Thank you for such a thorough video and for mentioning your heat press settings! I JUST got my first heat press and sub printer and need all the help I can get! :)
Great video!!!! I haven’t made a shirt however I have been testing prints on different fabrics. I didn’t want to ruin a shirt, so I went to the fabric store and got a bunch of different woven fabrics and %s of poly/cotton/Rayon ect. I only bought a quarter strip and I cut them to test out little images. When the employee was cutting the fabric, I took a picture of the label on the fabric ream and also labeled the fabric so I knew what was what. I hope the idea of testing out the fabric blends on small pieces of fabric help others b4 they mess up a shirt. My other idea was to use different shirts but then I was just wasting my money.
This is a great tip, Alicia! I actually did exactly the same thing when I first started testing as well! Also, when I was testing out different ICC color profiles on my printer, I purchased an XL polyester tablecloth from Amazon and cut small test pieces from that as well since it was less expensive than purchasing the fabric by the yard! :)
I use Jerzees from Jiffy's Shirts. I sew clothes, so I am always looking at the weight. I don't buy anything under 5 ounces. Too thin, and won't last long.
Hello. I tried a sublimation print in a 95% poly / 5% rayon shirt and I ended up with scorch mark around. The heat guide said 390 F for 45 secs. I guess it was too hot. I will try. Lower temp next time but I guess it also has to do with thickness? The color was a light beige/mauve color
Rayon definitely has a tendency to scorch at high temperatures, so I usually lower the temp whenever it is involved (even in small amounts). I'd throw that shirt in the washing machine and see what happens - sometimes the scorching can be washed away if it's not too heavy!
Thank you for this comprehensive comparison. Would these shirts also work with infusible ink sheets from cricut? Or does it only work with sublimation ink? Thanks for your response.
I like the Port & Co. tee as the most cotton-like option here. The Cricut brand t-shirts are also heavyweight, and while they don't feel entirely like cotton (more like a poly-cotton blend), they are really soft and comfortable.
You will experience a bit of fading in the first wash depending on the percentage of polyester (more fading for lower poly count), but I don't find that they continue to fade after that first washing. In this video, the comparison photos vs 100% polyester (as well as all of the video clips where I am holding up the finished shirts) were all taken AFTER the shirts went through their first wash cycle, so they should not fade more than what you see in the video here. Hope that helps!
If you go to the video description and click on the "more" link, it will expand the description, and there are links to every individual shirt that I tested in there :)
18 months is such a hard size to find in actual t-shirts instead of bodysuits! Bella + Canvas does make a Triblend 18 month tee that's 50% polyester (www.jiffyshirts.com/bellacanvas-3413B.html?ac=Gray+Triblend) and Etsy also has several sellers (tidd.ly/48V8OPw), though I haven't personally tried any of these brands.
I'm using a 15x15 here, and I have never found a need for a larger one! If you're doing a lot of really large prints on VERY large shirts, I could see how it might be useful, but I haven't ever personally felt the need for a larger press! :)
Most sweatshirts will be a 50/50 blend - there are also some that have a higher in poly content, but they tend to have more of a silky, shiny finish that I don't personally care for. For the 50/50 blends, I like Jerzees NuBlend fleece crewnecks and hoodies, and for the higher poly count, check out the Augusta Sportswear hoodie on Amazon. :)
I sell wholesale sublimated t shirts and I like to use 100% polyester from o port for kids and adults. And for babies onesies I like to use the brand laughing giraffe and for toddler and youth size I use another brand not known but I love the way they look sublimated . I sell in a flea market too and my customers are very happy with those brands
I washed the shirts both before sublimating (to remove any sizing or other chemicals) and after sublimating so that you could accurately see how much fading there is with the non-100& poly blends. :)
I typically avoid using bleach on sublimation-printed garments, but it is possible. I would recommend heavily diluting the bleach and using non-chlorine bleach only.
When you are done talking please don't make a fake smile. It's very obvious that it is forced. Some ppl do it well and you can't tell the difference. I can't force a smile either so I just don't do it. Other than that I liked the video.
THANK GOD FOR THIS HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITH TECHNOLOGY IN THIS GENERATION. THIS IS ART AND ART IS A BLESSING.
THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO ❤
Thank you for such a thorough video and for mentioning your heat press settings! I JUST got my first heat press and sub printer and need all the help I can get! :)
You are so welcome! I'm glad that you found it helpful! :)
The colours in the background make me so happy!
Thank you! :)
Thank you for this video. I'm having a difficult time getting started.
I'm glad you found it helpful!
This video was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much!
You're so welcome, Heather! Glad you found it helpful! 😊
Great video, thank you for sharing!!! 🤩🤩
Thank YOU! 😊
Thanks so much! I haven't tried sublimation because it seems daunting! Thanks for making it easier!!
So glad that you found it helpful! :)
Thank you so much useful information 😊
Great video!!!! I haven’t made a shirt however I have been testing prints on different fabrics.
