If you are new to the world of product customization, you may have noticed that the best-selling customizable item is the mug. There are many techniques for printing on mugs, but the most commonly used and the one that offers the best results is sublimation. Continue reading this article, and in no time, you will learn how to perfectly sublimate mugs.

How to Sublimate Mugs and How Much It Costs

Surely in your kitchen, you have some personalised mugs that have been gifted to you with charming motifs like those from Mr. Wonderful or with photographs and designs of superheroes, movies, series, or characters that make it your favourite mug. Have you ever wondered how a mug is printed? Well, most of the time, it has been printed using sublimation equipment.

Do not think that a sublimation kit for printing mugs is something very sophisticated or expensive; rather, it is quite the opposite. It is a technique accessible to any entrepreneur or business.

What you need to sublimate mugs

To start printing mugs, you need:

• Sublimation printer. An A4 format printer will suffice as the print area is relatively small.
• Sublimation ink. These are special inks that react with heat by turning into gas and integrating into the polyester polymer. It may seem complex, but you'll see that it isn't.
• Sublimation paper. It is the medium that holds the ink and releases it with heat onto the mug.
• Heat Tape. It is used to secure the printed paper to the mug and withstands the heat of the press without burning.
• Mug press. There are various types and different versions available, but you can start with a basic one for a single mug with interchangeable elements.

If we add up everything needed, with just over €500 you can sublimate mugs. However, the absolute and indispensable star of this article is missing: the sublimable mug.

Not just any mug will do. It must be prepared for sublimation. Additionally, to achieve perfect colours, it should be white, as the colour in sublimation is additive. This means that if you print a design on a coloured mug, the design will blend with the mug's colour, resulting in a design with different colours.

There are different qualities: A, AA, AAA, with the latter being of the highest quality. They mainly differ in the quality of the coating and the uniformity of their surface, which ensures better printing and greater resistance to use and washing. A top-quality mug costs less than €1.50.

How to Design and Print Sublimation Paper

Now that you know everything necessary for sublimating mugs, we will explain how to print them correctly:

1. First, we will design what we are going to print on the mug. Depending on each mug, the maximum printing area may vary, but the most common for an eleven-ounce mug is a printing area of 20x9.5cm. If you want to make the most of A4 sublimation sheets, you can include up to 3 designs on each sheet or purchase the Brildor 120 special mug sublimation paper. Remember that you need to have the mirror mode activated in your printer's print options (if you don't have that option, flip the design before printing).
2. Once printed, cut out the design to be stamped with scissors or a trimmer.
3. Place the paper centred around the mug and secure it with heat-resistant tape to prevent it from moving during pressing.
4. Heat the press to 200º and set it for 180 seconds. It is important to keep the mug at room temperature so it is not too cold, as this could affect the pressing parameters. For instance, in winter, you might need to slightly increase the time if you store the material in a very cold place.
5. Place the mug in the press and adjust to medium pressure.
6. Once the pressing time is complete, and being careful not to burn yourself, quickly remove the paper. To achieve better results and more precise details, it is advisable to cool the mug by submerging it in lukewarm water (except if the mug is made of glass) or by using a cooling base.

Here are two videos related to what was previously mentioned for better visualization. Remember that the printing parameters we provide depend on the materials used and the environmental conditions.

You have already seen how simple it is to print a mug using sublimation. Would you like to generate income by starting your own business of personalised mugs with attractive designs or unique photographs?

If you have any questions, share them with us in the comments. Our team will be delighted to provide you with answers and assistance. You can also contact our Customer Service department directly for additional help.

Remember that on our social media, we publish a large number of ideas, offers, and the latest news related to various personalisation techniques daily. To stay updated with everything, follow us on Instagram and TikTok. And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep learning with us!