Sublimation on Glitter – The Next Big Thing?
Sublimation (AKA dye-sub) has been around for many, many years. It’s been used to make some of the wildest motocross jerseys, soccer jerseys, and even mouse pads and mugs. If you’re not familiar with dye-sub, look to the kiosks in your local mall. Kiosk proprietors that take your photo and apply it to a mug, puzzle, or mousepad, are most likely using sublimation. Ever seen a motocross jersey that’s totally covered in a custom print? That’s sublimation as well! How about the cosplayer at Comic Con wearing the perfect Spiderman or Batman costume? Also sublimation!
The major downside to sublimation for garment printing is that you have to apply to polyester. What if you want to sublimate on cotton or dark garments? What if you want an effect like glitter? Well, in the past, the answer would be “Sorry!” Thankfully, those days are gone! Siser® makes a Glitter heat transfer vinyl that is perfect for sublimating on! The process is simple….
How to Sublimate on Siser® Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl
- Cut just the shape of your design using Siser Glitter HTV.
- Print the graphic of your design using a sublimation printer and transfer paper.
- Tack the Glitter shape to your garment for 1-2 seconds at the temperature required for the transfer paper.
- Peel the carrier from Glitter while it’s hot.
- Lay the printed transfer paper over the top of your Glitter shape.
- Cover with a cover sheet and heat apply with a heat press. Sublimation usually requires a high temperature and a long dwell time.
- After application, peel away the transfer to reveal your awesome design!
Combining sublimation and Siser Glitter opens up new avenues in decoration. Cheer, dance, and fashion designs will never be the same! If you currently sublimate, call a Siser Authorized Distributor and get your hands on some Glitter – there’s no limit to what you can create! Siser has several Glitter colors that work well with this process, including the neon colors and white.
To see the process in action, check out the video below and share your comments!
If you want to sublimate on cotton without the Glitter finish, then you’ll want to check out EasySubli® HTV!
Sublimating on Glitter is cool, but learning you can sublimate on more Siser HTV is even cooler! Check out the video below to see all the materials and methods for sublimating on Heat Transfer Vinyl.
I’m excited to sublimate on Glitter, but, what about other materials?
Have you tried on Easy Weed?
Thanks
Hey Diego, We’ve had success with our Holographic Spectrum as well as ReflectAll. We haven’t tried any other materials yet. If you test it out, be sure to share your results with us!
This is exciting~! I’m ready to try it, how do I order it? I’m having a hard time finding a distributor, can you suggest someone for me? I’m located in Northern Alabama.
Charisma,
Awesome! Glad you’re excited! You could try JSI Signs (http://www.jsisigns.com) in Georgia or US Cutter (http://www.UScutter.com) in Memphis
I always purchase htv from http://www.mycraftsource.com Great prices, fast & great customer service. I purchase sublimation prints from different groups on Facebook. One is Two Sisters Sublimations. So far no problems.
Any distributors in the Chicago area?
Advantage Sign Supply in Schaumburg can help you out: http://www.advantagesgs.com/
Any special procedures for the Holographic or ReflectAll? Or are they more or less the same as with the Glitter? On a brief side question, is the Siser glitter a polyester based material or is it PU and the sublimation inks seem to take to that resin as well? I’m rather excited about the possibilities that this opens up for sublimation on garments.
Thanks a ton for the great info.
Rob,
Holographic is a thinner material like EasyWeed. ReflectAll is thicker and is closer in specs and cutting to Glitter. Glitter is a PU based product and the white, silver and fluorescent colors work very well with sublimation. All I can say is give it a try and see what you think!
Do you have a video that shows you how to sublimate on the glitter vinyl prior to pressing it onto the design?
Hi Jaret! As of right now we do not have a video for that process. Thanks for reading!
I am trying to sublimate on a cheer bow using white ribbon and I have followed your directions and correct temp the color isn’t as vibrant and parts of it looks white or scorched almost. Any pointers??? Is it different on grosgrain ribbon?
Hi Kimberly, are you trying to sublimate directly onto the ribbon or on white Glitter?
How do I get the same size shape in sublimation for the print and Cricut for the vinyl cut, if I’m using two different design spaces. I’m using creative studio and Cricut design space and I can’t seem to get both sized the same.
Hi Rebecca, please email Joseph.Piazza@SiserNA.com so we can help troubleshoot your issue.
I am having the same problem. I use design space for vinyl and creative studio for sub. Help !! Lol
Hi Kate! If you could please send photos of the issue you’re experiencing to me at Lily.Campau@SiserNA.com I will be able to assist you quicker.
I know Siser doesn’t sell the sublimation transfer sheets but can you suggest any? In the direction for the video it doest say what is being used and I can’t seem to find the answer anywhere.
Hi Crystal! The sublimation transfer sheets you need will depend on your printer. Authorized distributors, Coastal Business Supplies, carries several good brands of sublimation sheets. See them here –> https://www.coastalbusiness.com/heat-transfer-paper/sublimation-transfer-paper/sublimation-paper-sheets.html
At this point, is it possible to sublimate on Siser’s smooth htv?
Stephanie, currently Siser Glitter is the only HTV we carry that can be sublimated. We explain why in more detail in this video: Why can you sublimate only on Siser Glitter?
