This covered image shows a woman crafter using heat press machine to sublimate on a cotton T-shirt.

Can You Sublimate on Cotton

Written by Timothy Beck Werth

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Reading time for 6 min

Sublimation sprung up as a practical way to deliver rich and vivid colors on clothes, thus providing endless opportunities for customization. So, imagine how much of a bummer it was to hear that you could not apply sublimation to cotton shirts. It was even a double bummer when they said it could not work on dark-colored clothes! 

However, new techniques and workarounds make it possible to sublimate on cotton.  Yes,   we can now sublimate to cotton, and in this article, I will show you how to do it. 

However, before we discuss the technicalities, let's first understand sublimation and why it could not work on cotton.

Here is a tutorial video for sublimating on cotton T-shirts.

Quick in

1. Sublimation – How it Works 2. Sublimation Problem in Cotton 3. Alternative Solutions 4. How to Sublimate on Cotton using Heat Transfer Vinyl Step 1. Create your design on the image editing software Step 2. Print the design Step 3. Cut Out the Contours Step 4. Pre-heat the T-shirt/Garment Step 5. Apply the Heat Press 5. How to Sublimate on Cotton Using Coating Spray Step 1: Create your design on image editing software Step 2: Print the design Step 3: Cut out the Contours Step 4: Pre-heat cotton t-shirt Step 5: Apply Sublimation Coating Step 6: Apply heat press

Sublimation – How it Works

Sublimation is a popular method of creating high-quality, unique designs on various materials, e.g. metals and ceramic polyester.

It uses heat and pressure from a heat press to transfer designs from special transfer paper to the materials. The designs are printed on special sublimation papers using sublimation ink. When the ink is exposed to heat and pressure, it turns into gas, permeates the materials, and bonds with the fibers, creating a vibrant, permanent print as it solidifies.

This type of bonding, however, works exclusively with synthetic materials because of their polymer structure. When exposed to heat, they open up and absorb the gas, thus properly infusing it within the fibers as they solidify again. 

Sublimation Problem in Cotton

Polyester is the best material for direct sublimation printing because its fibers open up quickly when exposed to heat, allowing the sublimation ink to infuse and solidify on its fibers. The result is quality, vibrant, and long-lasting prints. With polyester, one is assured of a durable, sublimated product that doesn't fade or peel over time.

Cotton fibers do not bond well with sublimation ink. When you sublimate directly on cotton, the ink only adheres lightly to the cotton fibers and is subjected to fading when the garment is washed. Without being a nerd about it, here is why cotton doesn’t accept sublimation: Cotton’s polymer structure is not similar to polyester's; therefore, it doesn't allow the sublimation ink to fuse within its fibers easily. 

Alternative Solutions

Cotton is limited, and direct sublimation without a mediating layer would result in poor colourfastness. The design will likely fade or peel off after a few washes. Alternative methods intend to achieve sublimation results without sacrificing durability and quality.

The trick is usually to add a sublimation medium between the cotton and the ink – these mediums include: 

  • Clear HTV vinyl

  • Spray sublimation coating

How to Sublimate on Cotton using Heat Transfer Vinyl

This method works best for all types of cotton shirts, even dark-colored ones. In this process, the sublimation-compatible HTV is the receptor surface for sublimation ink.

 Supplies:  Sublimation compatible HTV, Sublimation paper, Sublimation Ink, printer, Scissors, cutting mat, cutting plotter or a craft cutter with a blade, weeding tools, Heat press machine, Teflon sheet, cotton t-shirt

Step 1. Create your design on the image editing software

Edit the design you want on your shirt or garment. At the same time, also extract the contours you will use for the cutting process.

Step 2. Print the design

Use a sublimation printer to print the image on sublimation paper, matching it with the sublimation ink. Remember to mirror the design when printing to avoid the image reversing on the garment.

Step 3. Cut Out the Contours

Use the same software and a cutting plotter or a craft cutter with a blade to cut out the contours on the sublimation HTV. Use the machine’s print-then-cut function to trace out the printed image.

