Do you know what sublimation printing is? In essentials, it's using heat to permanently transfer ink from a piece of paper onto another surface. If you look around your house you probably have sublimation printed items and don't even know it. Mugs, t-shirts, socks, tote bags, mouse pads…the list is pretty long. If you look online, you'll find hundreds of videos with hacks and instructions for doing sublimation printing at home. So, of course, I wanted to try it!
I bought two different brands (and styles) of sublimation markers – one with a very thin pen tip and one with a thick chisel tip. Then I took each set of markers and doodled onto plain pieces of copy paper. This is the part of the process that took the longest. But I just put on a podcast and had some fun making a big colorful tangle of marks. I think you can tell which was the thick tip and which was the thin tip:
Note that the colors of the markers are more dull than the final colors will be after heating.
Then I used my ScanNCut to cut out the text I wanted to use. You could use a built-in design, create your own text, or import a text file. Don't forget to reverse the text!!!
The reason you need to reverse the text is much like HTV, you're going to need to place the paper, pretty side down, when it’s time for sublimation.
This is what it looks like when it's all cut out:
The markers I used require the substrate to be polyester in order to transfer. So I placed a polyester tote bag in my heat press. And then I carefully laid out the text.
I covered the whole thing with butcher paper and closed the press to let it do its thing. You should always read manufacturer instructions for how long to heat your design and at what temperature. This process is best with a heat press, but I have read that you can do it with an iron. It simply takes longer and sometimes the colors aren’t as vibrant.
I repeated the heating process with the negative text as well. Nothing is wasted this way!
And now you can see my super cute totes!
Personally, I like the bolder and brighter markers better. But that's my personal taste. Let me know which look you prefer!
Thanks for stopping by!
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I am a paid ScanNCut Ambassador. All opinions are my own.
So cute!!!!
So cute!!!!
So cute!!!!
So cute!!!!
So cute!!!!
So cute!!!!
So cute!!!!
Love the bold ones!
Love the bold ones!
Love the bold ones!
Love the bold ones!
Love the bold ones!
Love the bold ones!
Love the bold ones!
I’m with you; the bright colors. This looks like it was fun but I’d be hesitant with just an iron. I don’t have a heat press. but, who knows. maybe I’ll give it a go?
I’m with you; the bright colors. This looks like it was fun but I’d be hesitant with just an iron. I don’t have a heat press. but, who knows. maybe I’ll give it a go?
I’m with you; the bright colors. This looks like it was fun but I’d be hesitant with just an iron. I don’t have a heat press. but, who knows. maybe I’ll give it a go?
I’m with you; the bright colors. This looks like it was fun but I’d be hesitant with just an iron. I don’t have a heat press. but, who knows. maybe I’ll give it a go?
I’m with you; the bright colors. This looks like it was fun but I’d be hesitant with just an iron. I don’t have a heat press. but, who knows. maybe I’ll give it a go?
I’m with you; the bright colors. This looks like it was fun but I’d be hesitant with just an iron. I don’t have a heat press. but, who knows. maybe I’ll give it a go?
I’m with you; the bright colors. This looks like it was fun but I’d be hesitant with just an iron. I don’t have a heat press. but, who knows. maybe I’ll give it a go?
Yes, The bolder and brighter, the better!
Yes, The bolder and brighter, the better!
Yes, The bolder and brighter, the better!
Yes, The bolder and brighter, the better!
Yes, The bolder and brighter, the better!
Yes, The bolder and brighter, the better!
Yes, The bolder and brighter, the better!
I agree!
I agree!
I agree!
I agree!
I agree!
I agree!
I agree!
I love the bright colors too. They contrast better with the background. Now, if I wanted a “stealth” bag, I might choose the other! Great article and it looks like fun.
I love the bright colors too. They contrast better with the background. Now, if I wanted a “stealth” bag, I might choose the other! Great article and it looks like fun.
I love the bright colors too. They contrast better with the background. Now, if I wanted a “stealth” bag, I might choose the other! Great article and it looks like fun.
I love the bright colors too. They contrast better with the background. Now, if I wanted a “stealth” bag, I might choose the other! Great article and it looks like fun.
I love the bright colors too. They contrast better with the background. Now, if I wanted a “stealth” bag, I might choose the other! Great article and it looks like fun.
I love the bright colors too. They contrast better with the background. Now, if I wanted a “stealth” bag, I might choose the other! Great article and it looks like fun.
I love the bright colors too. They contrast better with the background. Now, if I wanted a “stealth” bag, I might choose the other! Great article and it looks like fun.
I like the idea of a stealth bag!
I like the idea of a stealth bag!
I like the idea of a stealth bag!
I like the idea of a stealth bag!
I like the idea of a stealth bag!
I like the idea of a stealth bag!
I like the idea of a stealth bag!
I like the one with the bold colored background and the message was done using the letters as a mask.
I like the one with the bold colored background and the message was done using the letters as a mask.
I like the one with the bold colored background and the message was done using the letters as a mask.
