Sublimating A Coffee Mug
Sublimating a coffee mug cup is a fun way to express your personality. Want the coolest coffee cup in the building? If you have a sublimation setup, there’s no end to the different cups you can create. There’s no need to break the bank to express yourself, just grab a sublimation coffee mug and sublimation supplies, and you have the tools necessary for a wide variety of coffee mugs to sell or keep! Sublimating a coffee mug is an excellent way to showcase your creativity and personality, and by the end of your crafting session, you’ll have a unique, functional item that lets your true self shine through.
If you are new to sublimation, start with sublimation for beginners post.
Supplies Needed:
- Design/Electronic Image – I use Creative Fabrica for most of my designs
- Sublimation-ready coffee mugs can be found on Amazon or Blessedtocreateblanks.com
- Sublimation Printer, I use a converted Epson 15000, with sublimation ink
- Or Sawgrass Printer
- Transfer Paper, I use Crafting Besties 13X19 sublimation printer paper
- Heat Resistant Tape
- Heat Resistant Gloves
- Dedicated Toaster or Convection Oven
Measure Your Mug
Before you sublimate on the coffee mug, make sure you measure the blank. 11 oz mugs typically measure 10.25″ X 3.75″, but measure yours to ensure you pick the correct design.
Picking a design
Your design can range from a couple of images on the mug, to a full cup design that covers the entire mug. Creative Fabrica has a wide range of images and I usually turn to them when looking for a specific image.
Full Cup Design
The full cup method is more difficult than the separate image method, and you need to be more precise in placements. Full cup designs usually involve a lighter background image with a darker main image in the foreground. Full cup designs are more difficult because you have to adjust the transfer paper around the handle. I usually do not sublimate the handle and I usually purchase mugs that have colored handles.
Full Mug Design
Background
For an 11 oz mug, I usually size the background 12″ X 4.25″ so there is some overlap. I choose an abstract background and set the opacity from 25% – 50%, enough so you can see the background, but not enough to take away from the main image. I try to have the background image meet under the handle.
Background
Foreground
For this mug, I have chosen a combo Mother’s Day/Valentines Day themed image.
Creative Fabrica Image
Separate Images Design
The most popular mug I sell is the “true crime enthusiasts” mug (believe it or not), and the separate images method works best for these mugs. This method is easier than the full cup method, and depending on the image, (hand print and blood splatter), the image doesn’t need to be centered.
For right-handers, with the face of the mug facing me, with the handle on the left, I place the main image, the Shh I’m solving TV crimes image on the display side.
Right Handers main image placement
Print Settings for Epson ET-15000
For the converted Epson 15000, using Cosmos Ink, change your printer settings as follows:
- Click on Print/Printer Icon
- Highlight your printer
- Click on the preferences tab
- Set Paper Source
- Set Document Size (I set this to Super B 13X9)
- Set Paper Type to Premium Presentation Matte
- Set Quality to High
- Select the Options Tab
- Uncheck High Speed
- Check the Mirror Image
- Color Correction, click on Custom, Advanced tab, Color Management, Color Controls, click on Adobe RGB, then set Gamma to 2.2. Click on OK
- Printing Presets, select Add/Remove Presets, Name your settings, select OK, Apply
Print the images on Sublimation Transfer Paper, and make sure the image is mirrored when it is printed out.
Prep the Mug
Clean the Mug with an alcohol wipe
Wipe Mug with an alcohol wipe to ensure a clean surface before applying the transfer paper
Applying Transfer Paper, Sublimating a coffee mug
The next step in sublimating a coffee mug is to apply the printed transfer paper. Line up the transfer paper on your cup, taking care to have the end of the image cut to the background so you won’t have a white line. Have the background meet underneath the handle and cut the transfer paper to accommodate the handle. Make sure the centered image is centered on the cup.
Line up and tightly attach the transfer paper.
Adhering the image can be done two ways
Heat Tape Only
Wrap the transfer paper tightly around the mug, and very tightly wrap the heat tape around the mug covering the entire mug. Take special care at the top and the bottom of the mug and double-tape those areas.
Sublimation Shrink Wraps
Slip the sublimation shrink wrap over the mug, using a heat gun, heat up the shrink wrap until it tightly adheres to the mug. If you don’t have a heat gun, you can put the mug in the heated convection oven until the shrink wrap is tightly adhered to the mug. If the shrink wrap rips or is not tight on one of the images, use heat tape to secure the image.
Heating the Mug
Preheat the dedicated convection or toaster oven to 360 degrees
Insert the mug into the oven for nine (9) minutes, turning every three (3) minutes.Using heat-resistant gloves, remove the mug.
Once the mug has cooled, remove the transfer
Enjoy your sublimating a coffee mug creation.
What is sublimation printing, and how does it work?
Sublimation printing is a unique and vibrant way to add personality to anything! It captures bright and long-lasting ink, making it the perfect choice for fabric printing. It uses heat to transfer dye onto materials such as polyester or polymer-coated substrates.
Paper forms a part of this process too; a special type of sublimation paper absorbs the ink and then releases it when heated up against the material receiving the design.
Why choose sublimation over other methods?
Sublimation is a great choice if you want to make long-lasting, professional-quality products that stand out. Sublimation offers the benefits of durability, affordability, scratch resistance, vivid colors.
How to get started with sublimation printing?
Check out my Dye Sublimation for beginners blog here.
What materials do you need for sublimation printing, and where can you find them?
Some of my favorite sources
Printers
Blanks
Conversion Kits and Ink
Transfer Paper
Sublimation Coatings (For Cotton Products)
T-Shirts
- Cosmos Ink 100% Polyester with the feel of cotton
- Jiffy Shirts Poly/Cotton Blends
This post contains affiliate links to help support my crafting habit
