- Hello, everybody. Jennifer Maker here. It's a beautiful day to
learn how to sublimate on cotton and dark colors. Sublimation is so cool because it actually dyes the material that you're decorating. It creates crisp images
and lasts for ages, but your item needs to have
a good amount of polyester for the sublimation process to work I recommend at least 65% polyester. Well, what if you want to
put a sublimation print on a cotton t-shirt,
maybe even a black shirt? It is possible and I have several solutions for you. I'm even going to tell you
how to get a full color design onto cotton with just an inkjet printer. So, let's head on over to the craft table and I can show you how it all works. (upbeat music) Sublimation is amazing and I just love the full color projects that I can make with it. But the need to use
mostly polyester shirts is frustrating at times. I know I personally prefer cotton shirts. So today, I want to teach you
several different techniques for getting a full
color sublimation design onto cotton just as I've done here. Now, the first way is to
put your sublimation design onto iron-on vinyl, also known as heat transfer vinyl or HTV, as the vinyl surface is
compatible with sublimation ink. So if you have a sublimation printer, you can just print designs
onto sublimation paper and then use a heat press
to transfer the image to several different kinds
of heat transfer vinyl as I have here. I'll show you how to use
this technique on HTV like Cricut glow in
the dark iron-on vinyl, glitter HTV Siser EasySubli,
and holographic HTV. Now depending on the vinyl that you pick, you can even sublimate onto black shirts which is usually really difficult since sublimation ink is transparent. I will show you the best combinations for the best black t-shirts. Another option to get
sublimation designs onto cotton are to combined printed images with a sublimation spray, like this one. You'll need a little foam roller to smooth out the spray and an hour or so for it to dry. But you don't have to layer anything with the spray technique. And if you don't even
have a sublimation printer but you want to try a similar approach, we'll also check out Siser EasyColor DTV. DTV stands for direct to vinyl. EasyColor DTV is a printable
heat transfer vinyl, so all you need is an inkjet printer. The EasyColor DTV and the EasySubli HTV both use their handy mask transfer tape, which is like transfer tape
and heat resistant tape rolled into one. And no matter which technique you pick, I strongly recommend you make a set of my DIY t-shirt ruler guides before you start sublimating. These guides are super easy to make and they will help you
get perfect alignment on your shirts every
time you place a design. You can find the free
SVGs and the tutorial over at
jennifermaker.com/t-shirt-ruler-guide. Now because these sublimation techniques, I'll involve transferring
the ink to another layer which then goes onto your shirt. They work best if you use Print
Then Cut around the designs for cleaner appearance. So, I'll be using the
Print Then Cut feature on a Cricut cutting machine to create the sublimation designs today. So for this, you either
need a Cricut Maker or Explore and either
the blue light grip mat or a green standard grip mat depending on the
materials that you choose. Are you excited to learn all the tips I've come up to get sublimation designs under cotton? We have done so many tests. I'm going to show you how to do
each one from start to finish. So be sure to stay to the end, because I'm also going to show
you every shirt that I washed so you can see how well the
sublimation ink stayed on it. Step one, find or get
your sublimation designs. Sublimation printing requires
high quality design files for the best results. If you need some files to play with or just want some free designs, I have five fun sublimation
designs in PNG format, perfect for our cotton
sublimation techniques I have a retro Think Happy design a colorful Hello Pumpkin design, a cute Spooky cat design
in black and white and a Spooky design in color, and a fun Trick or Treat design. To find my free sublimation designs, go to jennifermaker.com/432 and look for Libraries in
the red bar at the top. Then either click Get A Password if you don't yet have one or click Enter The Library. You can find the designs on the page by searching for number 432, and then click it to
download the zip file. There are many ways to
print sublimation designs. But in this video, I'm going to show you
how to print these out with Cricut Design Space so we can use their
Print Then Cut feature. As cutting around the design works best for several of our cotton
sublimation techniques. So we'll upload the designs
to Cricut Design Space. Note that the Cricut Design Space software shows PNG files very large, but it's easy to fix
and I'll show you how. So today, I'm going to
make the Happy PNG design using a Cricut and different
combinations of materials. But you can use these steps for anything in the collection or totally
different sublimation designs. I'll also show you how to use my handy and free t-shirt ruler guides. You can download them for my free library at jennifermaker.com/library, under design number 433. They're easy to prepare, so make a set to have
on hand if you'd like. Step two, prepare your sublimation design. All of these methods follow
a similar preparation process so I'm going to start
by uploading the file to Cricut Design Space. If you're not sure how to do this, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs to learn how to unzip and upload files. For PNGs, use the same upload steps until you reach a screen
