Creative entrepreneurs and crafting businesses utilize sublimation printing to create highly durable and stunning sublimation shirts. Learning how to sublimate a shirt will empower you to create custom designs that look professional and withstand repeated washes.
Whether you want to create individual custom shirts or large batches for sale, you need to know the best practices to ensure professional results. Common mistakes can lead to faded designs, smudges, and other heat transfer issues, so it’s important to understand the proven techniques for producing high-quality sublimation t-shirts.
This step-by-step guide unpacks how to make sublimation shirts correctly, from the initial design to pressing your shirts. You will learn what essential items and materials you need, how to use a heat press for shirts, and how to avoid common sublimation printing mistakes.
By following these directions, you’ll be on your way to producing stunning and long-lasting sublimated shirts that you and your customers will love.
What Is a Sublimated Shirt?
A sublimated shirt is a shirt that has been decorated using the sublimation printing process. This transfer method turns solid ink into a gas, bonding the ink to the polyester fibers of a shirt. Unlike traditional printing methods that sit on top of the material, sublimation bonds the printed design with the fabric itself, creating highly durable artwork.
Compared to screen printing, embroidery, and other decoration methods, sublimation offers more vibrant colors, greater detail, and a smoother finish, making it a popular method among small businesses and crafters who make custom apparel.
To achieve professional results on your shirts, you’ll need to invest in the right equipment and the best shirts for sublimation.
Choosing the Best Shirts and Equipment for Custom Sublimation Shirts
Selecting the right materials and tools is your first step to creating stunning sublimation shirts. You’ll need a high-quality sublimation printer, heat press, and blank shirts for sublimation.
Best Sublimation Printers for Shirts
A reliable sublimation printer is essential for producing sharp designs that can bond with your shirts. While it’s possible to convert standard inkjet printers for sublimation printing, it’s best to use an inkjet printer specifically designed for sublimation. A sublimation printer for shirts produces high-resolution designs using quality sublimation ink and prints the transfer ink onto sublimation transfer paper.
Some of the best sublimation printers for t-shirts include the Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer, the Epson SureColor F170 Sublimation Printer, and the Brothers SP-1 Sublimation Printer. For printing on larger apparel, consider investing in a sublimation printer with large-surface printing capabilities, such as the Sawgrass SG1000 Sublimation Printer or the Epson SureColor F570 Pro Sublimation Printer. Additionally, you can compare some of the best sublimation printers for shirts by checking out our article "Best Sublimation Printer For Beginners."
Pairing the right printer with a premium heat press and quality blanks will set the foundation for professional-looking custom sublimation shirts.
Best Heat Press for Sublimation on Shirts
The next step in ensuring breathtaking sublimation designs is having the right heat press. Not all heat presses are designed for shirts and apparel. You’ll need a sublimation machine for shirts that features a spacious, flat platen, allowing for even heat distribution across the area of the shirt you intend to sublimate. Typically, clamshell heat presses and swing-away presses are best for sublimating shirts.
A few notable heat presses that can help you create stunning sublimation t-shirts include the HOGG Clamshell Heat Press, Fancierstudio 15 x 15 Digital Heat Press, and the Hotronix Auto Open 16" x 20" Clam Heat Press. You can learn more about these heat presses and other great models by visiting our 2025 heat press comparison guide.
Investing in a dependable heat press machine for shirts helps you achieve consistent, professional results every time.
Best Shirts for Sublimation Printing
Finally, you’ll need quality sublimation blank shirts to achieve breathtaking results. The sublimation process requires polyester fabric for the ink to bond properly. Select 100% polyester shirts for sublimation or a fabric blend with a high polyester content. Polyester shirts for sublimation allow the transfer ink to fully bond with the shirt’s fibers, creating bright, durable designs.
If you want to sell high-quality shirts with custom designs, consider finding a reliable supplier that sells sublimation shirts wholesale. Buying bulk sublimation shirts is a practical choice for reducing supply costs while ensuring consistent quality. If you’re looking for a wholesale supplier, check out The Stainless Depot Company’s website for high-quality bulk sublimation shirts and other great blanks.
Now that you know what you'll need for t-shirt sublimation, let’s unpack the step-by-step process for achieving the best sublimation print quality results.
How to Make Sublimation Shirts
Step 1: Select or Create a Design
Begin by selecting or creating a design that suits the style and message you want to convey on your shirt. Use graphic design software or apps to customize your artwork, selecting colors, fonts, and images that complement each other well. A few great software choices for sublimation designs include Canva, Photopea, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Affinity Designer.
Make sure the design size matches the printable area on your shirt. Also, remember to flip your designs as mirror images so they appear correctly when transferred onto your sublimated shirts. Taking time to refine your design ensures your custom sublimation shirts will look professional and eye-catching.
To learn more about creating sublimation designs, read our article "How to Make Sublimation Designs for Tumblers, Shirts, or Other Custom Crafts."
Step 2: Print the Design
Once your design is ready and mirrored, it’s time to print. Use your dye sublimation printer for t-shirts to transfer the design onto sublimation paper. Handle the printed paper carefully to avoid smudging, moisture, or debris, which can affect the final result.
Step 3: Remove Particles from the Sublimation Shirt
Before you begin the transfer, prepare your shirt to ensure the best possible results. Start by removing any lint, dust, or debris from the fabric using a lint roller. Even small particles can interfere with the sublimation process, affecting the final print quality.
Step 4: Preheat Your Heat Press
Follow your heat press manufacturer’s temperature settings to preheat your press. The exact settings will vary depending on your press, but 100% polyester shirts typically require a temperature of 400°F, while 50/50 polyester-cotton blends use temperatures ranging from 300°F to 350°F.
