If you work in graphic design or a business that sells products with custom-made images, you might already be familiar with sublimation. However, sublimation printing is becoming increasingly popular among people who like arts and crafts projects, as well as those who want to sell their own unique creations online. In short, sublimation is a great way to get the images you want on the products or materials of your choosing!
Nonetheless, you’ve probably still got a lot of questions about sublimation and how it works. For example, what exactly is sublimation printing? Can you sublimate on cardstock and similar materials? If so, how does the process work?
In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s take a deep dive into the world of sublimation printing!
What Is Sublimation Printing?
Sublimation printing may sound complex, but it is actually pretty simple. It just requires you to print an image onto a piece of heat transfer paper. Then, you use heat and pressure to apply the image to a material of your choice. Sublimation is frequently used to make graphic t-shirts and clothing, but it can actually be used on a wide range of materials and surfaces. The reason sublimation works well for clothing is that it uses a dye-based ink that turns from a solid into a gas when heated. This gas then adheres the image to the piece of clothing.
Sublimation paper and heat transfer paper are types of specialty paper that are specifically used to transfer images from one surface to another via heat and pressure. You can often find these types of paper in either inkjet or laser form, and you will need to use the corresponding printer to print out the images correctly. Once you’ve got your images printed on the correct paper, you just need a source of heat and a surface to put the images on.
If you plan on doing sublimation for business purposes, the startup costs are relatively low. However, it may feel like a costly hobby if you just want to sublimate arts and crafts. In any case, you will need to have heat transfer paper, a printer, a heat press, and the material or surface that you want to use as the “final product.” It’s important to note that you can also use a standard iron if you don’t want to invest in a full-size heat press.
Now, this brings us to your final product. While many people sublimate images on clothing, you may want to sublimate onto a wide variety of materials, including thick paper or cardstock. So, will it actually work? Read on to find out!
How To Sublimate On Cardstock
Fortunately, the short answer is yes, you can sublimate on cardstock. In fact, sublimation is a great way to transfer printed images or text to a cardstock surface. Sublimated cardstock can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including birthday or wedding invitations, business cards, announcements, and much more. So, let’s take a step-by-step look at everything you need to do to sublimate on cardstock:
Step 1: Gather Your Equipment & Materials
As previously mentioned, sublimation printing is not something you can do without the right materials. Most importantly, you will need heat transfer paper (or sublimation paper). Most projects work well with a medium-weight matt paper (45-55 lbs). You can often find this type of paper online and, in some cases, at craft stores. The same applies to dye-based ink. You will not be able to use regular printer ink, as it will just smear right off the paper and ruin the image. So, you will need to make sure you have dye-based ink in advance.
This brings us to the printer. As previously mentioned, the type of printer you need will depend on the type of paper you use (or vice versa). Inkjet paper requires an inkjet printer, while laser paper requires a laser printer. Either way, just make sure that you check both the type of printer and the type of paper before you make any purchases!
Next, you will need to decide if you want to invest in a heat press or try to find a simpler solution. For cardstock, you do not need anything heavy-duty, but you will need something that produces enough heat to actually transfer the images from the paper to the cardstock. Additionally, you can find affordable heat presses online or at big-box convenience stores. But again, if you want to go with the cheaper DIY route, you can use a standard clothing iron. Just make sure that it has accurate temperature control, as that will be important later on.
Lastly, you will need to get your cardstock. The type of cardstock will depend on your specific needs. That said, sublimation generally works best on lighter colors. In fact, it often does not work at all on black or similarly dark colors. So, for the best results, opt for off-white or white cardstock. And remember, you can always find high-quality cardstock and paper products on Fine Card Stock!
Step 2: Choose Your Image
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This step should be relatively easy. If you’re looking into sublimation on cardstock, you probably already have an image in mind. Even if you don’t have one yet, don’t stress! You can create or find the perfect image to fit your needs. For example, if you’re sending out wedding invitations, you may want to sublimate images of the soon-to-be-married couple. Alternatively, if you’re creating business cards, you may want to include the company logo or your name in a special font. As you can see, the possibilities are virtually endless! |
Step 3: Print Your Images
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Once you’ve chosen the image (or images) that you want to use, it is time to load up your printer with heat transfer paper and dye-based ink. Most standard printers will be able to handle the task without any issue, but if you’re worried that your printer won’t work for sublimation, simply contact the manufacturer for more information. Assuming that your printer is compatible with heat transfer paper and dye-ink, you can proceed as you would with any kind of print job. Just align the paper correctly, select the number of copies you want, and then click “print.” It’s really that easy!
However, if this is your first time doing sublimation, it is best to start with just one printed image. This way, you can test the entire process without printing out dozens of images before you are ready. Additionally, printing one image at a time prevents the chance of the images smearing onto one another. |
Step 4: Prepare Your Heat Press
The heat press is the most delicate part of the entire process. You have your cardstock in place and your heat transfer paper ready with the correct images. Now what? Both the time and temperature are important factors at this point. The sublimation will not work correctly if you do not use the heat press (or even a clothing iron) correctly.
Fortunately, it’s not too complicated to get things right. Ideally, your heat press should be preheated to somewhere between 380-390°F. Once you’re ready, you should close the press and apply roughly 40 PSI of pressure for about 45 seconds. You can do it for up to one minute, but you should be very careful not to leave the cardstock in the press for too long, as it could scorch the material, distort the image, or cause general discoloration.
If you choose to use an iron, it is difficult to gauge how much pressure to use. You can’t exactly use your iron to measure 40 PSI. So, you will just have to wing it. You may need to do several test runs before you get it just right!
Step 5: Let Your Cardstock Cool
Once you have finished Step 3, you should carefully remove the cardstock from the heat press and leave it on a flat surface to cool. A kitchen counter is a great place to do it, as it is unlikely to get damaged if the cardstocks are still very hot. When your cardstock has reached room temperature, you can finalize your creation with any additional decorations or flourishes you like. And voila! Now you have officially sublimated on cardstock!
Sublimation On Glitter Cardstock
If you’re wondering whether or not you can sublimate on glitter cardstock, the answer is yes! However, you may need to do things just a little differently. Rather than using the entire heat transfer paper in the heat press, you may want to cut out the image itself. This way, your glitter cardstock will just get the image sublimated and retain its glittery background!
Ready to try sublimation printing on your own? If so, be sure to check out our high-quality products on Fine Card Stock today, and let us know how you put our cardstock to good use!