with the PNG on the left. Select Complex for the image type and then click Continue
in the lower right corner. You don't need to do
anything on the next screen, so click Apply & Continue. For upload type, select Print
Then Cut and click Upload. You should now see your
design in your Recent Uploads. Select it and click Add to Canvas. The next steps depend on the tools and materials that you'd like to use. First, we'll look at using
different heat transfer vinyls, then sublimation spray, and finally, the DTV technique. One of the easiest ways
to sublimate on cotton is to add a layer of heat
transfer vinyl to the fabric and then sublimate the image
onto the vinyl surface. It's the right material for the job. I tested this technique
using holographic vinyl, white glitter vinyl, and glow
on the dark iron-on vinyls, as well as Siser's EasySubli HTV. The processes are pretty similar, but I'll point out any
differences along the way. Sublimation spray and the EasyColor DTV are different than this, so
we'll look at those separately. So back in Cricut Design Space. Here is what my Think Happy
Design looks like on the canvas. You can zoom out to see all of the design by clicking on the minus
sign on the lower left. As you can see, this design is huge. That's because of the
way Cricut Design Space uploads high quality,
high resolution PNGs. We need to make it fit within the Print Then
Cut dimensions, however, which are six and three
quarters of an inch by nine and a quarter of an inch at the time I'm making this video. To resize the design, make sure the lock icon
is closed at the top. Then type 6.75 in the
Width field under Size and press Enter. The height will change to about five and three
quarters of an inch. Next, we need to make a second layer which we'll cut out of the HTV. Click Duplicate above the Layers panel. Under the Operation menu's
Cut options, select Basic. The shape will turn gray. Now, your design layers are ready to cut. Step three, cut your sublimation design. Make sure the correct machine is selected and then click Make It
in the upper right corner of Cricut Design Space. If you're prompted, click on On Mat and 12 by 12 on the
popup and click Confirm. On the Prepare screen, make sure your first
mat says Print Then Cut and your second mat says Basic Cut. Check that the material
size for your first mat is eight and a half by 11 and your second mat is
the size of your vinyl. Click the toggle under
Mirror to make it green and turn on mirror for both mats. That will print the
image and cut the vinyl so it looks backward. But when we apply it to our
shirt surface face down, the end result will be correct. Then click Continue in the lower right. Click the green Send to Printer button to open the Print setup window. Make sure your printer is listed. We don't need to add a bleed. That's an extra design area
to help with precise cutting. But make sure the slider
next to Used System Dialogue is turned on and green. Then click Print. The Print screen for
your printer will appear, but it might be hidden behind
Cricut Design Spaces window. So move or minimize your Cricut window to see the Print settings window. Your window will look different depending on your
computer and your printer. Make sure your printer
is listed in the window. Set the paper and print quality to the best matte options available. So my settings are
Presentation Paper Matte and High Quality. Also, make sure that if you see anything called Flip horizontally usually under Layout,
make sure it's unchecked since we already mirrored the design in Cricut Design Space. And you'll want to select
your ICC profile as well if you've installed one. Now, make sure your sublimation paper is in your sublimation
printer correctly and print. And if you're new to sublimation printing or feeling confused about all this mention of sublimation printers, paper, ink, and ICC profiles, be sure to check out my "Sublimation for Beginner's Guide," over at
jennifermaker.com/sublimation-for-beginners. It will explain all of this. After your sublimation design has printed, set it aside until the
ink is completely dry to avoid any smears during
the cutting process. See the black box around my design? This is called a registration box and is used by your Cricut
machine to tell it exactly where to cut your project. On your Make screen, set the Print Then Cut mat to Copy Paper - 32 lb
with Default pressure. Place your printed sheet on your blue light grip machine mat just like it is on the screen. Lay a clean piece of printer paper over the top of your sublimation design to protect your print and then use a brayer to adhere it well. Remove the top paper, check that your fine point
blade is clean and in clamp B. Then load the mat with your
printed sheet into the machine and press the flashing
button to cut your design. When the cut is finished, unload the mat, flip it over, and roll it
back to release the paper. This helps prevent the
material from curling, or ripping, or tearing. And because copy paper is
pretty light and fragile and that can happen, but
this helps it not happen. Place your iron-on vinyl. I'm using holographic iron-on vinyl here. Shiny side down on a green
standard grip machine mat and adhere it well with a brayer. And then follow the same steps
to cut and remove your vinyl. Step four, sublimate your
design onto a cotton shirt. Here's what the cut pieces for my HTV sublimation projects look like. I have holographic vinyl, glitter vinyl, and glow in the dark vinyls. I'll show you the EasySubli HTV process after we finish these. First, let's do holographic
HTV on white cotton. Again, the processes are similar but let's start with
