tape the printed sheet to your blank and press it. Time, temperature and pressure depend on the blank and your press, so follow the instructions from the maker of your blank.
- Peel off the paper as your blank's instructions describe, then check the result.
Good to know
- Sublimation works best on white or very light polyester and polymer-coated blanks. It does not work well on dark fabrics or on 100% cotton.
- Sublimation ink is not white, so any white in a design shows the color of the blank instead. For designs meant to be white on a dark shirt, DTF is usually the better choice.
- Do a small test print first, because screens, printers and blanks all affect color.
Designs to try
Browse our Christmas PNG designs, fall and Thanksgiving designs or coquette designs. Every file is a 300 DPI PNG with a transparent background, made for sublimation and DTF.