5 Things to Know Before Buying a4 sublimation paper bulk

A sublimation paper is a specialty paper used to print on shirts, mugs, and other sublimation blanks. Many beginner and professional printers use sublimation printing because it&#;s cost-efficient and produces vivid prints.

You&#;ve landed on this page for one reason &#; you&#;re trying to find out what a sublimation paper is. If you&#;re a beginner in the sublimation printing industry, this ultimate guide will help you understand the ins and outs of a sublimation paper.

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You&#;ve landed on this page for one reason &#; you&#;re trying to find out what a sublimation paper is. If you&#;re a beginner in the sublimation printing industry, this ultimate guide will help you understand the ins and outs of a sublimation paper.

What Is Sublimation Paper? 

First of all, you need to learn what a sublimation transfer paper is made of. A sublimation paper is made of a special polyester coating on its print area. This special coating keeps the dye ink inside the paper which then transfers to the merchandise when exposed to heat.

TeckWrapCraft Sublimation Paper 8.3"x 11.7" (100sheets)

$15.90

Sublimation HTV

$11.99

Sublimation Paper & Sublimation HTV Bundle

$24.50

Glitter Colorful White HTV Vinyl & Sublimation Paper Bundle

$19.60

Sublimation Tape (5PCS)

$15.90

How Do You Print On A Sublimation Paper? 

To print on a sublimation printer, you&#;ll need an inkjet printer that contains dye sublimation ink. There&#;s no other way around it. You can&#;t use regular printer ink to print on sublimation paper because it won&#;t work. Furthermore, you can&#;t print on a regular printing paper using dye sublimation ink and use it for sublimation printing. In a nutshell, for sublimation printing, you&#;ll need sublimation paper and an inkjet printer with sublimation ink.

How Does The Sublimation Process Work? 

The sublimation process works in a simple way. Let&#;s say you have a sublimation paper printed with a design, of course using dye sublimation ink. You&#;re about to press it into a polyester t-shirt under the heat press machine.

What happens is that the sublimation ink turns into gas. At the same time, the fabric of the polyester shirt opens up and absorbs the ink. Once you&#;re done pressing the shirt, and it cools off, the gaseous ink that transferred to the merchandise turns solid. This means the ink is permanently printed on the merchandise. For knowing about more information about how to do sublimation shirts: a complete guide check ou blog.

What Projects Can I Do With A Sublimation Paper? 

There are plenty of custom-printed projects you can do with sublimation paper. With a sublimation paper, you can print directly on polyester fabric or any polyester-coated sublimation blank.

You can directly sublimate on synthetic fibers like polyester, lycra, nylon, and sportswear. Furthermore, you can also print the sublimation paper over a heat transfer vinyl. You see, directly sublimating on a cotton shirt or a dark-colored shirt won&#;t work.

Direct sublimation printing on a garment is only recommended for polyester shirts. But if you want to print on a dark-colored shirt or a cotton shirt, you can print the heat transfer vinyl first on the shirt. Then sublimate over it.

As for the sublimation blanks, there are plenty of products available in the market now. This means you can custom-print on plenty of merchandise. For knowing about best sublimation paper for dark shirt you should be check our blog.

Several Sublimation Blanks Available In The Market Now Are: 

• Round fans
• Mouse Pads
• Tumbler
• Mugs
• Aluminum plate
• Earrings
• Keychain
• Pet bandana
• Tote bags
• Cup coasters
• Pillow covers
• Jigsaw puzzle
• Cosmetic bags
• Pens
• Caps
• Baby bib

You can&#;t sublimate on random merchandise. It must be a &#;sublimation blank&#; because it has a special polymer coating wherein the dye sublimation ink will bond. For instance, you can&#;t expect to sublimate on a regular mug bought at a craft store. It must be a sublimation mug. All of these sublimation blanks are in white colors.

What Do I Need For Sublimation Printing?