the holographic vinyl. Since this vinyl isn't totally solid, you'll get different results depending on the color of your shirt, but the shininess really
makes it a special result. So first, trim away the excess HTV and weed the design. And remember, ventilation is
important when sublimating so turn on a fan and open a window. So, heat up your heat press and set it to the correct
temperature in time. I'm using the Cricut Autopress, so I want to set it to
380 degrees Fahrenheit and I'll use it ten second pre-heat. To find the settings for your press, visit the Cricut Heat Guide at jennifermaker.com/EasyPress or check your heat press manual. Lint roll your shirt to remove any debris that will interfere with
the sublimation design. When the machine comes
to the right temperature, fold the shirt in half the long way, just like this, and
press it for 10 seconds to remove moisture and
create a central crease that we'll use for alignment. Now, open this shirt and slide a piece of clean
white card stock inside to prevent ink bleed
through at the design sides. Then if you're using a T-shirt
ruler, which I recommend, line it up with the
center line on the crease, just below the collar seam. Now, your design will be
placed in the standard spot for a t-shirt of this size and style. Use the ruler to add
the vinyl to the shirt with the clear carrier facing up. Remove the t-shirt ruler
and cover the whole area with clean butcher paper. Heat the design for five
seconds to tech on the HTV. Remove the butcher paper and
let the design cool slightly., Peel up the carrier sheet
while it's still warm. Next, place your
sublimation print face down on top of the HTV and use heat
resistant tape to secure it. Make sure the edges match. Place clean butcher paper
on top of the whole area. Heat the design at 380 degrees
Fahrenheit for 40 seconds. Remove the butcher paper, then let the design
cool to avoid ghosting. Remove the tape and paper
to reveal your design. (bells chiming) (air whooshing) For the next option, we can sublimate on a black cotton shirt since white glitter vinyl is solid and it won't interfere with colors. Glitter HTV uses the same
process as the holographic vinyl. But once you peel back
the sublimation paper, look at the result. Isn't this cool? (bells chiming) (air whooshing) For a solid sublimation
surface with a surprise, the Cricut glow in the dark
iron-on vinyl is perfect. The steps are the same as the previous heat
transfer vinyl products, but press your sublimation design for 60 to 80 seconds this time. This shirt will look great day or night. (bells chiming) (air whooshing) EasySubli HTV is a bit different than the other materials
that we just tried. It's specifically designed to
use with sublimation projects. It also has a special mask material that is light transfer tape,
but it's heat resistant. So it also keeps the vinyl
in place when you tack it on. And since it's solid white, you can add designs to any color fabric. The preparation process is very similar to the normal HTV techniques. So back in Cricut Design
Space under Prepare screen, make sure that your first
mat says Print Then Cut. And your second mat says Basic Cut. Check that the material size for your first mat is
eight and a half by 11 and your second mat is the
size of your EasySubli. Mine is 8.4 inches by 11 inches. Then, select your first mat again and click the toggle under
Mirror to make it green. That will print the
image so it's backwards but when we apply it to
the surface face down, the end result will be correct. But you do not want to
mirror the other layer, since we'll use the mask
material to transfer it to the shirt. In this way, it's similar
to adhesive vinyl. So, only mirror the Print Then Cut layer. Use the same settings to
cut the printed design. For the second mat, set it to Everyday Iron-on
with more pressure. Place the EasySubli shiny side down on a green standard grip machine mat. Adhere it well with the brayer. Follow the same steps as before to cut and remove your vinyl. Here's what the cut pieces for my EasySubli design look like. Next, trim away the excess
EasySubli and weed the design. Then, grab your EasySubli mask. It's similar to transfer
tape, but it's heat resistant. I like to bend my mask with
both sides up into a taco shape or a U shape, and then
apply it to the vinyl from this center outward. This minimizes bubbles and creases. And be sure to use the
scraper to smooth it out too. And then set it aside for now. Turn on your heat press and set it to the correct
temperature and time. For my Cricut Autopress,
that's 380 degrees Fahrenheit with a ten second preheat. Let roll your shirt just like before. When the machine comes
to the right temperature, fold the shirt and
press it for 10 seconds. Then, open the shirt back up and slide a piece of clean
white card stock inside to prevent ink bleed through
at the designs sides. Line up the t-shirt guide with the crease. And use the mask to peel the
EasySubli from its backer. Then, use the guide to
add the vinyl to the shirt with the mask facing up. Remove the guide and cover the whole area with clean butcher paper. Heat the design for five seconds
to tack on the EasySubli. Then, remove the butcher paper and let the design cool slightly. Peel up the mask sheet
while it's still warm. Next, place your print face
down on top of the EasySubli and use heat resistant tape to secure it. Make sure the edges match. Place clean butcher paper
on top of the whole area. Heat the design at 380 degrees
Fahrenheit for 40 seconds. Remove the butcher paper and then let the design cool
to avoid ghosting or blurring. Remove the tape and paper
to reveal your design. (bells chiming) (air whooshing) And if you want to save few steps, sublimation spray can take
