Sublimation Paper: An Essential Guide

Great crafters will tell you to use a sublimation paper—and a high-quality paper at that—for effective sublimation printing transfers.

In this article, we give you the lowdown on sublimation paper, its definition, benefits and what we at MakerFlo Crafts believe is the best sublimation paper for consistent results.

Here’s a quick glance at the features that make our sublimation paper stand out from the rest:

You can jump to the in-depth product review or begin by looking at the basics below.

What is a Sublimation Paper?

Put simply, it’s a special paper made for sublimation printing. It’s made using base paper, which makes up the middle layer. A top coating applied on top of the base paper can absorb and hold sublimation ink, while a bottom coating prevents warping. 

The Features of a Sublimation Paper

In addition to having a special coating to hold sublimation ink, sublimation papers are also:

Quick-Drying

At MakerFlo Crafts, we enjoy working with sublimation papers that are quick-drying: case in example, our MakerFlo Sublimation Paper, which is instant-drying.

A sublimation paper that’s quick-drying reduces the risk of the ink getting smudged and your image turning into a gory mess. It also allows you to work quickly.

Designed to Work With Sublimation Inks

This one is a biggie. Sublimation papers will only work with dye sublimation ink, a special ink that turns to gas when heated, and bonds with the substrate before turning solid again.

To use sublimation ink, you must use a sublimation printer. If you use a normal inkjet printer instead, the ink will not transfer to the paper well, your printer may break down, and you’ll only end up with a colorful mess on a product you can’t even sell anyway. 

Heat-Resistant

Sublimation papers are heat-resistant. This means they can withstand high temperatures without warping or burning.

It’s crucial that the paper is built like this; otherwise, it can mess up the appearance of your product or stick to the platens of your heat press. Removing such residue can be a pain, and, if you’re unsuccessful, affect the quality of future work. 

Versatile

A really cool thing about sublimation papers is that they can be used with various materials. Though they are primarily used with polyester fabrics and polymer-coated blanks, some high-quality papers can also be used on ceramics and metals. 

Any materials must be polymer-coated for sublimation to work effectively.

Sublimation papers also support a large transfer of ink to the substrate so the final design will have lots and lots of color. 

Benefits of Sublimation Transfer Paper

The best dye transfer paper will support the brightest, life-like designs for your printing merchandise, and these other benefits:

Long-Lasting Sublimation Prints

The right paper can hold ink without getting saturated (saturation can cause the ink to bleed), producing clear and durable printed images. 

Versatile

One thing about us crafters, we absolutely love a work horse product, and this paper totally is. It can be used to transfer prints to different materials, such as polyester fabric, ceramic, metal and other polymer-coated surfaces. 

Sublimation Paper Types

There are four common types: high-release, low-release, tacky, and fast-dry sublimation papers. 

Like the names suggest, high-release papers release most of the ink from the paper to the substrate, while low-release papers release only a small amount and at very low speeds. 

Because of this, high-release papers are mostly used with fabrics (fabrics are porous and need to soak a lot of color for bright color results.) Low-release papers work best with hard substrates since releasing too much ink on them causes blurred images. 

The MakerFlo sublimation paper is a high-release, fast-drying paper that provides professional-looking results, something that’s crucial for beginner and established craft businesses. It’s the best one overall. 

Some of the features that deliver such stunning results include:

• Bright-colored side for quality results (the back side of the paper is logoed, taking guesswork out of the game)
• High transfer and precision rate
• Accurate color reproduction for vivid, vibrant prints
• Fast-drying so there’s no risk of smudging or blurred images
• Facilitating an even coverage, ensuring there are no streaks or uneven areas in the final product

For consistent, professional results with your sublimation printing business, MakerFlo is the paper to use. Our customer reviews below tell you all you need to know. 

Using Sublimation Paper

Not to belabor the point but you must use the paper correctly for the best results. This begins by identifying the right side to print on.

For most vendors, the side to print on is typically brighter than the other side. However, at MakerFlo Crafts, we’ve taken it a notch higher and logoed one side of the paper so it’s immediately clear which side to use.

1. Check whether the paper has a protective backing, remove it, then place it on the printer.
2. Print your preferred image and allow a few minutes for the paper to dry.
3. Place the paper—ink side down—on the substrate material and hold it in place with a heat-resistant tape.
4. Press using a heat press machine or bake in a sublimation oven. Ensure you’re using the recommended pressure and heat settings for the material you’re working on.
5.  Using heat-resistant gloves, set your substrate aside, and give it some time to cool then remove the paper and admire the results. 

Why MakerFlo is the Best Sublimation Paper

MakerFlo Crafts makes the bestest sublimation paper ever! 

It has a weight of 120GSM, among the highest weights, and you can use it on both hard and soft substrates. We did say we loved a work horse product, right?

Moreover, it has a high transfer and precision rate, meaning you’ll get bright vivid color, exactly how you’ve designed it.

Rest assured, this paper will not wrinkle or crack due to the heat, and it's super easy to use, even for first-timers. It’s the right sublimation paper for you as it also works well with the Epson sublimation printers we carry.

We know it just feels better to hear this from fellow crafters, so have a look at what our customers say below.

Please note that you can only use this paper with a sublimation printer and sublimation ink.

You can choose the perfect size for printing on small or bigger items since we have four versatile sizes: 8.5"x11", 8.5"x14", 11"x17", and 13"x19".

Get High-Quality Sublimation Paper Today

As we’ve seen in this article, your sublimation paper has everything to do with the quality of your design. A crafter who is totally sold out on their craft will buy high-quality sublimation paper that supports high ink absorption and transfer. 

The best one will offer versatility in working with different materials and print long-lasting designs. 

However, you must also know how to use the paper effectively. This includes choosing the correct, brighter side to print on and allowing the sublimation ink to dry after printing. You must also hold the paper using heat-resistant tape so that it doesn’t shift when you’re using the heat press machine.

Get yourself a paper that promises consistent, outstanding results from MakerFlo Crafts.