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Ideas for Sublimation

Sublimation is the process whereby a material changes from a solid state to a gaseous state without becoming a liquid in between. Dye sublimation is a common process responsible for customized coffee mugs, T-shirts and even bar coasters. Just about any material can receive sublimated ink, which allows businesses and individuals with the right equipment to print a variety of colorful designs onto everything from key chains to pottery to clothes.
  1. Fabric

    • While making a screen print graphic T-shirt is nothing new, creating your own design and sublimating it onto a variety of different colored Tshirts with ultraviolet ink incorporated into the design is something not seen everyday. Create a design that works by itself and which reveals additional details when exposed to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet lights. Do the same for flags and banners that hang outside of restaurants, shops and hotels to reveal one stunning design during the day and another by night.

    Slate and Ceramic

    • Printing a design on a coffee mug is a common sublimation application perfected for decades. Take the same principle and apply it to other pieces of slate and pottery to get creative with sublimation. Use special sublimation slate to transfer family photos or personal artwork onto tiles that clients can incorporate into the interior design of their kitchen, living or family rooms. Apply the same principle to plates and offer them to parents as a fun way for children to eat off of plates that they designed themselves.

    Wood and Cork

    • Wood makes an excellent base for sublimation projects. Print designs or photos onto thin pieces of composite wood that you can then cut in a jigsaw and turn into a puzzle. Use dye sublimation to create personalized key chains and coasters for individuals and businesses. A line of customized coasters is a good addition to a new local bar or brewery. Likewise, customized corks give a personal touch to a new wine or liquor store in town that can be shown off at tastings.

    Generating More Ideas

    • If you still find yourself at a loss for what to do on your next sublimation project, draw inspiration from what others are doing. Visit Sawgrass Ink's website and participate in one of their upcoming sublimation and digital decoration webinars. Frequent T-shirt and apparel decorator forums to get fresh ideas. Take a trip to a local mall and browse the items for sale to get new ideas for types of materials which you can sublimate onto.

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