Are you a newbie? Do you wants to start a sublimation business but is scared? Do you need guideline? If yes, then this article will surely help you to start sublimation printing business. We will discuss how to start a sublimation business and what steps you have to follow.
You can go through the article in detail and make the first move just like you do for any other task. Sublimation printing for beginners as a business can be a great venture. If you learn the skills that can help you grow and improve over time.
How to Start A Sublimation Business? -Sublimation Printing
Table of Contents
What Is Sublimation Printing?
Before starting a sublimation business, you need to make sure you have enough knowledge about sublimation printing. It is a process in which you can create designs on your PC with the help of design-creating software. Print these designs on the sublimation paper and transfer them on a ton of goods with the help of a heat press. It is an easy and cost-effective way to personalize many items at your home.
Equipment Required To Start A Sublimation Printing Business
If you are an entrepreneur who wants to start a personalization business, you can get started with sublimation printing. It is an exciting time as the dye sublimation business has empowered many people in the past few years. You can attract thousands of customers by selling high-quality customized objects from your home.
To start a sublimation business, you need some equipment to help you complete the printing projects. You can use all these to understand the process of sublimation printing better. The kit includes
Sublimation printer
Design creating software
A computer
Sublimation paper
Sublimation inks
Heatpress
Material which can be Sublimate on – Sublimation Idea
There are variety of products on which you can perform sublimation such as glass, fabric, mugs, metal, plastic, key chains etc. It will be a great choice who want to start sublimation printing business.
We will also discuss some accessories that can facilitate the printing process for you.
Designing Software
Design creating software can be a steep learning curve for beginners interested in starting a sublimation business. You can invest some time and learn the designing software to create some masterpieces. Many resources are available online that can help you learn using this software and take full advantage of these. Let us discuss a few of them below so you can add these to your sublimation business starter kit.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is considered the best overall and is the premium application that gives a clean and clear image for sublimation printing. It is great software for new people in the sublimation business. It is not available for free, and you have to buy a monthly subscription, but it has amazing features that can help you create great designs in less time. Regular updates can help you improve image editing, 3D color manipulation, and extrusion. Hence, it is easy to use and works on pixel-based design to give your prints an incredible look.
GIMP
GIMP is free software that provides sufficient features to edit images, logos, prints, illustrations, and icons. All the tools that GIMP has are easy to use and do not compromise on the quality of the print as well. This design-creating software is compatible with your Mac and Windows computer. You can edit the existing images and create your own by using this free software.
CorelDraw
You can get access to many features and graphics by using CorelDraw. It is a top-rated software that can help you create amazing pieces as a beginner in the sublimation business. This is the best software to help you grow your sublimation prints catalog with the vector graphic system. The interface is simple and easy and makes sure the users can bring out their creative ideas. The only downside of this design-creating software is that it is expensive.
Gravit Designer
Gravit is another graphic design creating application that gives the users the creative freedom to make logos and sublimation prints on their own. The application has a free standard version, but you have to get a monthly subscription to access all the features. The annual subscription costs only $99.99, which is very affordable compared with other software.
Sublimation Printer– Sublimation Business
The next step is to get a sublimation printer when you have the right design software. It is different from the usual printers and uses sublimation inks only. Many options are available in the market, and you can choose according to the color quality, print quality, and durability. If you are a beginner planning to start a sublimation printing business, you can go for Epson ET-2720 sublimation printer. This model is all in one copier, scanner, user-friendly, and affordable. You can get the printing projects done in no time.
You can use this two model and print many goods, including t-shirts, mugs, coasters, keychains, and mousepads. It helps you create designs on 24″ rolls of paper and is more advanced in features as well voice activated printing. Hence you can create masterpieces and attract customers with the help of these sublimation printers.
Sublimation Ink And Paper
For beginners, the sublimation printers come with a full set of ink cartridges, so you do not have to buy them separately. As sublimation ink uses heat transfer paper and sublimation paper. But make sure you have some extra ink and sublimation papers if you run out of them in between a printing project. The sublimation paper should be thick to withstand the heat and pressure and do not curl up. It should be compatible with the printer and the heat press as well.
Heat Press
The second most important equipment after the sublimation printer is the Heat press in your sublimation business starter kit. It is a necessary item to get those bright and high-resolution prints on the goods. Several heat presses are available in the market, and all of them have different features. You can choose any of the heat presses but make sure they are compatible with the products you plan on working. They should fit the size of the goods so the prints can be transferred without getting destroyed.
Sublimation Blanks
As mentioned above, you can sublimate a ton of goods. When you choose blank products for customizing them, make sure they are made of polyester or have a polyester coating. Only these products can be sublimated. You can try printing on items that have no polyester coating and will destroy the materials.
Additional Products
As a newbie in the sublimation business, there are a few accessories that you need to keep as they facilitate you during the printing process.
Pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands from burns.
A lint roller or a sponge can be used to clean the goods before transferring the prints.
Thermal tape that helps keep the sublimation paper stick on the product.
Now follow this last step how to start a sublimation business.
How To Do Sublimation?
Sublimation printing is an easy way to transfer the prints and customize several items according to your liking. You can follow the four easy steps below and sublimate any object you like.
Step 1
The first step is to create a design with the help of software on your PC. You can adjust the design’s color, shape, and size according to the material you want to sublimate. Some software allows you to change the color of the images and even add words to the items. A word processing software can be used to add the logos and signs on the sublimation paper.
Step 2
Connect your PC to the printer and make sure the sub paper you are using is compatible with the sublimation printer. Various qualities of the sublimation papers are available in the market, so make sure you choose the thicker ones. The thin papers can curl up and detroit with pressure.
Step 3
Print the images/designs onto the sublimation paper and let it dry for a few minutes in a cool place. This helps the sublimation paper absorb and retain all the ink and transfer them perfectly onto the materials/goods. When the sublimation paper dries, place it onto the material, but it should be facing downwards.
Step 4
Heat the heat press for a few minutes and place it onto the sublimation paper for transferring the prints. The time of the heat press can vary from object to object as a shirt needs the heat for 30-60 secs. But in case of a mug, it can take 6-12 minutes to transfer prints. Make sure you adjust the temperature and timing accordingly. Your product/material is ready with high-quality and high-resolution prints that will last forever.
FAQs
How to sublimate?
You can sublimate any object by having four primary equipment only. Even if you are a beginner, you will be able to sublimate many objects by following the step-by-step guide.
What do you need for sublimation?
You need four things for sublimation: a sublimation printer, a sublimation paper, ink, and a heat press. You can easily sublimate any object, even at home, if you have all this equipment.
How to do sublimation printing at home?
You can sublimate many goods at your home with only four items. Sublimation printing is a cost-effective method that helps you customize many objects at the house.
Conclusion
After this comprehension discussion, hopefully you have an idea how to start a sublimation business? All the things you will ever need to start a sublimation printing business are mentioned above. You can master this craft and create amazing pieces by following the step-by-step guide. Even if you have limited resources as a beginner, you can manage to complete all your projects on time because sublimation printing is cost-effective. It is durable and gives high-quality prints with bright colors that do not fade or crack.