I didn’t want to ruin a shirt, so I went to the fabric store and got a bunch of different woven fabrics and %s of poly/cotton/Rayon ect. I only bought a quarter strip and I cut them to test out little images. When the employee was cutting the fabric, I took a picture of the label on the fabric ream and also labeled the fabric so I knew what was what.
I hope the idea of testing out the fabric blends on small pieces of fabric help others b4 they mess up a shirt.
My other idea was to use different shirts but then I was just wasting my money.
This is a great tip, Alicia! I actually did exactly the same thing when I first started testing as well! Also, when I was testing out different ICC color profiles on my printer, I purchased an XL polyester tablecloth from Amazon and cut small test pieces from that as well since it was less expensive than purchasing the fabric by the yard! :)
That’s a good idea
I use Jerzees from Jiffy's Shirts. I sew clothes, so I am always looking at the weight. I don't buy anything under 5 ounces. Too thin, and won't last long.
What kind of Jerzees?
Great info
Like it
Hello. I tried a sublimation print in a 95% poly / 5% rayon shirt and I ended up with scorch mark around. The heat guide said 390 F for 45 secs. I guess it was too hot. I will try. Lower temp next time but I guess it also has to do with thickness?
The color was a light beige/mauve color
Rayon definitely has a tendency to scorch at high temperatures, so I usually lower the temp whenever it is involved (even in small amounts). I'd throw that shirt in the washing machine and see what happens - sometimes the scorching can be washed away if it's not too heavy!
Thank you for this comprehensive comparison. Would these shirts also work with infusible ink sheets from cricut? Or does it only work with sublimation ink? Thanks for your response.
Yes, absolutely! Infusible Ink is essentially just sublimation ink that has already been pre-printed and ready to go! :)
just starting sublimation printing and I do my own original art and wondering the best way to get my work out
ebay and etsy
Is there a polyester t-shirt blank that has the thickness and look of heavy cotton? Thanks!
I like the Port & Co. tee as the most cotton-like option here. The Cricut brand t-shirts are also heavyweight, and while they don't feel entirely like cotton (more like a poly-cotton blend), they are really soft and comfortable.
How do the >100% hold up in the wash? Do they fade quickly?
You will experience a bit of fading in the first wash depending on the percentage of polyester (more fading for lower poly count), but I don't find that they continue to fade after that first washing.
In this video, the comparison photos vs 100% polyester (as well as all of the video clips where I am holding up the finished shirts) were all taken AFTER the shirts went through their first wash cycle, so they should not fade more than what you see in the video here. Hope that helps!
I don’t see the links for the shirts you used
If you go to the video description and click on the "more" link, it will expand the description, and there are links to every individual shirt that I tested in there :)
Anyone have an recommendations on 18 month shirts? I can only find 12-18 month body suits
18 months is such a hard size to find in actual t-shirts instead of bodysuits! Bella + Canvas does make a Triblend 18 month tee that's 50% polyester (www.jiffyshirts.com/bellacanvas-3413B.html?ac=Gray+Triblend) and Etsy also has several sellers (tidd.ly/48V8OPw), though I haven't personally tried any of these brands.
Are you using the 15x15 or 16x20? Is there a reason to really need a 16x20 unless you’re doing the real large prints across the back of a shirt?
I'm using a 15x15 here, and I have never found a need for a larger one! If you're doing a lot of really large prints on VERY large shirts, I could see how it might be useful, but I haven't ever personally felt the need for a larger press! :)
What about sweatshirts?
Most sweatshirts will be a 50/50 blend - there are also some that have a higher in poly content, but they tend to have more of a silky, shiny finish that I don't personally care for. For the 50/50 blends, I like Jerzees NuBlend fleece crewnecks and hoodies, and for the higher poly count, check out the Augusta Sportswear hoodie on Amazon. :)
I sell wholesale sublimated t shirts and I like to use 100% polyester from o port for kids and adults. And for babies onesies I like to use the brand laughing giraffe and for toddler and youth size I use another brand not known but I love the way they look sublimated . I sell in a flea market too and my customers are very happy with those brands
Did you wash the t-shirts?
I washed the shirts both before sublimating (to remove any sizing or other chemicals) and after sublimating so that you could accurately see how much fading there is with the non-100& poly blends. :)
Hey mam we can used this shirt in bleach?
I typically avoid using bleach on sublimation-printed garments, but it is possible. I would recommend heavily diluting the bleach and using non-chlorine bleach only.
Hi great video is your shirt sublimated ?
No, this one is a knit sweater :)
Oh ok 👌
When you are done talking please don't make a fake smile. It's very obvious that it is forced. Some ppl do it well and you can't tell the difference. I can't force a smile either so I just don't do it. Other than that I liked the video.
Wow, I'm so glad you are such an expert at my face that you felt the need to leave this incredibly rude and unnecessary comment about how it works. 🙄
wow, how rude.
This was very helpful. Thank you so much!
I’m wondering what settings you use when is 50% or 65% Poly.