How to Sublimate on Dark Shirt?

The sublimation process is being frequently used in the world of creative minds and entrepreneurs. Sublimation is being done on various objects like T-Shirts, Mugs, wooden frames, apparel, and many different accessories. It is a very simple as well as a technical method of transferring ink of a print to the required object by using a heat transfer machine. You can simply customize your product by using this method. Are you looking for “How to Sublimate on a Dark Shirt?” then here you are.

Normally, sublimation is done on simple white polyester T-Shirts. Sublimation on dark-colored and cotton shirts is a bit demanding task because you need a little polyester and white base for printing. But no worries here is every detail you needed for dark shirts. You just need some extra focus and a few more pieces of equipment. But no doubt it will be going to be worth it. A change from a white clothing piece will bring a vast variety of designs to your collection.

Life needs colors:
Sublimating on dark and cotton shirts is similar. No one can wear white all the time. Every day needs a new color. No doubt most of you love black. So if you know the basics of sublimation then going one step higher is a must.

Just give it a thought, learning this can make you a useful artist. You can make shirts for specific days such as Independence Day, themed parties, themed birthday events, school events, etc.

Plan of Action:
Without wasting any other seconds let’s get to the work. You just need to add two more simple steps in the basic procedure of sublimation. First of all, get your gear ready before getting into it. keenly observe the following steps:

Step #1: Arranging the equipment:

As you have well acquired that this process needs focus so it is better to arrange all the material beforehand. You cannot afford any kind of distraction during all this procedure. Line up your electronic machines with a switchboard or an extension. Here is the list of everything that will be needed in this procedure:

• Laptop/Computer
• Sublimation Printer
• Sublimation Ink
• Sublimation paper
• Heat press machine
• Cardboard sheet
• Heat resistant tape
• Oven mitt
• Silhouette Cameo
• HTV print sheet along with mask sheet
• Dark-colored T-shirt
• Butcher Paper

Let us have a brief detail about all the stuff. Printer, dye/ink and printing paper is the one which is used for basic sublimation. HTV printing sheet can be new to you. It is a shiny white sheet and its other side is matte. It is attached to its mask sheet. A cameo machine is just like a circuit maker but it is more precise and powerful. Now heading towards our main product the T-Shirt. You should prefer 50% cotton and 50% polyester. You can also use a 100% cotton shirt but there are chances of fading of print colors in it.

Step #2: Printing the graphics

Select a beautiful picture or any text. Make it according to your required dimension using any printing software. Be careful about the size of your selected picture. Now print the colorful image of the chosen graphic on sublimation paper.
Check out if the colors are vibrant and according to your need.

Do not lose the graphic from your laptop. Save it for future use. You will need it while working with the HTV sheet. As you have to make the print on a dark cloth so, you cannot directly put the sublimation paper print on the shirt.

Step #3: Working with HTV sheet:

This step is especially for dark and cotton shirts. Using the same graphic you have printed out on sublimation paper. Make a duplicate of that image on your software. Make the fill color option transparent or blank. It will turn into an image with just boundaries without any colors inside. This print on HTV will get out from the Cameo machine by cutting into the precise shape of that chosen picture on sublimation paper.

As HTV sheet is shiny from one side and matte from the other. Be aware that the print should be on the matte side. This matte side will be attached to the shirt. Put out the extra paper from the mask sheet of HTV. Now there is only the picture-shaped white sheet on the mask. After putting this HTV on the shirt remove the carrier mask sheet from the shirt. The Mask sheet is vinyl.
First, we will press this HTV sheet on the T-shirt after setting the shirt.

Step #4: Setting the Shirt:

For setting up the shirt you need to make the shirt wrinkle-free. So iron it beforehand. Then put the cardboard sheet inside the shirt. Make sure the area of the shirt which is going to be printed is tight and without any wrinkles. Then as is mentioned earlier stick the cutout of HTV on the shirt.

It will look like a white image of your actual print. If it is a flower then it is being cut into the flower shape by the cameo machine. Now you just need to add colors in that white image which will be done through sublimation printed paper.

Step #5: Applying the print on the shirt:

Finally, we are here to our last step. Before this apply heat press on the HTV which is on our product. 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 seconds only. No put the printed colorful image on the shirt above the HTV sheet base. Make sure it won’t go sideways. The color image should be right on the white image. Tape it with heat-resistant tape.

Now you have to transfer the picture from sublimation print to the white image on the shirt. You will again use a heat transfer machine. For being careful, put the butcher paper on the shirt while heating the process. Apply 350 to 400 degrees for 60 seconds only. Here you go your colored cloth will get some more vibrant colors.

Conclusion:

Wrapping up the whole experience of sublimation on the dark shirts. All the materials used are the basic material of sublimation except the HTV sheet and Cameo cutting machine. First, we have printed out the picture on sublimation paper as well as a transparent duplicate on the HTV sheet. Then we have heat-pressed the cutouts of HTV on the shirt. After that actual picture is heat transferred on the shirt above the white base (that white base is created through the HTV sheet). Just to be sure about putting the image cutout right on the previous cutout.

Precautionary measures will be the same as those used for white polyester shirts. Avoiding hot water and scrubbing the sublimated surface while washing. Avoid contact with heat is also one of the precautionary measures. We have already gone through the pros of this procedure at the start of the article i.e. it can be used for various personalized clothing for self as well as for selling purposes.

The scope of sublimated clothes is spreading day by day. One can create symbols of superheroes like batman, spiderman, hulk, etc. Kids will surely love that kind of costume. Believe it or not, dark-colored shirts are more fun than simple white ones.

Frequently Asked Question

Can, I sublimate on colored shirts?

The straight answer is yes. You may hear this often that sublimation doesn’t work well on cotton, dark, or color t-shirt. But it’s not a proven fact, you can definitely print on colored t-shirts with the right technique. Printing on fabrics other than polyester takes an extra step and correct supplies. With HTV and Siser EasySubli, you can achieve your desired results.

Can I sublimate on dark fabric?

Yes, you can sublimate on dark fabrics easily and achieve optimal results with the correct technique and equipment. 

Which shirts could be used for sublimation?

Polyester fabric is recommended for sublimation. But, I wanna let you know–you have the liberty to print on pretty much any shirt (dark, cotton, colored, or polyester and cotton blend). Opt suitable printing method according to fabric and get optimal results on your desired t-shirt.

What is the best sublimation paper for dark shirts?

Siser EasySubli works best on dark shirts. It puts forward two sheets; sublimation and mask sheet that makes the process quite easy. Yet delivers the crisp colors.