Can I Sublimate On Cotton? Four Ways to Sublimate on 100% Cotton

There was a time when people asked this question Can I sublimate on cotton? a lot, and got the answer “no.” But now, after a long time of research and experiments, I get some material that makes sublimation possible on cotton. 

Yes, sublimation on cotton is possible using the right methods. Several materials like heat transfer vinyl, transfer paper, Subli flex, Subli dark and light, and most important FOREVER make it easy to do sublimation.

Further in this article, I’ll discuss the best methods to sublimate cotton shirts. Just follow the guide, and you’ll be able to do this. Moreover, some frequently asked questions are below: don’t miss reading them. 

4 Methods 

 Sublimation on cotton shirts or any other fabric does not work directly. You can choose an indirect method for sublimation. Here are some methods to consider:

Sublimation on cotton to glitter

• Sublimation on cotton to glitter
• By using a transfer sheet
• Siser Easysubli
• Sublimation Fabric sheets

Sublimation on cotton to Glitter

The glitter method is stunning for this method. However, sometimes it does not prove an effective method for people who do not like glitter. But if you are a glitter lover, choose this method.

Heat transfer paper

Heat transfer sheet works well on fabrics containing 100% natural fibers. For example, cotton is one of the fabrics with natural fibers. Therefore, this paper can be used for sublimation.

You have to print on this paper before sublimation printing on the cotton. Therefore, printing through these transfer sheets can not last for long on a cotton surface.

Sublimate on cotton by fabric sheets?

The long-lasting sublimation prints work well for any product. However, I face a problem when printing on cotton is less sustainable. Siser EasySubli is the best way with lasting printed colors for a long.

The basic process is:

• First, take the sublimation paper and print your sublimated design on that paper.
• Transferring this sublimated paper design to cotton is the next step.
• Now, press the already-pressed sublimated cotton fabric.
• Finally, use the cut feature to cut HTV with the Cricut machine.

How does Sublimation dye works?

Sublimation means changing form without changing the essence. For sublimation dye, you need:

• Sublimation inks 
• Sublimation paper
• Heat press 

Take some sublimation ink and turn it into the gas using a heat press. This will help to last your shirt lifelong by locking the ink into the fabric fibers to get your printed design into the fabric.

How to sublimate a cotton shirt?

Sublimate cotton fabric is easy. Here are some methods that work well for this purpose. The first method is the transfer paper method. Follow some simple steps to get your shirt sublimated by the transfer paper method.

1. Collect the material you need for sublimation
2. Select or create your design 
3. Print your design  
4. Pressing printed design 
5. Re-pressing of pressed design

You have to print on this paper before printing on the cotton shirt. Therefore, printing through these transfer papers can not last for long.

Sublimation by fabric sheets like Siser Esaysubli

The long-lasting print works well for any product. However, I face a problem when printing on cotton is less sustainable. Siser EasySubli is the best way to sublimate on cotton with lasting printed colors for a long.

The basic process is:

• First, take the sublimation paper and print your sublimated design on that paper.
• Transferring this sublimated paper to cotton is the next step.
• Now, press the already-pressed sublimated cotton fabric.
• Finally, use the cut feature to cut HTV with the Cricut machine.

How does Sublimation dye works?

Sublimation means changing form without changing the essence. For sublimation dye, you need:

• Sublimation ink 
• Sublimation paper
• Heat press 

Take some sublimation ink and turn it into the gas using a heat press. This will help to last your shirt lifelong by locking the ink into the fabric fibers to get your printed design into the fabric.

Can I Sublimate On Cotton? 

Yes, you can Sublimation on a cotton shirt is easy. Here are some methods for sublimation on a cotton shirt. The first method is the transfer paper method. Follow some simple steps to get your cotton shirt sublimated by the transfer paper method.

1. Collect the material you need for sublimation on a cotton shirt 
2. Select or create your design 
3. Print your design  
4. Pressing printed design 
5. Re-pressing of pressed design

The material you require for sublimation on a cotton shirt

Sublimation paper:

Choose an A4 size Sublimation paper for your sublimation. You can use a SUB, DyeMaster, Seogol, or Printer jack for this purpose. Sublimation paper for cotton t-shirts works perfectly for quality printing. 

Sublimation Ink

Get Sublimation ink for cotton. This sublimation ink can be available in two colors, 4 and 6. Select the sublimation inks according to your printers and projects.

Sublimation Printer

Select the printer according to your need. Epson EcoTank ET-15000, SAWGRASS VIRTUOSO SG500, and Epson ET 4760 can be used for sublimation on cotton.