As mentioned, for sublimation printing, of course, you&#;ll need a sublimation paper and a sublimation printer that contains dye sublimation ink. One more machine you need to invest in is a heat press machine and each one has its purpose.

Here Are The Different Kinds Of Heat Presses Available:

• Flat heat press machine: Available in swing type or clamshell type. Recommended for use for t-shirts, tote bags, jigsaw puzzles, pillowcases, mouse pads, and other flat surfaced items.
• Tumbler heat press machine
• Cap press machine
  
• Mug press machine
• Mini heat press machine (not recommended for sublimation printing)

Do you need to invest in all these heat press machines? The more heat press machines you have, the better! But if the budget does not allow it, starting with a flat heat press machine and mastering t-shirt printing first is a good way to start.

With sublimation printing, you&#;ll need other supplies like thermal transfer paper or tape, scissors, a Teflon sheet, and a silicone rubber pad. A bright desktop lamp on your workspace can also help you big time when printing. For knowing about sublimation temperature chart check our blog.

Sublimation Temperature Chart

TeckWrap Craft

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How To Sublimate Merchandise? 

Sublimating merchandise is a simple process. Print and press! That&#;s it! Whether you&#;re printing on a shirt or a sublimation blank. Whether you&#;re sublimating on a shirt or a mug, the transfer process is fairly similar. To give you an idea, here are the steps.

• Print the design on your computer using sublimation paper.
• Don&#;t forget to use the highest quality print setting on your computer.
• Print on the white side of the sublimation paper.
• Don&#;t forget to mirror the design.
• Let the ink on the sublimation paper dry for a few minutes.
• Cut the un-printed part of the sublimation paper.
• Prepare the heat press machine to its recommended time and temperature.
• Take note that the time and temperature of the heat press vary on the product you want to sublimate on. Make sure to check out the manufacturer&#;s recommendation.
• Place the printed image, with the printed side facing down the merchandise.
• Secure the sublimation paper on the merchandise by using thermal transfer tape.
• Heat press the merchandise.
• Remove the merchandise from the heat press and remove the sublimation paper.
• You&#;re done!

Sublimation Vs Heat Transfer Paper: Which Is Better?

You may have heard of another transfer printing method using heat transfer paper. These heat transfer papers are called dark transfer paper and light transfer paper. These types of special printing paper are coated with wax and pigment which transfers into the canvas.

Unlike sublimation paper where the dye-based ink turns into a gas and only the ink transfers into the merchandise. Sublimation printing and heat transfer paper printing are both different printing methods.

Puff Heat Transfer Vinyl

$9.90

Glitter Puff Heat Transfer Vinyl

$13.99

Glow in the Dark Puff Heat Transfer Vinyl

$14.90

Puff HTV Sheets Pack

$29.00

Heat transfer paper is available in laser heat transfer paper printed on a laser printer. There&#;s also the inkjet heat transfer paper to be printed on the inkjet printer only. Which printer do you use when working on a heat transfer paper design? Inkjet or laser printer?

Inkjet or laser transfer paper is commonly used as an iron-on print. But which printing method is better? Sublimation or heat transfer printing? This depends on your preference. If you don&#;t want the wax coating transferred onto the heat transfer paper garments, sublimation printing is preferred.

Which Printers Can You Use With Sublimation Paper?

There are printers specially used for sublimation printing. However, you can use a regular inkjet printer with dye sublimation ink on it. If you intend to invest in a printer for sublimation printing, make sure to consult with the manufacturer if the printer is compatible with sublimation printing.

There are also printers you can convert into sublimation paper using a CISS Ink system. If you have a regular inkjet printer at home and it already has regular ink on it, you cannot use it as your sublimation printer. Just like any other printer, when you refill a different kind of ink, other than the original ink you used, it might ruin the printer. That&#;s a big no-no!

The best brands of inkjet printers for sublimation are Epson and SawGrass. Just a tip, most HP printers won&#;t print a sublimation paper. Also, generally speaking, laser printers cannot print quality images.

Can I Use Regular Ink On Sublimation Paper? 

