Dye-Sub Heat Press Times Guide
Date Posted:14 March 2025
Sublimation printing is a fantastic way to create vibrant, long-lasting designs on a variety of materials, but achieving the best results requires the right combination of time, temperature, and pressure. Different blanks and materials react differently to heat, meaning there’s no one-size-fits-all setting.
When sublimating different blanks, several variables can affect your results. Heat press settings can vary between brands and models, just as sublimation blanks may require different conditions depending on the supplier. Because of this, time, temperature, and pressure may need to be adjusted to achieve the best outcome. Testing and fine-tuning your settings for each blank is essential to ensure consistent, high-quality results.
|
Material
|
Temprature
|
Time
|
Pressure
|
|---|---|---|---|
Polyester Fabric (Low Pile)
|
190°C - 200°C | 45 Seconds | Medium |
Polyester Fabric (High Pile)
|
190°C - 200°C | 60 Seconds | Medium |
Polyester Thread
|
190°C - 200°C | 60 Seconds | Medium |
Solid Plastics (Acrylic etc)
|
170°C - 190°C Due to the nature of the plastic, it may slightly warp at high heat. | 60-75 Seconds | Medium |
Hardboard (MDF)
|
190°C - 200°C | 60-90 Seconds | Medium |
Cardboard
|
190°C - 200°C | 60 Seconds | Medium |
Metals (Flat)
|
190°C - 200°C | 60 Seconds | Medium |
Metals (Circular)
|
190°C - 200°C | 90 Seconds | Medium |
Ceramic/Glass (Flat)
|
190°C - 200°C | 7 Minutes | Medium-Heavy |
Ceramic (Circular)
|
190°C - 200°C | 4 Minutes | Medium-Heavy |
Sublimation requires precision, but with the right settings and preparation, you can achieve professional-quality results. Always use a lint roller on fabric items to remove any dust or fibres that could interfere with the transfer. Remember to remove any plastic film from blanks before heat pressing to avoid melting or damaging your design. By following these tips and adjusting time, temperature, and pressure as needed, you’ll be able to consistently produce vibrant, high-quality sublimation prints.
