If you are new to sublimation, there are plenty of great blanks you can start with, including sublimation tumblers, mugs, coasters, shirts, and tote bags. These blanks are relatively easy to customize and affordable, making them a great option as you gain crafting experience. You can shop for high-quality, affordable beginner blanks from specialty sublimation suppliers, like The Stainless Depot Company.
Choosing the right sublimation blanks as a beginner can make the learning process easier and help you avoid wasting materials. You can start with blanks that match your equipment and skill level, then move on to more difficult projects as you get more comfortable.
In this guide, we will share seven of the best sublimation blanks for beginners to help you get started. Plus, we'll share what types of materials and items you can sublimate.
Let's get started so that you can craft stunning creations with sublimation today!
What Can I Sublimate?
To understand which types of blanks you can decorate with sublimation, it's important to know a few basics about the process itself.
Sublimation printing works by using heat to turn sublimation ink into a gas that bonds with a compatible surface. The process works differently than traditional printing methods because the sublimation ink becomes part of the blank material itself rather than merely being printed on the surface. This creates a durable design that does not peel or crack.
While the result is highly durable, it's important to recognize that this printing process will only work with certain materials.
Sublimation Printing Requires Polyester or Polymer Coatings
For the sublimation ink to bond with your blank, the item must be made of polyester or feature a polymer coating suitable for sublimation.
For fabrics, you'll get the best results with 100% polyester, but you can also work with fabric blends that are at least 65% polyester. Typically, the higher the polyester content, the brighter and more vibrant your printing results will be.
Hard goods, like drinkware and home décor, work slightly differently than fabrics. Rather than being made from polyester, these blanks feature a special polymer layer that's engineered to accept sublimation ink while the dye is in its gaseous state.
As you shop for your first blanks, make sure they're either made from polyester or are coated with this special polymer layer.
Fortunately, there are plenty of polyester items and sublimation blanks designed for the heat-activated printing process, which are usually explicitly labeled "sublimation" or "sublimatable."
You can learn more about what you can sublimate with our full guide "What Materials Can You Sublimate on?"
Choosing the Right Colors
In addition to looking for blanks with polyester and polymer coatings, it's important to consider the item's color.
Sublimation works best on white or light colored coatings.
This is the case because sublimation ink is transparent and cannot produce white. For this reason, white and light-colored artwork can appear very dull or faded against black or dark backgrounds.
Additionally, sublimation ink can mix with a blank's base color. For instance, if you try to sublimate a yellow coaster, the blues within your artwork can combine with the yellow base to create green shades.
To achieve printing results that most closely resemble your digital artwork, select white sublimation blanks.
Now that you know these essential requirements for sublimation printing, the next step is choosing the right blanks for your first projects.
Here are seven great starter blanks to try as you learn the basics of sublimation.
#1. Sublimation Coasters
Sublimation coasters are arguably the easiest craft to begin with when you first start sublimating items.
These items provide flat, thin surfaces that make artwork placement and pressing incredibly easy.
They also come in a variety of materials, such as ceramic, wood, linen, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF), giving you plenty of options when choosing a coaster blank.
Regardless of the coaster's primary material, you need to ensure that it's coated for sublimation. Hard coaster blanks need a polymer coating that allows the ink to infuse into the surface when heated.
Once you purchase the right blanks, you can easily sublimate them using a clamshell press, swing-away press, or another heat press with a flat platen.
As you start with this easy craft, you can identify problems with your designs or heat-press settings, such as incorrect heat and pressure, before moving on to larger, more costly blanks.
#2. Sublimation Cutting Boards
Similar to coasters, sublimation cutting boards are great for beginners, as they provide flat surfaces that are relatively easy to sublimate.
While convenient, these sublimatable options offer a large hard surface that's perfect for your personalized designs. You can customize them with family names, recipes, illustrations, seasonal artwork, or a variety of other decorative designs.
Many sublimation-ready cutting boards feature a polymer-coated printable side while the opposite side is standard plastic or another material. Other common materials for these boards include wood, glass, and bamboo.
To sublimate these polymer-coated boards, you can use any heat press with a flat platen. However, the heat press platen must be large enough to evenly cover the whole printable area.
As you sublimate these boards, keep the artwork within the manufacturer's designated printable area. Larger graphics can work particularly well on cutting boards, but the design should not extend onto handles, edges, or areas that are not treated for sublimation.
Once complete, handwash your sublimation cutting board rather than put it in the dishwasher. Dishwashers can cause the sublimated designs to fade faster due to heat and harsh detergents.
#3. Sublimation Mousepads
Sublimation mousepads are a highly practical option for beginners because their surfaces are flat, flexible, and easy to position under a heat press.
These blanks can serve as an excellent canvas for photographs, landscapes, pop culture references, and game-inspired artwork. They're also a great option for small businesses wanting to create merchandise, as mousepads are fitting blanks for logos and branded designs.
Just remember that the mousepad must be polyester or polymer-coated for the sublimation ink to adhere properly.
Luckily, plenty of polyester and sublimation-coated neoprene mousepads are available that will work great for your crafting.
You can easily embed your unique designs using a clamshell press or another flat press. Neoprene mousepads are particularly beginner-friendly because you can press them quickly using a standard flat heat press.
Custom mousepads are excellent for a variety of settings, but they work particularly well for businesses, schools, home offices, and gaming setups.
#4. Sublimation Mugs
Once you feel comfortable working with flat objects, like coasters, cutting boards, and mousepads, consider moving on to basic cylindrical drinkware.
Sublimation mugs offer an excellent starting point for beginner drinkware crafters, as they feature simple shapes and require little preparation.