No, you cannot use regular ink on sublimation paper. Even though the sublimation paper will produce prints, it will not transfer to the merchandise. Sublimation paper is a special paper that contains a special coating that locks the ink and releases it into gas when exposed to heat.

The bottom line is, that regular printer ink is not made compatible with sublimation printing. The regular ink when printed onto a sublimation paper when printed on light-colored polyester fabrics or any sublimation blank.

Can I Use Dye Sublimation Ink On Regular Paper?

In sublimation printing, you cannot use dye sublimation ink on regular paper. You can try to print dye sublimation on regular paper, maybe for your documents, but it won&#;t look too good. The colors will look pale on the paper, a bit too blurry, and oftentimes smears. Don&#;t even think about using dye sublimation ink on regular paper if you intend to use it for sublimation printing. It simply won&#;t work! Sublimation paper works only for dye sublimation ink, and that&#;s about it!

Does Sublimation Ink Transfer Onto Dark-Colored Shirts?

No, sublimation ink does not directly print onto dark-colored shirts. If you want to print on a dark-colored shirt, there&#;s an indirect way to do it. What you want to do is print a white heat transfer vinyl on the dark shirt, then sublimate over it.

Sublimation print won&#;t be visible in dark-colored shirts like royal blue, dark gray, maroon and black. Also, one tip you should know &#; white ink does not print out in sublimation printing. White ink remains unprinted, in short, transparent.

Which Side Do You Print On Sublimation Paper?

The print side of the sublimation paper is the white side with a matte texture. Typically, a sublimation paper has one white side and a colored side. As for TeckWrap Craft&#;s sublimation paper, the colored side is colored light pink. in dark-colored shirts like royal blue, dark gray, maroon and black. Also, one tip you should know &#; white ink does not print out in sublimation printing. White ink remains unprinted, in short, transparent.

As mentioned, a tip when printing on sublimation paper is to always mirror the image on your computer. This tip was mentioned earlier because it is important. Once you press on merchandise, you have to press the printed image facing the merchandise, that&#;s why you have to mirror the image.

What To Look For In A Sublimation Paper? 

When you&#;re looking for a sublimation paper, what you need is a high-quality product. A sublimation paper must have a high transfer rate, at least 100 gsm, fast drying speed, ink-saving performance, and does not fade, smudge or crack.

High Transfer Rate

When you&#;re looking for a sublimation paper, you&#;d want a product with a high transfer rate. A sublimation paper with a high transfer rate prints vivid images and is ink-saving. A sublimation paper with more than a 98% transfer rate prints higher quality images.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website a4 sublimation paper bulk.

Fast Drying Speed

Some sublimation paper may have longer drying times. This means you have to wait several hours for the ink to dry before pressing the design onto merchandise. You can&#;t even touch the ink for hours as it may smudge. Why wait for the ink to dry if there is sublimation paper with a fast-drying speed? That&#;s what you should look for!

Ink-Saving Performance

Who likes to waste ink? No one! If there&#;s any way you can save on ink or any additional overhead cost, you should! That&#;s why you should look for sublimation papers with an ink-saving performance. Sublimation papers with a higher gsm have an ink-saving performance.

What Is The Best Sublimation Paper? 

One of the best sublimation papers available is from TeckWrap Craft. It&#;s fast-drying, waterproof, has great ink-saving performance, and does not fade, smudge or crack. Additionally, it&#;s affordable. You can use the TeckWrap Craft sublimation paper to print on shirts, mugs, tumblers, and all sublimation blanks.

The Takeaway 

Now that you&#;re aware of what a sublimation paper is, its uses, and the projects you can create with it, are you excited to start with your crafting projects? Surely, you are! Don&#;t forget &#; only use a sublimation printer containing sublimation ink and a high-quality sublimation transfer paper.