Cual es el mejor glitter para subliminar, hay mu hos estilos o colores
Buenas tardes Elizabeth,
Todos nuestros colores Glitter pueden ser usados para sublimar pero el Glitter Blanco o el Glitter Blanco Arcoiris serian la mejor opcion. Con estas opciones los colores son mas fuertes y brillantes.
Si necesita de algo mas no dude en contactarnos!
Saludos,
Lily
Is there any plans on making a plain white vinyl like easyweed that can be sublimated on?
Scott, It’s something we’re looking into… but manufacturing a product like this – that can sustain the high temperatures of sublimation, is difficult. We’ll certainly keep everyone updated if anything new happens in the lab!
How do I about order it in San Diego ca or LA area
Please email us at Info@SiserNA.com to be connected with an authorized distributor or reseller near your area.
I have been doing sublimation for many years now, just started vinyl within the last year, glad to see the vinyl can be sublimated on just wish there was a plain white because I don’t think too many men want to run around with glitter on…… lol
Also any ideas as to when something will come out for sublimating onto black garments….. Myself and I’m sure many others that do sublimation have to turn down business all the time due to customers wanting black or dark clothing….. I seen Best Sub came out with something but I have yet to locate here in the states…..
Hi Cheryl! For now, Glitter is the only Siser heat transfer vinyl that can be sumblimated. This video explains why. Sumblimation on dark garments would be cool, I agree! Wish we knew of such a product!
Does Siser carry subliflock?
HI Christy! Sorry, our StripFlock can’t be sublimated on.
how do you get the cutter to cut it if your printing from sub printer/ do it as a print and cut and how to get the back ground to cut out in a shape/
Hi Cathy! If you want to avoid hand cutting your transfer paper, you can send it to the sublimation printer as a print and cut image with registration marks for your cutter to read. The Glitter HTV shape is cut separately with your preferred cutter and software.
I have a Cricut machine and I use Silhouette to design my sublimation designs. I can never get them lined up. My cut out design end up being bigger than my printed design despite me putting in the exact same measurements. Any suggestions?
Hi Jasmine! I’d recommend adding an external offset to your sublimation design in Silhouette Studio to create a bleed. This usually solves minor size differences. If the difference in size between your cut HTV and your printed sublimation paper is much more significant, I’d recommend double checking your Silhouette Studio print and cut settings as well as your printer settings to ensure the softwares aren’t accidentally resizing the artwork through the printing process.
Hi Lily, I have the same problem as Jasmine. My glitter cut doesn’t seem to be as exact as my sublimation print. I can add the bleed to the sublimation print so that I ensure it fills the full glitter cut but then wouldn’t the sublimation ink get on the cotton shirt if it turns out to be a little bigger than the glitter cut? I know the sublimation ink may not fully sublimate on the cotton but it could leave a stain right?
Hi Kiara! If the sublimation print extends beyond the Glitter HTV, it can leave a mark on the fabric, however it’s not noticeable on black garments.
I don’t print my sublimation transfer myself, i buy them to heat press to my garments myself. My question is how do I use my cricut maker to cut out the siser glitter or siser easy subli to the measurements of my sublimation transfer?
Hi Jessica! You could cut a HTV square large enough for the transfer to fit, but if you want the shape of the HTV to match the sublimation transfer you will either need to purchase the cutting file or take a picture of the transfer and load it into Design Space as a cut file (be sure to measure your transfer and match the cut file size to it so everything lines up.)
Can we sublimate on siser glow in the dark?
Hi Budda! No, EasyWeed® Glow cannot be sublimated. You can sublimate on Siser® EasySubli® or Glitter.
Does it have to be glitter? Or can it be solid white
Hi Carroll! If you want to sublimate on solid white HTV, then you’ll need EasySubli® HTV.
Is there a vinyl type sheet that already has the sublimation ink on it? LIke vinyl, comes in colors you cut out an image and use a heat press to sublimate. In other words I do not have a printer to put the ink on a sheet.
Mary, Siser doesn’t currently have a pre-printed sublimation sheet offering, but we do offer EasyPatterns which are pre-printed HTV patterns that you cut and apply like regular HTV.
I attempted this process & the glitter vinyl took on the color of my substrate (shirt). What could have caused this?
Hi Michelle! What kind of fabric was your substrate? If the shirt was a sublimated polyester then the heat during application may have caused dye migration through the Glitter HTV.
Hello
How long will the glitter htv last with the sublimation ink? My experience with vinyl is that it peels or is “pickable” after a few washes which is why I switch to sublimation ink , so it can be in the fabric.
Is there a certain material blen the clothing needs to be?
Hi Crystal! When applied properly, Glitter HTV should last for at least 50 washes. However, the printed inks may start to show color loss around 25-30 washes. Glitter HTV can be applied to cotton, polyester, blends, and much more. There is not a specific fabric that is recommended over another for Glitter HTV.
Hello,
Can I sublimate on the Siser sparkle htv?
Hi Hershey! Sparkle™ HTV cannot be sublimated on, but Siser® Glitter HTV can.
I thought you could sublimate on Siser Sparkle white or clear. If so, what is the temperature and how long?
Hi Donna! This blog post is a bit older and from before we offered Sparkle™ HTV. But you’re correct, Sparkle can be sublimated! Check out this video for all the details.