Step 4. Pre-heat the T-shirt/Garment

Set the heat press temperatures between 380-400℉ (180°C and 200°C). Flatten the garment and place it on the heat press. The pre-heating reduces the creases and makes it easy to transfer the design.

Step 5. Apply the Heat Press

  • We first heat press the HTV Vinyl. It acts as a carrier for the sublimation ink.
  • Set the heat press to the desired temperature. Place the HTV Vinyl on the shirt and heat press it for 5 to 15 seconds. Let it cool, and then peel off the carrier.
  • Once the sublimation medium is set, it is time to heat-press our design on top of it.
  • Align the printed sublimation paper perfectly on top of the HTV Vinyl. Set the heat press temperatures to 380-400℉. Heat press it for 40-60 seconds. Let it cool, and then take off the carrier.
  • It is important to peel carefully, as the designs might peel or crack at this stage if the peeling is not done properly. 

There you have it!  As easy as that, you have sublimated on cotton.

How to Sublimate on Cotton Using Coating Spray

Sublimation cotton spray is a translucent chemical solution sprayed on cotton. It forms a surface layer that acts as a receptor for the sublimation ink. It only provides a thin layer that improves the adhesion of the sublimation ink on the cotton shirt; therefore, to provide better results, one should properly execute the steps and choose the best coating sprays. 

This method can be used for other items such as ceramics, mugs, leather, canvas, and acrylic. Light-colored or white cotton is also recommended, as these produce better results.

Tip : you can use light-coloured polyester to make the color more vibrant.

Supplies:  Sublimation HTV, Sublimation paper, Sublimation Ink, printer, Sublimation coating spray, Scissors, cutting mat, cutting plotter, Heat press machine, Teflon sheet, cotton t-shirt

Step 1: Create your design on image editing software

Upload, create and edit your design, and extract the contours you will use for the cutting process.

Step 2: Print the design

Use the best print settings to produce the best output. Use a sublimation printer with sublimation ink to print your design on sublimation paper. Remember to mirror the image.

Let the ink dry out for some minutes before proceeding to the next step.

Step 3: Cut out the Contours

Use the cutting plotter or a craft cutter with a blade and the same design software to cut out the excess contours on the sublimation paper.

If you do not have a cutting plotter, you can trim the edges around your design with scissors.

Step 4: Pre-heat cotton t-shirt

Pre-heat the heat press to 380-400℉ (180°C and 200°C). Flatten the garment and place it on the heat press for 5-10 seconds, then let it cool.

Step 5: Apply Sublimation Coating

Place your image on the garment to make out the area you intend to place your image. Use tape to mark the corners.

Spray a sublimation coating over the area. Apply enough of it to make the area damp.

Let the shirt dry for a few minutes.

Step 6: Apply heat press

Heat press the area where you sprayed the sublimation liquid 330℉ for 30 seconds. This step helps the sublimation liquid stick to the shirt. Repeat this step twice for better results. 

Once the sublimation medium is set, it is time to heat-press our design on top of it.

Align the printed sublimation paper on top of the sprayed area. Set the heat press temperatures to 380-400℉. Heat press it for 40-60 seconds. Let it cool, and then take off the carrier.

 Note: The sublimation instructions may differ depending on the product. For temperatures and times, check the temperature charts. The other procedures are uniform.

Limitations of Sublimation Spray

  • The results tend to be inconsistent; thus, one must follow the steps carefully.

  • When the process is poorly executed, the method delivers inferior print quality compared to the other sublimation techniques.

Conclusion

You can now customize your favorite soft-feel cotton t-shirts and garments without worrying that sublimation won't work. Cotton’s chemistry and composition resist sublimation dyes, but alternative techniques provide a solution to achieve the desired product. 

However, The methods are less effective than direct sublimation on polyester. The limitations include the vibrancy of color, durability of the design, and watchfulness. It is important to follow the steps religiously to produce the best output. Now that you know how to, you can experiment with different designs, colors, and fabrics and unleash your endless creativity.