For your sublimation paper needs, don&#;t look elsewhere. A pack of TeckWrap Craft sublimation sheets comes in 100 sheets of A4 paper. It&#;s 100 gsm that&#;s why it dries fast, is ink-saving, and has a 98% transfer rate. Get your sublimation paper at TeckWrap Craft now!

Buying guide for

Best sublimation paper

Written by

Jmar Gambol

Sublimation printing is one of the most popular and fastest-growing crafts and hobbies you can do at home. With only a compatible inkjet printer, the appropriate inks or dyes, and a good stack of sublimation paper, anyone can print T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, and more with a colorful custom design. In fact, if you wanted to, you could start a home business doing sublimation printing.

Sublimation paper is key to this type of printing. This special paper has been coated so it absorbs sublimation dyes and transfers them to the desired object, called a substrate or sublimation blank. A substrate can be fabric, ceramic, or even coated wood or metal.

While ordinary printer or copy paper can be used in a pinch to transfer designs, it won&#;t have the reliability, performance, or accuracy of sublimation paper. A good buying guide and some recommendations can help you find the right paper for your next project.

It&#;s called &#;sublimation&#; printing because the dyes sublimate, or pass directly to a gaseous state from the paper to the substrate during the transfer process.

How to buy sublimation paper

Size

This type of paper comes in common sizes, such as letter, legal, and international A4, and they all work well for transferring designs onto clothing like T-shirts and sweatshirts, signs, or anything else that can lie flat in a press. To print onto substrates and blanks like mugs and plates, it&#;s easier and more economical to buy sublimation paper in special sizes intended for those projects, such as 4 x 9-inch mug sheets. Note that not all brands of sublimation paper come in these special sizes.

Printer and ink

Sublimation printing can be done on certain models of home or office inkjet printers and on sublimation printers. Generally, converted home inkjet printers use water-based sublimation inks, while sublimation printers use gel-based inks. Some types of sublimation paper perform better with printers that use water-based inks, and some work better with gel-based inks.

Your design

Many different kinds of artwork and graphics can be printed, from simple text to detailed photographs. Your design&#;s complexity and colors can affect the performance of the paper. Deeply saturated images generally need sturdier paper, while simple text and graphics don&#;t have the same demands. Some sublimation papers do fine with designs that include plenty of white space but can bleed adjoining colors, especially if the colors are saturated. Choose the paper that&#;s right for the design you&#;re working on.

Black is the last color to sublimate and the first color to burn. Use black test designs to practice and perfect your sublimation and pressing technique.

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Features of sublimation paper

Specifications

Transfer rate: One number you&#;ll see frequently when purchasing sublimation paper is the transfer rate, which measures how much of the dye transfers from the paper to the substrate. Good-quality sublimation paper has a transfer rate of at least 95%.

Drying time: Sublimation paper has to be dry to transfer the inked design onto the substrate. Paper with a faster drying time allows you to complete projects more quickly and with better results. There are now papers advertised as &#;quick-drying.&#;

Weight

Sublimation papers come in various weights, expressed in grams per square meter (gsm). A heavier paper with a higher weight is thicker and does a better job of printing deep, saturated colors. Lighter paper is thinner and less expensive. Generally, 105 to 130 grams per square meter is a good range for this type of paper.

Coating

There are two types of coating used on sublimation paper: clay and resin.

Clay-coated paper is usually more affordable and does notably well when transferring inks onto hard substrates like ceramic and porcelain.

Resin-coated paper has a sticky quality that makes it good for transferring dyes onto textiles, but it can mottle and blur ink on hard surfaces.

Front vs. back

Sublimation paper is single-sided, with a specific front and back. Only one side has the special coating that holds and releases the dyes and inks. The paper should make it easy for you to tell which side is which by the use of watermarks or colors that indicate the back. Another way to tell is the sticky side is the one that transfers the ink. Or you can look closely at the sheet to find the shinier surface. That is the coated side you should print on.

DID YOU KNOW?

Images printed on sublimation printers look dull when first printed on sublimation paper. Their colors only really show after the transfer process.

