EN01-­‐ How To Sublimate A Ceramic Mug In A Mug Press 400°F / 204°C 4 -­‐ 4.5 MINUTES 5 -­‐ HEAVY VIDEO: http://youtube.com/v/BWizMXPG870&cc_load_policy=1
Substrate Examples Ceramic mugs, ceramic cups, ceramic water bottles, soap dispensers, tooth brush holders etc. Before You Start This is a guide only, based on production with Sawgrass Sublimation Inks -­‐ times, pressures and temperatures will vary and you will need to experiment to find the optimum combination for your production system. Remember that sublimation requires high temperatures so take appropriate care when handling substrates and equipment. Key Points: •
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Always read the manufacturer’s instructions for the press and the substrate -­‐ settings may vary between brands. Ceramic mugs must have a polymer coating for sublimation. All ceramics need time to heat up -­‐ pressing times will be longer than other substrates. Always ensure that the mug fits snugly in the press when closed, with equal pressure on all surfaces. Tapered mugs cannot be sublimated in a standard mug press – use the correct heating element for each shape. Minimum Equipment Required •
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Sawgrass Supported Printing System Sawgrass Sublimation Inks High Quality Sublimation Transfer Paper Mug Press Quality Coated Mugs Manufactured For Sublimation (‘the substrate’) Protective Teflon Sheet or Absorbent Paper Scissors Heat Resistant Adhesive Tape Heat Protective Glove EN01-­‐ How To Sublimate A Ceramic Mug In A Mug Press ©Copyright 2000-­‐2013 Sawgrass Technologies Instructions 1 Create your image using a standard graphics program in RGB mode. The ideal design and print resolution is 300dpi. If available, use graphics templates provided by substrate manufacturers for exact print sizes. 2 Print the image in reverse (mirrored) onto sublimation transfer paper. 3 Trim the transfer to fit the size of the substrate. 4 Attach the transfer (image side against the substrate) with heat resistant tape. Ensure that the transfer is tightly pressed against the entire surface. 5 Wrap the substrate and transfer print with a Teflon sheet or absorbent paper to prevent any excess ink from coming in contact with the press. EN01-­‐ How To Sublimate A Ceramic Mug In A Mug Press ©Copyright 2000-­‐2013 Sawgrass Technologies 6 Preheat press to 400°F / 204°C. Place the substrate into the mug press. Press for 4 -­‐ 4½ minutes at heavy pressure. (Refer to press and substrate manufacturers’ recommendations for exact settings.) 7 Remove the transfer quickly and smoothly to stop the sublimation process. Beware the substrate will be very hot! 8 Cool the substrate -­‐ in the air or by placing in room temperature water in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Recommendations 1 Make a Test Piece. Define the actual printable area that will ensure consistent quality results. For example; a mug may take an image up to 0.25’ / 6mm from the top and bottom edge and no closer than 1’ / 25mm from the handle horizontally. 2 Create a Production Reference Log. Make a log of the optimum settings for each substrate for future reference. Include substrate and manufacturer, temperature, pressure and time settings. Substrate Manufacturer Temp 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 EN01-­‐ How To Sublimate A Ceramic Mug In A Mug Press ©Copyright 2000-­‐2013 Sawgrass Technologies Time Mins : Secs Pressure Low -­‐ High Notes