Can You Sublimate on Cotton? Yes, But…

Can you sublimate on cotton? The quick answer is yes, but you might not want to if you want to get the best-quality results.

In this article, I'll share:

• Why sublimating on cotton doesn't work without hacks
• 3 "hacks" for sublimating on cotton
• and 4 alternatives to sublimation that may give you better results

But hey, I totally understand the dilemma.

You know you'll get the best results with 100% polyester, but those shirts don't feel as nice as 100% cotton. Friends, family, and customers may ask you to customize a certain cotton shirt. And cotton can often be cheaper than polyester.

So let's talk about your options when you find yourself in that situation.

Need a refresher? Review our sublimation printing article here.

What's Inside:

• Can You Sublimate on Cotton?
• 3 Ways to Sublimate on Cotton
• How to Sublimate on Cotton Step-by-Step
• Taking Care of Your Sublimation-Printed Cotton Garment
• 4 Better Ways to Print on Cotton
• Final Thoughts
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can You Sublimate on Cotton?

Yes, you can. But you'll need some hacks to make it work.

Here's why:

Sublimation printing works because the ink vaporizes at a high temperature and soaks into a polyester or acrylic surface.

This vaporized ink bonds with the polyester and acrylic material and becomes permanent. But sublimation ink doesn't bond with any other type of material.

So if you apply a sublimation print to cotton, the ink will soak into the fabric and look bright and vibrant at first. But when you put it in water, the ink will wash out.

You might have seen this in crafting groups on social media when people say, "My sublimation-printed cotton tee looked so good… why did it fade?" Now you know why! It's not a conspiracy theory—it's science! 🧪✨

So what can you do if you want to make a sublimation print on cotton? Let's look at three hacks you can use.

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3 Ways to Sublimate on Cotton

Your options are to:

• Use a cotton blend
• Apply a sublimation coating
• Use sublimation vinyl

#1 - Use a Cotton Blend

You can achieve the soft, buttery feel of a cotton shirt while still getting the sublimation power of polyester. It's possible when you choose a cotton- polyester blend.

We recommend choosing a blend with at least 60% polyester to make sure you get a vibrant print. Some people like the 50-50 blends. But keep in mind that the ink will only stay in the polyester fabric, so whatever percentage of polyester you choose, that's the percentage of ink that will remain.

Anything less than 60% polyester will fade quite a bit, but if you like a retro, faded look, you might actually like the result.

#2 - Apply a Sublimation Coating

The next option is to apply a sublimation coating spray on the surface of the cotton fabric.

This creates a layer of synthetic material, like a plastic coating, on the surface of the shirt. When you apply your sublimation print, the ink will adhere to it.

You'll get a vibrant, 100%-strength sublimation print.

But there are downsides to this method.

The coating will leave a shiny, textured surface on your fabric. Remember that the benefit of sublimation is that it sinks into the fabric and leaves no texture. This will remove that benefit.

It also depends on how evenly and skillfully you can apply the coating spray. If it's not evenly applied, you won't get a consistent result.

It's almost not worth the trouble of using the coating spray. And that's why we recommend choosing a cotton-polyester blend whenever possible.

#3 - Apply Sublimation Vinyl

Finally, you can apply a sheet of sublimation-friendly heat transfer vinyl or HTV. (We've covered the differences between sublimation and vinyl here.)

Cut the vinyl into your desired shape with a paper cutter, scissors, or cutting machine like a Cricut. Then apply it to the cotton shirt with heat. The vinyl adheres to the cotton and becomes permanent.

The sublimation vinyl works the same way as the sublimation coating. Your sublimation ink will soak into the vinyl and permanently dye it.

(By the way, you can sublimate on dark fabrics, too, if you use white sublimation vinyl. But that's a topic for another article.)

Again, there are downsides to this method.

The vinyl will leave hard edges and a shiny or matte surface that you can see from certain angles. You'll lose that soft, textureless feel that's unique to sublimation.

In the next section, we'll share how to sublimate on cotton step-by-step using these methods.

And after that, we'll give you some alternatives to sublimation that can give you better-quality prints on cotton fabric.

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How to Sublimate on Cotton Step-by-Step

What You Need

• Cotton or cotton-polyester blend fabric
• Heat press
• Sublimation coating spray or sublimation vinyl (if using 100% cotton)
• A sublimation transfer (made with a sublimation printer and sublimation paper)
• Heat-resistant tape

Check out our Epson F170 Sublimation Printer Bundle featuring ink, paper, and tape to get you started!

[product=epson-r-f170-sublimation-printer]Our Epson F170 Sublimation Printer bundle comes with ink, sublimation paper, and heat-resistant tape![/product]

#1 - Prepare the Fabric

Sublimation ink WILL NOT bond itself to cotton fabric. That's why you need to apply something to the cotton or use a cotton blend to make this work.

Your options are:

1. Use a blend of polyester and cotton (at least 60% polyester for best results)
2. Apply a sublimation coating spray (Look at the bottle for instructions)
3. Apply sublimation HTV (or heat transfer vinyl) (Follow the instructions for your brand)

Once the material is ready, roll it with a lint roller to remove any dust or hair.