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Accessories for sublimation paper

Sublimation printer

You need a printer for this craft. For beginners or occasional hobbyists, you can use a home or office inkjet with a piezoelectric or piezo print head to print on sublimation paper with the appropriate ink. If your job is sublimation printing, look into getting a sublimation printer with specific features and the performance necessary for larger quantities of this type of printing.

Heat press

A heat press machine transfers the image from sublimation paper onto a substrate. It&#;s the final and most crucial step of this type of printing. There are two kinds of heat press machines: clamshell and swing-away. Heat presses can reach 400°F, which most sublimation paper can withstand.

Thermal tape

Thermal or sublimation tape helps hold the printed sheet of paper on the substrate during heat pressing. Thermal tape is designed to withstand the 400°F temperature of the heat press.

Butcher paper

To keep your printed sublimation paper from inadvertently staining surfaces, you can use uncoated butcher paper as a cover sheet. Slip the butcher paper between the layers of a T-shirt or sweatshirt to prevent the printed design from transferring onto the other side of the garment.

How much does sublimation paper cost?

Inexpensive

Inexpensive paper costs as little as $0.11 per sheet. You can also find packs of 20 or 40 sheets for less than $10. These cost more per sheet but less per pack. They&#;re perfect if you want heavier-weight paper but only plan to print occasionally.

Mid-range

A good selection of sublimation paper costs around $0.15 to $0.19 per sheet. These often come in packs of around 100 sheets at less than $20 per pack. They include well-known and dependable brands, offer weights from 105 to around 130 grams per square meter, and come in common sizes like letter and A4.

Expensive

Expensive sublimation paper can cost over $0.25 per sheet and sometimes more than $30 per pack of 100 sheets. The larger and more unusual the size, the more the paper costs. Rolls of sublimation paper cost $30 and up but work out to a lower cost per sheet.

The best substrates for sublimation printing are polymer textiles like polyester and blanks treated with a poly coating. Natural fibers like cotton and wool are not suited to sublimation.

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Tips

• Practice makes perfect. Getting a sublimation project right takes some trial and error. If you can, always make a test print or two to see if you get the results you want before making your final piece.
• Keep your work area and materials dry. Moisture and humidity can affect the sublimation process. The paper can warp or curl or take longer to dry. Moisture can also cause errors during the transfer process. Store sublimation paper in a resealable package in a dry place to keep it protected from humidity. If possible, iron or press a substrate before the final transfer. If you live in a humid climate, you might want to invest in a dehumidifier for your craft area.
• Wear heat-safe gloves. After passing through the heat press, your sublimation paper, cover papers, tape, and substrate/blank can be hot to the touch. Wear heat-safe gloves, such as oven gloves, if you have to touch your materials during and after pressing, especially if you need to remove the sublimation paper from the substrate quickly.

When creating art for sublimation printing, remember that blank areas in your image will come out the color of the substrate. There is no white sublimation ink.

FAQ

Q. What&#;s the difference between sublimation paper and heat-transfer paper?

A. They&#;re both commonly used to transfer designs onto clothing and objects, but they work in different ways. Sublimation paper infuses dye into the substrate, while heat-transfer paper adds a layer of ink on top of the substrate. You can tell the difference with fabric: a sublimated image feels like it&#;s part of the fabric, while a heat-transferred image feels like something added onto the fabric.

Q. Can a regular printer print on sublimation paper?

A. Some home and office inkjet printers can be used for sublimation, but only if they have piezoelectric print heads and they&#;ve been equipped with sublimation ink. Piezoelectric print heads use electricity to form images with ink on paper. They&#;re commonly used by inkjet printers from Epson. Thermal inkjets that use heat to transfer ink, cannot be used with sublimation paper. Most HP and Canon inkjet printers use thermal technology and won&#;t work with sublimation.

Q. How many times can sublimation paper be used?

A. You can only use a sheet of paper once. Even if there&#;s still some ink on a printed sheet, it most likely won&#;t be enough to transfer again and get good results.

 

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