Always pre-heat your blank before applying the design
Make sure to store your sublimation paper in the original packaging in a moisture-free environment
Make sure to check whether your blank has a protective foil before pre-heating it (very common in smaller, flat objects such as metal inserts for keyrings/bracelets/straw toppers, flat bottle opener or a wind spinner)
ALWAYS check that you have mirrored your design before printing it!
Make sure to use the right printing settings and apply ICC profile if applicable (check with your ink provider)
REMEMBER that there is no white sublimation ink and therefore, if sublimating on a coloured item, eg. A green mug, where there is white colour or no colour in your design, it will become green on the green mug. Choose your designs carefully! The good news is that if you are sublimating on a white item, eg. A mug / tumbler, where there is white colour or transparent part of your design it will just become white on the white mug/tumbler
This may sound a bit silly but make sure to print on the right side of the sublimation paper
Make sure to run a nozzle check regularly to make sure none of the inks got clogged
REMEMBER that due to the high heat used during the sublimation process, your design may darken slightly so if you are trying to sublimate photos of people/ animals/objects it is better to used ones with good lighting over dark photos.
DO NOT WORRY if the colours of your printed on the paper design look different to those on your computer, these colours will change under the heat and should be in a very close proximity to those on your computer once applied to the product (if sublimating on white object, if sublimating on eg. A green mug, they will have a green-ish hue)
REMEMBER to wear heat-resistant gloves when sublimating!
This may also sound silly, but sooo many of us have done that – RMEMEBER to double-check that you applied the design the right side up (many of us have accidentally sublimated things upside down!)
Make sure to control the moisture in your craft room – a very cheap and easy way to do this is by using this type of a dehumidifier https://amzn.to/3BP7NN3
When applying your design to a product, make sure there is no dust on the paper or the product as it will get embedded into the products surface destroying your print
Make sure to take any plastic / rubber parts of the product off before sublimating it, eg. handles, lids, seals
Only apply the anti-slip rubber pads onto a tumbler AFTER sublimating it
Make sure to tape your design tightly around the product, especially when sublimating in an air fryer / oven as there is nothing there to apply the pressure. Not taping it tight enough will cause ghosting.
Keep in mind that any pressing instructions provided by the product suppliers are only a guidance and may not be the exact settings that will work for you. Every equipment is different, there are so many different types of mug presses, tumbler presses, flat presses, air fryers, ovens etc and therefore, it is impossible for one setting to work for them all so be prepared to experiment with your press / oven to find the right settings for your appliance.
You can ONLY sublimate on items made of polyester or those with special sublimation coating. You will not be able to sublimate on a standard supermarket mug or a cotton t-shirt.
