How to Create Sublimation Designs [5 Tools For Getting Started]

How to create sublimation designs has become easier over the years. You can produce sublimation designs on almost everything with a surface like polyester fabrics, mugs, T-shirts, tote bagHow to create sublimation designs has become easier over the years. You can produce sublimation designs on almost anything. This includes surfaces like polyester, ceramics, metal and wood.s, etc.

The process of sublimation designing is simple. As such there are both small and large-scale companies in this business.

This article will shed light on the sublimation process. This includes the different types of applications utilized for photo editing and the creation of sublimation images from scratch before printing.

Key Takeaways

Which Sublimation Design Software is the Best

There are several sublimation design software to pick from. With them, you get to develop outstanding and distinctive designs. Sublimation software is of two types, one with monthly subscriptions and the one without.

For novice users, free or open-source design programs can be used.

More proficient users will likely opt for software with a monthly subscription. You will have a lot of power at your disposal.

Few of the best sublimation software are explained below;

1. Adobe Illustrator industry standard

This is a sublimation software with a monthly subscription. It is a bit costly, but is the industry standard. As of writing this, the monthly fee is $19.97.

It’s equipped with all the essentials an experienced graphics designer requires

This paid design software is on the high side for amateur designers. If you are an amateur in the graphic design game, you can consider watching the video recommendations a customized tutorial has to get a full understanding of how to use this software.

2. CorelDraw graphics suite

CorelDraw has been found helpful by numerous designers for sublimation images. As of writing this, the monthly fee is $26.17, although you can opt to pay yearly too.

The designers find its outlines attractive and it is developing fast as a close second to Adobe Illustrator, its costly price regardless.

Another remarkable aspect of CorelDraw is that you can personalize the software outlook to your preference.

The design instruments and the rest of its outlines can also be fixed to your choice.

3. Sketch designer toolkit

Sketch can be as well said to be largely relevant, most common, and the best image design equipment when it comes to developing websites and apps.

Sketch is also a decent sublimation software. It utilizes vector and raster images to make designs.

The application is paired with Apple gadgets or any electronic machine that can access and process data.

One of its many notable features is its attention to teamwork. You and your team of designers can work on the app without disturbing one another.

Furthermore, its monthly payment plan is low when compared to other software.

4. Canva web-based design software

If you cannot afford the software with a monthly plan, then you should opt for the payment-free one.

Canva is a payment-free design website used by millions of people. You get to generate your own design either by:

1. Redesigning a free image
2. Develop your design from a new template

It has adequate features and tools that can be utilized for generating quality and outstanding sublimation prints.

The greatest benefit of utilizing Canva is that it saves time. You can create and recreate images in a few minutes.

However, the downside to it is that you cannot have access to every piece of equipment because it is not detailed as the other design software programs that are not free.

You can acquire the Canva ‘PRO’ for a lesser price than PRO graphic software.

5. Inkscape open source drawing tool

To enjoy the features Inkscape provides, you can watch recommendations a customized YouTube tutorial has in detail.

Inkscape has an enormous user base. They dish out their expertise and assistance online to amateur & pro designers alike.

It also has an important attribute known as the Cricut design space, which is utilized for developing outlines.

This tool is the best payment-free design platform to get enormous popularity. It is comparable to Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw.

How to Make Sublimation Designs

Several applications, websites, and instruments have been developed over the years to let the sublimation design process easy and straightforward.

These apps comprise of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva, Inkscape, Sketch, GIMP, and many more.

These apps are both free and paid and they have various features that make each one desirable to its set of users.

The characteristics of each design software make them distinct from one another. The differences are clear in all the images they make.

For any software you use, you can make your design by using a ready-made template or image design, or you can make your designs from the scratch.

The options usable for you are unlimited. Also, when properly set up, the ICC profile in the software helps to produce the design in the same color variants in which they appear on the computer screen.

ICC means International Color Consortium and it enables the production of prints in the best representation of their appearance on the computer screen.

How to Create Designs with Canva

Canva can be utilized by most sublimation business proprietors to brush up their design game.