Additionally, these blanks are very affordable, so it won't cost you a great deal if you make mistakes on your first few tries.
You can use these blanks to learn best practices for designing sublimation artwork, printing, and applying heat to cups.
However, it's important to remember that not all ceramic mugs work for sublimation.
As we've discussed, the hard item must feature a polymer coating made for sublimation. This coating will allow the ink to fuse into the surface when heated.
A regular, uncoated coffee mug will not work with sublimation ink, so double-check that the mug is labeled for sublimation before buying.
To sublimate this beginner-friendly blank, you can use a mug or tumbler heat press to apply heat and pressure to the mug's curved surface.
Alternatively, you can heat the coated mug in a sublimation oven, but a press with a curved platen will give you more direct control over the heat and pressure during the transfer.
#5. Sublimation Tumblers
After getting comfortable with customizing mugs, sublimation tumblers are a natural next step because the customization process is similar.
You can sublimate a tumbler with either a dedicated tumbler press or a sublimation oven. A tumbler press applies heat and pressure directly to the drinkware, while an oven allows for larger drinkware or sublimating multiple units at once.
As with mugs, tumblers require a special coating so the ink bonds with the exterior. Never assume that a stainless steel tumbler is sublimatable unless it is specifically labeled as sublimation-ready.
It's also best to select blanks with straight sides, such as a skinny tumbler. A straight-sided tumbler makes it easier to apply a sublimation wrap and maintain consistent pressure around the entire surface.
As you get comfortable with the process, you can consider working with tumblers that have different shapes or materials, such as coated stainless steel wine tumblers, 40-oz tumblers, and coated glass tumblers.
These options let you experiment with different styles and materials as you improve your drinkware crafting.
#6. Sublimation Shirts, Sweatshirts, and Hoodies
Sublimation apparel opens up endless opportunities to create highly original clothing.
You can print names, logos, illustrations, and even photographs on sublimation shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies to create lasting designs.
As you explore apparel crafting, avoid using cotton and high-cotton blends, as sublimated designs will wash out easily. Sublimation ink cannot bond with cotton and other natural fibers.
Instead, always select apparel made from at least 65% polyester, with 100% polyester yielding the best results.
You should also select white garments to apply your detailed sublimation artwork. Because sublimation ink is transparent, using white clothing will help you achieve the most predictable results.
Once you have your white, polyester apparel, the sublimation process is straightforward and beginner-friendly. You'll simply use a heat press with a flat platen to apply heat across the shirt's surface, embedding your design.
The finished garment is relatively easy to maintain, but cold washing and low-heat drying can help preserve the sublimated design for longer.
#7. Sublimation Tote Bags
Printing on sublimation tote bags is similar to printing on apparel, so you should use 100% polyester when possible. The printable surface should also be light enough for the artwork to appear clearly.
These tote bags are excellent for beginner crafters because they offer a large, flat surface that makes it easy to position artwork and apply even heat. Often, the bag's size provides more room for original designs than sublimation shirts or other smaller apparel.
This makes tote bags great for stunning personalized merchandise, event favors, reusable shopping bags, and branded bags for small businesses.
Like with apparel and other blanks on this list, you can use any heat press with a flat platen to sublimate tote bags.
As you work, keep the handles and seams outside the pressing area when possible, and follow the recommended temperature, pressure, and time for the specific bag.
Now that you know which blanks are easiest to customize, let's answer a few common questions about starting with sublimation printing.
Beginner Sublimation Blank FAQs
What Is the Best Place to Buy Sublimation Blanks?
The best place to buy sublimation blanks is a supplier that offers products specifically designed for sublimation, preferably with both flexible ordering and bulk options. If you're searching for polymer-coated drinkware and hard blanks as well as polyester clothing, explore the wide selection at The Stainless Depot Company.
What Is Needed for Sublimation Printing?
Sublimation printing requires a sublimation printer and ink, sublimation paper, sublimation heat-transfer equipment, and sublimation blanks or clothing.
How to Print a Sublimation Design
If you're learning how to do sublimation printing, you'll need to print a sublimation design, create or select artwork, print it in mirror image using a sublimation printer and ink on sublimation paper, then transfer the printed design onto a sublimation blank with a heat press or sublimation oven.
Where Can I Find Wholesale Sublimation Supplies?
If you're looking for where to find wholesale sublimation supplies, you can purchase blanks and supplies from a dedicated US-based supplier, like The Stainless Depot Company. The Stainless Depot Company offers individual and bulk options on sublimation-ready drinkware and other blanks, with no minimum spend required.
Order the Best Sublimation Blanks for Beginners Today
As we've seen, there are plenty of great beginner blanks you can use to get started with sublimation printing.
Coasters, cutting boards, mousepads, mugs, tumblers, clothing, and tote bags all offer accessible ways to learn the basics of sublimation while you discover which types of products you enjoy creating most.
Once you decide which items you want to try first, the next step is finding suitable coated blanks.
Fortunately, you're in the right place for affordable, high-quality blanks.
The Stainless Depot Company features a wide selection of sublimation blanks and clothing. Our drinkware, apparel, and variety of other sublimatable options are perfect for beginner and experienced crafters alike.
In addition to our great selection, we can help you save on your sublimation supplies. We feature wholesale pricing with no minimum spend, bulk options for drinkware, a cost-saving rewards program, and free US shipping on orders over $99.
You can take advantage of these savings as you experiment and become more comfortable with the sublimation process.
With the help of The Stainless Depot Company, you can find the best beginner sublimation blanks to create high-quality custom items with ease.
