Do you want to take your mug or cup collection to the next level? Have you been searching for a way to express yourself through mugs and cups that is distinct and creative? Sublimation printing on mugs and cups may be just what you’re looking for!
With this technique, there are no limits on design options; with minimal added costs, any personalized image or logo can be printed onto a mug or cup.
Not only does this provide limitless creativity when it comes to choosing designs, but the process itself has its own unique benefits as well. From vibrant colors that remain even after many washes, an array of materials compatible with sublimation inks, and the overall convenience of creating custom-printed mugs and cups.
It is a great way to express your creativity through self-designed products such as sublimated mugs and t-shirts. You all have heard of acrylic and glass sublimation but there are so many other sublimation ways where you can sublimate your printed design.
Just Like that, sublimation mugs can also be used for sublimation on cups and mugs.
What is Sublimation Printing?
Sublimation is a printing technique that allows for images to be transferred onto mugs and cups. This is done by using a sublimation printer, which uses heat to transfer the ink onto the mug or cup.
I have created a comprehensive guide on Sublimation printing for my readers, if you are new to sublimation and willing to learn it, this guide is best for you.
Sublimation on Mugs and Cups
In order to do cup sublimation, you first need some sort of equipment that is necessary for it. These are just the basic required items for this process, you can also use additional things for better output.
What is needed to sublimate mugs?
Every process requires a set of necessary equipment. These are the must that can’t be avoided. So in order to sublimate on mugs, you need a few things. Here is a brief list of all:
1. Sublimation Mugs
First, you need a mug that is made of a material that can be sublimated. This means that the mug must be made of ceramic, porcelain, or polymer-coated metal.
2. Sublimation Printer
Second, you need a printer through which you can print your design. There are tons of quality sublimation printers that you can choose from. Epson Eco-Tank Printer is very popular for sublimation at a small scale and to print bigger prints you can go for Epson ecotank wide format printer.
3. Sublimation Ink
You can’t just use any printer ink, so sublimation ink is a must in this heat transfer process. Always use good quality sublimation inks as they provide vibrant and vivid colors when printed.
4. Heat Transfer Paper
Heat transfer paper also known as the sublimation transfer paper is the paper where your design is printed first by your printer. A-Sub Sublimation paper is a good quality transfer paper and can deliver you a quality final product.
5. Scissor & Heat Resistant Tape
You will need scissors to cut down the extra paper so that it sticks fully on the mug and to keep the printed design in its place you can use heat-resistant tape.
6. Oven Mitts
You can use oven mitts or any heat-resistant gloves for handling the mug because after putting it into the mug press, too much pressure and temperature are applied to it. So its temperature is too high to hold with a naked hand.
7. Mug Press Machine
You need a mug press to apply the design to the mug. The mug heat press allows the design to be transferred onto the mug permanently.
8. Designing Software
Through designing software, you can create the design that you want to print. There are numerous sublimation design softwares available out there.
Once you have all the required things for mug sublimation, move on to the process and see how easy it is to sublimate mugs and cups using a mug press machine.
How To Sublimate Mugs
The process is relatively simple and only requires a few steps.
» First, print your custom design. The image is printed onto sublimation paper using a sublimation printer.
While printing, make sure to check that the mirror image box is checked. You can also set the substrate surface to ceramic if there is an option available for that.
» Next, note the size of your sublimation mug and cut the extra white corners so that only the printed area sticks to the mug surface.
» Now apply the paper to the mug using heat-resistant tape. The paper is placed on the mug or cup and heated until the ink transfers onto the mug or cup.
» Now put your mug into the mug press machine and adjust the pressure until the mug is held intact and does not move at all.
» Set the temperature according to your mug press machine. On average, the sublimation process uses 350-450°F but this can vary.
A good example is to set the temperature to 400°F and keep the mug in it for 180 seconds or 3 minutes.
» Once the timer hits zero, take out your mug using oven mitts and remove the paper.
» Finally, carefully place the mug or cup on a cool surface and wait for the mug to cool down.
Congratulations! You have beautiful sublimated mugs that you can gift to someone or sell it online.
Related post >> How To Remove Sublimation Ink From Mugs, Shirts & Tumbler
Sublimation Printer for Mug Sublimation Graphics
You might be thinking about which printer is best for mug sublimation. Well, the answer is quite simple.
You can use any printer that is designed for sublimation printing. Epson EcoTank Printers are one of the best series by Epson, giving you so many benefits and quality prints. These printers use dye-sublimation inks, which are designed to produce vibrant colors and sharp images.
The inks are also heat-resistant, so they won’t fade when exposed to high temperatures.
Sublimation Cup: Can you use any cups?
You can sublimate on regular mugs if and only if it is coated with some sort of poly-coat so that the ink sticks well with the mug surface. There are so many unique sublimation blanks on which you can sublimate your printed design and create unique custom gifts.
Sublimation Blanks
Sublimation blanks are basically any substrate or surface that allows the embedding of sublimation ink on it. In short, these are materials or surfaces that are used in the sublimation process.
Sublimation blanks are specialized materials that have been formulated for the process of sublimation. Sublimation blanks come in a variety of styles and sizes to suit any project.
Popular choices include mugs, plaques, t-shirts, and mousepads, but there are also blanks made from metal, polymer, plastic, and paper. All these materials require special coatings that enable them to accept dye during the transfer process.
The end result is a vibrant, durable finish that will stay bright for years without fading or peeling off.
Additionally, when compared to traditional methods such as screen printing or embroidery, sublimation printing provides much clearer resolution and detail. The ink becomes part of the material itself during the transfer process instead of sitting on top like a plastic layer.
As a result, designs can be printed in unlimited colors with smooth gradations between them while avoiding pixelization. Sublimation blanks are available in many different forms including both hard goods (e.g., mugs) and soft goods (e.g., fabric). The flexibility of this technology means that even complex images can be easily transferred onto almost any type of surface.
Mug Press Settings
If this is your first time using a heat press, you might have some doubts about how to use it properly. There are so many mug heat presses available today and each of them has its own temperature range.
Most Mug presses have a temperature range ideal for sublimation which can go up to 500°F. But such a high temperature is for industrial and heavy heat press machines.
A normal mug press has a temperature range of 350-450°F. So first, adjust the temperature using the buttons given and then every time you put a mug in the press, adjust the pressure according to the mug size.
Tight the press until the mug does not shake or wobble. If your press has an alarm then that is great but if it doesn’t you can take out the mug by manually observing the time using a stopwatch or clock.
FAQ’s
Final Thoughts
Creating a custom-designed mug at home is never been so easy as it is today. You can easily create your own customized products without being an expert.
I hope by going through this article, you surely learned how to sublimate mugs without any problems. So if you have any other queries, feel free to ask me.