Step 5: Put on Protective Heat-Resistant Gloves
Now that your heat press is preheated, you should wear heat-resistant gloves to avoid burns. Wearing these gloves is essential when placing your shirt and design on the heat platen.
Step 6: Position the Shirt on the Heat Press
Carefully place a sheet of butcher paper on the lower platen. You’ll then lay your shirt on top of the butcher paper with the area you intend to sublimate facing up.
Step 7: Pre-Press Your Shirt for Sublimation
Pre-press the shirt in your heat press for a few seconds. This removes wrinkles and moisture from the fabric, creating a smooth, flat surface for an even sublimation transfer.
Step 8: Position the Sublimation Transfer
Place the printed sublimation transfer paper on the shirt with the design facing down. Use heat-resistant tape to secure it, preventing it from shifting during the sublimation process.
Step 9: Place Protective Paper Over the Design
Before closing your heat press, place a sheet of butcher paper over the sublimation transfer. This protective layer prevents ink from transferring onto the heat platen and shields the fabric from direct heat exposure. Using butcher paper helps ensure a clean, crisp print and protects your equipment from stains. It also reduces the risk of scorching or unwanted marks on your custom sublimation shirts.
Step 10: Press the Shirt
Make sure your heat press is fully heated to the correct temperature before pressing. Knowing how long to press sublimation shirts is crucial for achieving consistent results, but the exact time will depend on your specific heat press and the type of sublimation shirt blanks you are using.
Often, 100% polyester shirts for sublimation require medium to high pressure for 35 to 40 seconds, while 50/50% polyester-cotton blends need light to medium pressure for 15 to 30 seconds.
Step 11: Remove the Transfer and Cool
Once the timer finishes, wait a moment for your shirt to cool slightly. Next, peel the sublimation paper from one corner while it is still warm to avoid damaging the print. Let the shirt cool completely before folding or packaging. This helps lock in the color for long-lasting custom sublimation shirts. Inspect the final print for quality and durability.
Troubleshooting Sublimation Shirt Printing
Even with the right equipment and sublimation shirt blanks, problems during the printing process can cause design issues. Knowing how to identify and fix common problems will save you time and keep your custom sublimation shirts looking professional:
Why Are My Sublimation Shirts Dull or Faded?
This often occurs when the temperature or pressing time is too low or when using blanks with insufficient polyester content. Double-check your heat press settings and make sure to use 100% polyester fabric or fabric blends that are at least 50% polyester.
Why Do My Shirts Have Ghosting or Blurry Spots?
Ghosting and blurriness can occur when the transfer paper shifts during the pressing process. Secure your design with heat-resistant tape and avoid moving the shirt or heat press until the process is complete.
Why Are There White Spots or Missing Ink?
Your designs may have spots and missing ink if the shirt blank or transfer paper had dust, dirt, oil, wrinkles, or moisture blocking the ink from properly transferring. Ensure that you clean and pre-press the shirt, and handle the sublimation paper with care.
Why Do My Shirts Have Ink Smudges or Bleeding?
Ink smudges and bleeding can occur if you use too much heat or pressure, or if you press the shirt for too long. You can identify the problem by adjusting one setting at a time to uncover which factor is causing the issue.
Why Are the Colors on My Sublimation Shirt Uneven?
Check that your heat press platen applies even pressure across the shirt. Uneven pressure leads to light spots or faded areas in the design.
By addressing these common issues, you can improve your sublimation shirt printing process and deliver custom sublimation shirts that surpass your customers’ expectations.
How to Do Sublimation Shirts FAQs
How to Sublimate on Dark Shirts?
Sublimation works best on light-colored polyester shirts, as the ink is transparent and won’t show up well on dark fabrics. Additionally, sublimation printers do not use white ink, which means there is no white base to make colors visible on dark shirts.
To sublimate on dark shirts, many crafters use a white glitter heat transfer vinyl (HTV) layer first. This creates a bright base for the sublimation design to appear vibrant. Another option is to use a special sublimation coating that’s designed for dark fabrics.
How to Remove Sublimation Ink From Shirt?
Removing sublimation ink is very difficult because the ink becomes part of the polyester fibers during the heat press process. Unlike other printing methods, sublimation ink cannot be washed or peeled off. If a design mistake happens, it’s best to start with a new t-shirt sublimation blank.
How to Sublimate on Cotton Shirts?
Traditional sublimation printing is not suitable for cotton because the ink requires polyester fibers to bond correctly. However, you can sublimate on cotton shirts by using a polyester coating spray or a polyester heat transfer vinyl (HTV) base layer. These methods create a polyester surface for the ink to adhere to, but the results may not be as durable or vibrant as with 100% polyester shirts.
Learn More About Creating Stunning Sublimation Crafts
Mastering how to sublimate a shirt opens the door to creating vibrant, custom apparel that will make your crafting business stand out. By choosing the right shirts and equipment, following the proper steps, and troubleshooting common design issues, you can produce high-quality sublimation shirts to jumpstart your small business.
If you want to learn more about the sublimation process, be sure to explore our other articles, including the best practices for creating stunning sublimation designs and how to sublimate tumblers. From heat press guides to design inspiration, we can help support your creative journey every step of the way.
You can also count on The Stainless Depot Company for all your sublimation supply needs, including wholesale sublimation shirts, tumblers, sublimation printers and ink, sublimation paper, affordable heat press bundles, and so much more. Visit our website to browse our full selection and find everything you need for crafting success.
