Do-it-yourself, crafty projects continue to grow in popularity, which is no surprise, given the array of tools wannabe crafters have to learn and all the cute Instagram or Pinterest photos that abound, inspiring others to turn their hand to crafts. Picking up a crafty hobby, whether it’s making pithy mugs, inspirational T-shirts, knitting or crocheting hats and scarves, or something else entirely can also be a great way to promote a business or interest, earn a little money on the side for yourself, and provide a wonderful creative escape. New printing equipment — whether it’s a mug press or a heating press, for example — continues to make applying images to various surfaces easier than ever before. If you’ve been more interested in the printing side of crafting,
you should consider looking into sublimation — and here’s why.

What is Sublimation?
In science, sublimation is when a substance goes straight from being a solid to being a gas, without passing through the liquid phase. When it comes to printing, it’s a simple method of putting an image on a specially coated ceramic, metal, or cloth surface (usually polyester), using heat, pressure, and sublimation ink.

An inkjet printer transfers the image onto a medium that is then applied to the final surface, using a commercial heat press that applies the aforementioned heat and pressure needed. Many heat presses — like a mug press — are beginning to incorporate sublimation printing into their machines, as there are many benefits for crafters to use sublimation.

Why Should I Look Into a Sublimation Printer and Heat Press?

If you’re running a small, independent shop or take orders, sublimation printers can help you save money. Say you only need to make 10 or 15 mugs in a special order — you can do full color printing without wincing at the cost, while screen printing may make you pay a much higher cost. Similarly, you won’t need to worry so much about having to set a minimum order for your customers, so that gives you (and them) greater flexibility, and potentially more business. If you had to crank out 20 or 30 mugs with your mug press before to make the costs worth it, you won’t have to worry about that now!

Sublimation also supplies you with a lighter print that doesn’t weigh the original surface down or change its shape. And prints that are sublimated are incredibly durable, lasting for as long as the item does.

A sublimation printer will allow you greater diversity in what you can create and give you more avenues to explore. Now you don’t need a mug press and a t-shirt press — you can do everything with one! From photos to apparel to mugs to mouse pads, you can do it all.

What Can I Make With a Sublimation Press?
Truly, the sky’s the limit when it comes to a sublimation press! For example, white ceramic mugs can be transformed with a sublimation press that can’t always be achieved with just a regular mug press. Customized mouse pads, dog tags, mugs, coasters, necklaces, t-shirts, and more can all be customized.

Heading to a craft fair? Whip out some promotional items for your booth! Half of people who hae a promotional item use it at least once a week and it’s a good reminder of your business. Everyone loves a good tote bag — over 30% of consumers own a promotional bag. A sublimation press can let you create fun and cheap items for people to take home with them — and remember your business by!

Expand your creative horizons with a sublimation press. You may find yourself wonderfully surprised at how many different things you can do with one.