You can also press it once with a heat press to remove any moisture.

#2 - Prepare Your Sublimation Transfer

Next, you'll get your sublimation transfer ready. Print it out with your sublimation printer on sublimation paper and cut it down to size, leaving some extra space around the edges.

The white part of the paper won't transfer, so don't worry about that.

#3 - Tape Down the Transfer

Use your heat-resistant tape to tape the ink side of your print down onto the fabric. Tape it flat with no gaps for best results.

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#4 - Press the Image

Put card stock inside the garment and a piece of butcher paper on top of the sublimation print. (This is to protect your heat press.)

Then press your image with your heat press until the ink transfers. You'll want to experiment with settings for your specific brand.

Jennifer Maker has a helpful guide to time and temperature settings for 20 different sublimation shirts.

#5 - Remove the Transfer and Enjoy!

Once your ink has transferred, you can peel off the paper and admire your new shirt!

Want to learn more about sublimation printing? Check out our beginner's guide to sublimation.

Taking Care of Your Sublimation-Printed Cotton Garment

As with all sublimation garments, be gentle if you want them to last longer.

It's best to turn your shirts inside out and wash them on the gentle cycle, avoiding hot water and dark-colored items.

Sublimation prints on polyester are more durable than sublimation vinyl or sublimation coating, which can crack and peel. But all will last longer with good care.

Now if you're looking for a better way to print on cotton that will create professional results, especially if you're running a business or want to do this for the long term, here are some alternatives to sublimation that will give you a better result.

4 Better Ways to Print on Cotton

Let's face it—sublimating on cotton is more of a hack than a sustainable method for producing shirts.

So instead of sublimation, we recommend these 4 other printing methods for cotton fabrics:

1. DTF transfers
2. DTG printing
3. Screen printing
4. Heat transfer vinyl

#1 - DTF (Direct-to-Film) Transfers

These are printed on transfer film and adhere permanently to essentially any fabric. They take some effort to produce, but you can also order ready-made or custom-printed DTF transfers from vendors like Ninja Transfers. That way, all you need to do is press them.

DTF transfers work with virtually all fabrics, including cotton and natural fibers. Learn more in our guide to direct-to-film printing.

#2 - DTG (Direct-to-Garment) Printing

A DTG printer is unique in that it prints designs directly onto the fabric. There's no need to make a separate transfer.

These machines don't come cheap. But we're happy to report that we have the newest entry-level DTG printer from Epson—the Epson SureColor F1070—that brings this technology down to a more affordable price point. (Plus, it also does DTF printing!)

Learn more in our guide to direct-to-garment printing.

#3 - Screen Printing

Screen printing works well on cotton fabrics, but you'll need to set up a screen printing shop to get started. It's more than just buying a printer; you'll need screens, paint, squeegees, and more. We don't recommend this unless you're looking into large-scale, bulk t-shirt production.

#4 - Heat Transfer Vinyl

The final method for printing on t-shirts isn't a form of printing at all. You can cut heat-transfer vinyl into shapes using a cutting machine like the Cricut, then apply those shapes onto your shirt with a heat press.

You won't get the high-fidelity digital image that you get with sublimation, DTF, or DTG, but these still look super professional (and at a fraction of the price).

Learn how vinyl differs from sublimation here.

Final Thoughts

So can you sublimate on cotton? Yes! But you'll need one of the hacks we outlined above.

For best results, we recommend using a polyester-cotton blend for your sublimation shirt or choosing another print method that's better suited for cotton fabric.

So, yes, sublimation printing on cotton is possible, but you won't get the beautiful, soft, and blended effect that sublimation printing is known for.

Now be sure to join our MakerFlo Official Facebook Community to meet and share notes with thousands of other crafters on the same journey as you.

And check out more helpful sublimation resources we've got queued up for you next:

• Can You Do Sublimation on Wood? (Yes, and Here's How)
• Sublimation on Acrylic: How to Get the Best Results!
• The Best Sublimation Printers for Every Business
• 1000+ Free Sublimation Designs for Commercial Use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What happens if I sublimate on 100% cotton?

It will wash out unless you pre-treat it first. Try one of the methods featured above.

What fabric can you not sublimate on?

Sublimation only works on polyester or acrylic. If you have a garment that's 60% polyester and 40% natural, only 60% of the garment will retain the ink, and the rest will wash out.

Is it better to sublimate on cotton or polyester?

You can only truly sublimate on polyester. That will get you the best results. If you sublimate on cotton, the sublimation ink will unfortunately wash out. In order to print on cotton, you'll need to use one of the "hacks" outlined in the article above.

Why does sublimation not work on cotton?

Sublimation ink turns into a vapor at high temperatures. As it cools, it settles into the fabric. But due to the unique chemical makeup of the ink, it only bonds itself with polyester or acrylic, not cotton or other materials. So while a sublimation transfer on a cotton garment may look vibrant after you sublimate it, it will wash out immediately with water. On the other hand, sublimation designs printed on polyester and/or acrylic are permanent and will not wash out.