Want to try it yourself?
Book a free hands-on xTool WonderPress demo at Print Me Makerspace in Bell Green, Lewisham. See how a heat press is used to apply garment transfers and experience the process yourself.
BOOK A FREE xTOOL WONDERPRESS DEMOPolyester content
The percentage changes the result
Brightest, strongest colours and best reproduction.
Excellent colour with a slightly softer appearance.
Softer, more faded or vintage-style result because only the polyester fibres take the sublimation ink.
Suitable for T-shirts, tea towels, activewear and sportswear. Because the print becomes part of the fabric, sublimation is particularly suited to long-term use and repeated washing. There is no vinyl or transfer layer to crack or peel, making it ideal for frequently worn activewear and sportswear, including personalising polyester football shirts such as England jerseys.
Heat pressing
Time varies with the textile
Applied using our xTool WonderPress dual-station heat press, depending on the fabric and item being printed.
What affects the finish?
Smooth fabric gives a crisper print
The flatter and smoother the fabric, the crisper the print. Woven or textured textiles can produce a more variable result because the weave, ribs or pattern can interrupt contact between the transfer and individual fibres.
Testing your fabric
New textiles need experimentation
Sublimation involves experimentation, particularly with a textile we have not printed before. Polyester content, weave, coatings, colour and heat tolerance can all affect the final result.
One sacrificial item is normally required
For new or unfamiliar materials, we normally require one sacrificial item for testing so we can establish the appropriate temperature, pressing time and expected finish before producing the remaining items.
Art File Prep
Use the highest practical resolution
For best results, supply artwork as a CMYK PNG at the actual size you want it printed. We aim for up to 300 dpi at final print size for the best detail and print quality. Higher-resolution artwork can increase processing and printing time, particularly with larger designs, so in practice it is a balance between print quality, artwork size and production time. Use the highest practical resolution for the artwork and size being printed, up to 300 dpi.
Workflow
From print to finished textile
- A3 EcoTank print
- Test
- 190–200°C heat press
- Finished textile