the place of HTV on cotton in some cases. And since the spray moves with the fabric, you won't have a big piece
of vinyl on your shirt. It creates a much softer result. To do this, just follow the same steps to print then cut your
design on sublimation paper. Remember to mirror the
design under Prepare screen. And then in a well-ventilated area, protect your surface with butcher paper and lay this shirt flat face up. Spray an even coat of sublimation
spray over the T-shirt where you want to add the design. Use the foam roller to roll over the area to spread the spray evenly. Let this shirt sit for about an hour until it's dry to the touch. Heat you press to 380 degrees Fahrenheit instead of timer for ten second preheat. We won't crease the t-shirt this time, since the spray is already on the shirt. Place white card stock inside
to prevent any bleed through. Cover the shirt with white butcher paper and preheat it for 10 seconds. Now, place the printed image face down into the correct position on a shirt. And remember, a t-shirt
ruler helps a lot here and secure it with heat resistant tape. Remove the t-shirt ruler if you used one. Then cover everything
with fresh butcher paper and presser for 35 seconds. Take off the butcher paper then let it cool and remove
the excess paper and tape. What a beautiful result. (bells chiming) (air whooshing) If you have a color inkjet printer but not a sublimation printer, this technique might be right for you. Siser's EasyColor DTV
isn't really sublimation, but it creates a similar result. It's a special vinyl that you can print right on with your inkjet printer. And since DTV doesn't
require a second layer, you can prepare the Print Then Cut file just like you did for
the sublimation spray. So back in Cricut Design
Space under Prepare screen, make sure your mat says print and then cut and that it's sized to
eight and a half by 11. You don't need to mirror this project. Click Continue in the lower right. And just like with the other things that we've done in this video, set up the design to print. Again, don't mirror the image. Set the paper to plain
and the quality to best. The Siser EasyColor DTV
paper has a white side and a light gray side. The white side is the
one you want to print on. So put the paper in the printer correctly and then press Print. Now since the print comes
out of the printer dry, you can place the print on a blue light grip
machine mat right away. Cover it with a clean piece of paper for extra protection if you like. And use a brayer to adhere it. Set the material to heat
transfer, non-Cricut and the pressure to More. Cut and remove the design
just as I showed you before. Trim the excess vinyl and
weed the surrounding area. And then, use my taco
method to place a sheet of EasySubli mask over the design. And by taco method, I mean bend your mask in a U-shape or taco shape, and then press the bottom
of the taco to your design and spread outward from that point. Transfer the design to
the mask with a scraper. Now, set your heat press to 310 degrees Fahrenheit and a time to 10 seconds. Lint roll your shirt to remove any debris. Crease and preheat the
shirt for 10 seconds. Open up the shirt flat. Place the print on the shirt and use a t-shirt ruler if you have one. And you want the mask on top,
so you can see the design. Cover the area with butcher paper and press for 15 seconds. Remove the butcher paper and peel the carrier sheet off immediately as it's a hot peel material. And that's all there is to it. So, the whole point of sublimating on cotton or dark surfaces
with one of these techniques is to be able to keep the design without it washing out, right? So we washed all of these shirts so we could compare the results. They were all washed inside out in cold water and dried on low heat. And that's important, you know, because sublimation happens at high heat. So here is the Siser EasySubli HTV shirt before washing and after washing. You can see that it still
looks pretty amazing. And here's the glitter iron-on vinyl shirt before washing and after washing. You can see a little bit of fading here. And here's the glow in the
dark iron-on vinyl shirt before washing and after washing. This also has a little bit of
fading, but it's not too bad. Here is the holographic
iron-on vinyl shirt before washing and after washing. It didn't fade, but it
came out of the dryer a little rumpled and had a few creases. Here is the sublimation spray shirt before washing and after washing. This has a ton of fading. I promise I follow the directions too. And here is the EasyColor DTV shirt before washing and after washing. It didn't fade, but it is so rumpled that it doesn't look good anymore in my personal opinion. The best result overall
for color and clarity would be the EasySubli HTV. It's on the expensive side but it really has the best results. I personally like the rainbow holographic. I think it looks amazing. I hope you'll try sublimating on cotton and share your photos with us. I have a group just for
sublimation crafting where you can share all of
your sublimation projects and get help and tips from other crafters who love to sublimate too. Come join us at
jennifermaker.com/sublimationgroup to ask questions, share
ideas, and get inspired. It is an awesome group. Now, if you have any questions
about sublimating on cotton that didn't get answered here or anything else craft related that I might be able to
help you with, let me know. Leave your question below this video and/or you can ask over
in our awesome group. And that's it for today. Until next time, this is Jennifer Maker reminding you to craft a life you love. (upbeat music)