I like the one with the bold colored background and the message was done using the letters as a mask.
I like the one with the bold colored background and the message was done using the letters as a mask.
I like the one with the bold colored background and the message was done using the letters as a mask.
I like the one with the bold colored background and the message was done using the letters as a mask.
I like the bold colors too on the bag as they really pop and show off the lettering. The polyester is great and strong for a bag but I’m not a fan of it for clothing.
I like the bold colors too on the bag as they really pop and show off the lettering. The polyester is great and strong for a bag but I’m not a fan of it for clothing.
I like the bold colors too on the bag as they really pop and show off the lettering. The polyester is great and strong for a bag but I’m not a fan of it for clothing.
I like the bold colors too on the bag as they really pop and show off the lettering. The polyester is great and strong for a bag but I’m not a fan of it for clothing.
I like the bold colors too on the bag as they really pop and show off the lettering. The polyester is great and strong for a bag but I’m not a fan of it for clothing.
I like the bold colors too on the bag as they really pop and show off the lettering. The polyester is great and strong for a bag but I’m not a fan of it for clothing.
I like the bold colors too on the bag as they really pop and show off the lettering. The polyester is great and strong for a bag but I’m not a fan of it for clothing.
I agree!
I agree!
I agree!
I agree!
I agree!
I agree!
I agree!
I think thats my favorite too!
I think thats my favorite too!
I think thats my favorite too!
I think thats my favorite too!
I think thats my favorite too!
I think thats my favorite too!
I think thats my favorite too!
Really cute! The bolder colors are more my taste, too – can’t decide which one I like more though.
Really cute! The bolder colors are more my taste, too – can’t decide which one I like more though.
Really cute! The bolder colors are more my taste, too – can’t decide which one I like more though.
Really cute! The bolder colors are more my taste, too – can’t decide which one I like more though.
Really cute! The bolder colors are more my taste, too – can’t decide which one I like more though.
Really cute! The bolder colors are more my taste, too – can’t decide which one I like more though.
Really cute! The bolder colors are more my taste, too – can’t decide which one I like more though.
Im so glad you like them!
Im so glad you like them!
Im so glad you like them!
Im so glad you like them!
Im so glad you like them!
Im so glad you like them!
Im so glad you like them!
The bold show up so much better and they make me happier to look at them!
The bold show up so much better and they make me happier to look at them!
The bold show up so much better and they make me happier to look at them!
The bold show up so much better and they make me happier to look at them!
The bold show up so much better and they make me happier to look at them!
The bold show up so much better and they make me happier to look at them!
The bold show up so much better and they make me happier to look at them!
Me, too! Julie Fie-Fan Balzer, do you plan to sell these to those of us who have already fallen in love with them?
Me, too! Julie Fie-Fan Balzer, do you plan to sell these to those of us who have already fallen in love with them?
Me, too! Julie Fie-Fan Balzer, do you plan to sell these to those of us who have already fallen in love with them?
Me, too! Julie Fie-Fan Balzer, do you plan to sell these to those of us who have already fallen in love with them?
Me, too! Julie Fie-Fan Balzer, do you plan to sell these to those of us who have already fallen in love with them?
Me, too! Julie Fie-Fan Balzer, do you plan to sell these to those of us who have already fallen in love with them?
Me, too! Julie Fie-Fan Balzer, do you plan to sell these to those of us who have already fallen in love with them?
Sadly, no.
Sadly, no.
Sadly, no.
Sadly, no.
Sadly, no.
Sadly, no.
Sadly, no.
Thats a good point.
Thats a good point.
Thats a good point.
Thats a good point.
Thats a good point.
Thats a good point.
Thats a good point.
Hi Julie, I love the tote design! What are the brands of pens please? Hopefully they are available to us down under in New Zealand.
Hi Julie, I love the tote design! What are the brands of pens please? Hopefully they are available to us down under in New Zealand.
Hi Julie, I love the tote design! What are the brands of pens please? Hopefully they are available to us down under in New Zealand.
Hi Julie, I love the tote design! What are the brands of pens please? Hopefully they are available to us down under in New Zealand.
Hi Julie, I love the tote design! What are the brands of pens please? Hopefully they are available to us down under in New Zealand.
Hi Julie, I love the tote design! What are the brands of pens please? Hopefully they are available to us down under in New Zealand.
Hi Julie, I love the tote design! What are the brands of pens please? Hopefully they are available to us down under in New Zealand.
These ones are great: https://amzn.to/3Hpxq3I
These ones are great: https://amzn.to/3Hpxq3I
These ones are great: https://amzn.to/3Hpxq3I
These ones are great: https://amzn.to/3Hpxq3I
These ones are great: https://amzn.to/3Hpxq3I
These ones are great: https://amzn.to/3Hpxq3I
These ones are great: https://amzn.to/3Hpxq3I
Have fun!
Have fun!
Have fun!
Have fun!
Have fun!
Have fun!
Have fun!