Customized heat-pressed mugs are the perfect gift for any occasion. But for the item to remain in the category of perfect, the task of sublimation needs to be done flawlessly.
Sublimation printing a mug requires a specific procedure that contains many precautions, considering the nature of the mug. If not followed to the T, you will only be calling for a disastrous result.
Therefore, quit experimenting with your heat-press, and follow the step-by-step procedure that I have shared below to get a beautifully sublimated mug.
How To Sublimate A Mug With A Heat Press
In just a few simple and easy steps, you will be able to sublimate your mugs at home with creative images.
Items Required
In order to sublimate a mug with a heat press, there are a couple of things that you need. First of all, you need a plain ceramic mug. You also need a sublimation printer, a heat press machine, a bowl with warm water, a pair of protective gloves, and lastly, you need heat-resistant tape.
Step 1
Before you can take your heat press and start printing a mug with vivid prints, you first need to design and print out the images. For the first step, you need a sublimation printer. You can use any sublimation printer. But, make sure that the size of the printed image should be according to the size of the mug. Moreover, make sure that you use a specialized sublimation sheet and not a regular printing sheet.
Step 2
Then you need to cut out the design from the sheet and tape it onto your mug with the help of a heat-resistant tape. Make sure to place the design correctly, as once it has been transferred to the mug, removing it will not be a hassle for you. Furthermore, you also need to tape the image with the printed side facing the mug, and the blank side facing outward, towards the heat press.
Step 3
After that, you need to wrap the mug with a layer of protective paper. For ceramic mugs, butcher paper works the best. Take a single sheet of butcher paper, and wrap the entire mug with it. Make sure to not leave any area unwrapped, so that it does not come in direct contact with the heat press.
Step 4
Now comes the part where you need to take out your heat press. Turn the heat press on.
After the machine has powered on, you need to set the time and temperature of the press. This is a critical step that needs to be done very carefully.
If you are using a ceramic mug, then you should not set the time for more than 4 minutes. The ideal time range for ceramic mugs is between 2.5 minutes to 3.5 minutes. In addition to that, the temperature should also be set according to the nature of the mug. For ceramic mugs, a minimum of 350°F is required. The maximum temperature should not exceed 400°F.
Step 5
Once the time and temperature have been set, you need to tinker with the pressure of the heat press, if your model offers this additional setting. Now is the time for the real magic. Place the mug with the design into the press. Make sure to place the mug carefully, so as to not rip the butcher paper from any corner or side. If the handle of the mug comes in contact with the edges of the press, when you shut it, then you need to lower the pressure of your heat press. Shut your machine once you have placed the mug in it properly.
Step 6
After the time has been completed, your machine will make a beeping sound. This indicates that the task has been completed, and you need to open the machine. For this step, it is best for you to wear some protective gloves to keep your hands safe from the hot mug. Moreover, you also need to keep some warm water on your table. Take the mug out of the heat press, and place it in the bowl of warm water.
Under no circumstances should you use cold water, as contact with cold water will cause the hot mug to crack. Moreover, you should also avoid immediate contact with any cold surface. Once the mug has cooled down, you can remove the tape and peel off the printed sheet. Voila, you have got yourself a perfect and neat customized mug.
Conclusion
Sublimation printing a mug is not only a hobby, many people have turned it into a source of good money. However, for that to happen, you first need to practice your hand at this procedure to ace the art of sublimation printing a mug. Lucky for you, the entire process has been shared in simple words, in the article above.
I’m Henry Collins and living my happy life. I’m a professional businessman and I own and run 6 Heat Pressing Services stores where I provide my clients with custom Designs on hats, mugs, T-Shirts and a lot more using Heat Press Machine. Been using a heat press for the last 4 years and people love my work. As I’ve got enough information on Heat Press I decided to make a blog on it and share my knowledge with the world. I hope, the world will appreciate it.