They can employ it to improve their photo editing skills by following these points

1. Creating an account

Creating an account is the first point to take note of. There are a lot of payment-free images to select from to make your first free design.

Canva is equipped with lots of free images in various sections to make your

2. Click on create a design

The canva software gives you numerous design options to choose from.

For an amateur, it is advised to use a ready-made image or a free template for your first design.

You can also alter the size of the design to fit the size of the material you want to work on.

3. Customize the design

To customize is the next course of action to take, you can customize your design by making necessary changes where appropriate.

The details required in your sublimation print can be added to the fresh design you are developing.

4. Select the print for the image

The size of the text is important when developing a canva design.

Selecting the font size for the design print bestows it a sense of uniqueness.

There are different text sizes to select from when using Canva.

5. Saving the image in PDF format

The result of the design is often needed to be in good condition.

Therefore, designers should save the design image in PDF format before printing it by utilizing sublimation printers.

How to Make Sublimation Prints

Immediately you have your desired print, up next is to move forward to sublimation printing by utilizing a sublimation printer.

Sublimation printing requires equipment like a lint roller, a heat press, some sublimation dyes, some sublimation inks, and the materials you wish to print on i.e. mugs, t-shirts, polyester fabrics, tote bags, etc.

Once you have all the material at your disposal, then you can start printing.

These are the steps to take when you wish to start sublimation printing.

1. Knowing the sublimation element

Knowing your sublimation element is the first thing you should do if you want to get a good sublimation outcome.

The type of materials you want to work on will determine the outcome of the print.

This is why you should use top-notch clothes when you want to sublimate.

2. Making use of a sublimation printer

using a sublimation printer for sublimation printing will give you the best outputs of sublimation designs.

You should also remember that your images have words in the and you should use the mirror setting of your sublimation printer.

Also, your sublimation paper size will be determined by the size of your image.

The quality of the sublimation paper should be of a high standard so that it can soak up and retain ink properly.

3. Use a lint roller and a heat-resistant tape

A heat-resistant tape is used to hold down the sublimation paper to deter paper from shifting because any motion will affect the design.

Movement can cause ghosting and this will reduce the outcome of the image.

A lint roller, however, is used for the exterior of the material the design wants to be positioned

4. Using Teflon sheets

Teflon sheets are used to safeguard the fabrics o want to sublimate on as well as your heat press

5. Heat press

The heat press machine is utilized to make imprints on the material through a controlled heat and pressure application.

Therefore, you can make imprints on materials like clothes or mugs by utilizing the heat press at a controlled level.

6. Removing the safety materials from the design

Once the process is finalized, you will remove all the materials utilized in the process carefully, and then, your print is ready.

How to Print Sublimation Transfers

The method of printing sublimation transfers is entirely straightforward.

You can do it yourself if you have the required skills and kit. You can also have a professional do the sublimation printing for you.

These are the steps to follow if you want to do it yourself.

1. Fill your printer with sublimation dyes

Sublimation dye is utilized to print images on the surface you want to work on.

You should make use of a sublimation printer that is specially designed for sublimation work.

2. Insert your transfer sheet

The paper has to be properly put into the sublimation printer to obtain the perfect design sheet.

3. Check if you need mirror image

Before you commence printing your sublimation transfers, check if you need to mirror the image design.

You will need to discover the imaging component on your software program if the image doesn’t need mirroring.

4. Send the file to the printer

When you are done with the design, you transmit your completed design to the printer, and voila, the print is ready for sublimation.

Without sublimation ink, not all printers can function properly. Therefore, you need sublimation ink for decent sublimation printing.

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Conclusion

Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, GIMP, Canva, Inkscape, etc. are all design software that aids the creation of vector designs, raster images, etc for sublimation printing.

They are comprehensive and distinctive and software for design. Amateur designers get free graphic image templates online for free.

All the above software are made to help ease the design process. However, which software you pick will depend on your proficiency of design.

Some of these tools are designed to make the creation process easy for beginners, but will have limitations for more complicated artwork. While other tools are catered for the person more proficient in design… meaning, the tools will be more complicated to master, but when you do, the results will be outstanding!