How to Do Art for Sublimation Printing

Retrofitted inkjet printers have made sublimation accessible to everyone.

Over the past few years, sublimation printing has become much easier and more accessible to the masses. Thanks to readily-available graphics software, easy-to-find, affordable hardware and a simplified, streamlined process, almost anyone can create sublimation-ready art, as well as finished market-ready products.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Scanner
• Graphics software
• Sublimation printer
• Sublimation paper
• Heat press
• Heat-resistant tape

Instructions

1. 

   Place your artwork into a standard flatbed scanner and close the lid. Remember the flatter your artwork is, the better the scanned results will be. Use either the software that came bundled with your scanner, or the "Twain Acquire" function found in most industry-standard graphics software programs. Make any necessary adjustments in the scanner interface window, scan your artwork and then save it in its "unrefined" form.

2. 

   Convert your artwork to CMYK mode. (Most scanners and graphics software use RGB mode as a default.) This is important because most printers print in CMYK, and sending RGB data to a CMYK printer can sometimes have undesirable results. Once that is done, adjust your contrast, color levels/balance, and lightness/darkness to your liking. Or, using your scanned artwork as a reference base, completely redraw it in a vector-based drawing program. (This is a common practice to guarantee the cleanest, crispest artwork is achieved.) Finally, crop and re-size your artwork to the finished size you'll need for your sublimated item.

3. 

   Set-up your sublimation printer. Go into the software interface and set up the print job. The most important things to pay attention to are: The orientation of your artwork on the paper, and the ICC profile in use, (For sublimation, your art will have to be flipped horizontally.) An ICC profile is a preset profile that optimizes your print for specific papers, items and purposes.
   Make sure you touch the image side of the sublimation paper as little as possible, as dirt and oils on your hands can affect your print. Place it in the printer as per the manufacturer's instructions and hit "Print."

4. Follow the instructions supplied with your sublimation printer, heat press and paper. Set your heat press for the proper temperature and pressure, and set your timer accordingly. Use your heat-resistant tape, if necessary. Secure your artwork in position, and place it in the heat press. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to complete the pressing/cooling cycle.

5. Peel the paper off and you're done.