Sublimation Tape: Take a sublimation tape that helps to your sublimated print in place. This is specially designed for sublimation which is easy to take off and can withstand up to 425 °F.

PC or laptop: You must have a device for creating your design like any desk or laptop.

Graphic Software: To create your design and manage its size, you need graphic software on your device.

Cotton shirt: Take a shirt on which you have to sublimate the design.

Select Or Create Your Design: Select a design you want to sublimate on the fabric. If you don’t have a design, you can get help from photo editing software like Adobe PS or CorelDraw. Many websites like Pixabay, Pinterest, or freepik.com for free designs or images.

Select Or Create Your Design: 

Select a design you want to sublimate on the fabric. If you don’t have a design, you can get help from photo editing software like Adobe PS or CorelDraw. Many websites like Pixabay, Pinterest, or freepik.com for free designs or images.

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Select Or Create Your Design

 Select a design you want to sublimate on the fabric. If you don’t have a design, you can get help from photo editing software like Adobe PS or CorelDraw. Many websites like Pixabay, Pinterest, or freepik.com for free designs or images.

For making sublimation prints go for a designing software and just select one PNG or SVG design and re-size it. Then, upload the design to any editing software and size it by cutting it according to your need. If you use Circut design, the size should be 6.75 × 9.25. Another option you can use is MS Word to use the word you would need to cut the design by hand.

The color of your design is important for a good result. First, make sure that your color is 150% CMYK. If the design color is not 150% CMYK or more than it, find another design or color. Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator can check the color whether is 150% CMYK or not.

These designed sublimation prints allow you to print different crispy designs on many surfaces smoothly.

Print your design:

After creating the design, it’s time to print it. Before printing your design, make sure you are printing it on a mirror image. Now you have to print the design on a sublimation printer.

Pressing is the step to print the design on the shirt. Here is a guide on how to press sublimation on cotton.

Press the shirt

Press your shirt in four steps 

1. Set the shirt in a place
2. Pre-pressing
3. Pressing
4. Re-pressing

Set the shirt in a place: Place your shirt on a hard surface and to prevent the ink from bleeding, put butcher paper inside the shirt. Now put another butcher paper on the shirt. If there is any dust or hair, remove it before printing.

Use sublimation tape so the shirt cannot move during printing and stay in a place. Then, tape down the shirt carefully to sublimate the perfect design.

Pre-pressing: Press the shirt if it is wrinkled because if the shirt is not pressed image can be ruined. Pre-press is an essential step before you start pressing. Take 15-30 sec to pre-press your shirt. Set your transfer paper and use parchment paper to cover it. 

Pressing: Keep the pressure medium-high and press the shirt for a minimum of 30 seconds after the press grabs the shirt from one corner and takes off the transfer.

Re-pressing: To increase stability and durability you must follow this step. After pressing the shirt properly, re-press the shirt for 30 seconds. Keep the pressure high.

Note: To provide high heat to the shirt, use a heat press. You can also use Easypress because iron would not work here. The Easypress should be large than the size of the design. Place the heat press over the design and press the shirt.

Cotton Spray for Sublimation

In my second method of sublimation on 100% cotton, I will make a polyester covering on the cotton fabric to absorb the ink easily. Again, a special spray is being used for making a polyester layer or covering.

Process

Step 1: Press the cotton t-shirt you want to sublimate. Properly press the shirt and do not leave wrinkles, especially in the area you have to design.

Step 2: The second step is to spray the area you have to design. Mark the area with the tape that you need for sublimation. Do not spray the whole shirt. Just spray the area you selected for sublimation. Using a mat inside the shirt can prevent the spray from spreading to the back of the shirt.

Step 3: Leave the spray to dry for some time. When you feel the dried spray, print the designed image using a sublimation printer on the shirt.

Step 4: After printing the image, let it attach to the shirt. Place a butcher paper on the shirt and another inside the shirt. Next, attach the image to the shirt by using a heat press. Press the shirt for 90-120 sec at 350 °F.

Step 5: The last step is removing the shirt and taking off the tape. Now your sublimated shirt is ready.

Things to Remember

• By using the cotton spray you have to first spray all the area heavy but not too heavy roll it in the fabric then let it dry for 20 minutes or more then you’ll get really good results.
• You can also sublimate straight onto white glitter htv! And it turns out beautifully.
• Air drying is a must to get completely brilliant sublimation results on cotton fabric.

Frequently asked questions