Enhance a cotton cap in 3 steps
The cap is the must-have accessory of the summer!
Modern and trendy, it transcends the years without going out of style. What could be better than being able to personalize it today?
We'll describe step by step the technique for creating stunning custom sublimated cotton caps. It's very simple; you'll need:
- A Virtuoso Cotton sublimation printer (Chromablast ink)
- A sheet of Chromablast sublimation paper (or Liberty Subli-type paper with a polyester printer if you have a Sublijet ink printer; see below for an alternative to cotton sublimation)
- A cap press
- A blank white cotton
- A roll of high-temperature tape
- A pair of high-temperature gloves
Steps to follow to personalize your sublimated cotton cap:
1- Print your image
First, select your image and print it in mirror image. Make sure it's the right size; it must fit within the blank area of your cap that you want to sublimate. The image size will be displayed in the top right corner of the Creative Studio software. In the SPM software, select the correct paper type: Chromablast, and the correct material: Cotton. Finally, choose the quality: High Quality.
Important: To sublimate cotton, you must use Chromablast ink.
An alternative to cotton sublimation: The Polyester/Sublijet printer is designed for polyester fabrics. With this printer, you also have the option of using a specific printable flex material, such as Liberty Subli or Liberty Patch, which is suitable for dark and/or cotton textiles. The result will differ from what you're used to with classic polyester sublimation; it will be slightly thicker and not suitable for large solid areas on t-shirts. However, the result will be very effective on a cap. To learn about the steps and how to use this material, please visit the product page: https://www.creadhesif.com/liberty-subli-print-pour-imprimante-sawgrass-virtuoso-sublijet.html
2- Adjust your press
You can then adjust the temperature settings on your heat press.
Here, for a cotton cap with Chromablast paper, set the temperature between 180°C and 200°C. Then adjust the time between 20 and 40 seconds with medium pressure and confirm your settings by pressing the "enter" button.
3 - Make your transfer
Once your heat press has reached temperature, position your cap on your heat press and place your design printed side down on the blank part of your cap, securing it with high-temperature tape to prevent smudging during the transfer.
Press and then wait for the timer to finish
You can then remove the hot paper and admire your new cap!
Quick Tip : If your image is slightly brown after transferring, you likely have a problem with the temperature being too high during the pressing process. In this case, lower the temperature by about 20°C and try again.
Conversely, if your image has a "whitish" appearance, it's likely due to a temperature that was too low during printing. In this case, increase the temperature by about 20°C and try again!
Now you have a superb, unique, and personalized cap, just the way you like it! A photo, a name, or simply a logo—you can now customize any cap to your liking. A must-have accessory for summer markets.
Need more information on Sublimation? We offer free online training (webinars) on this topic:
- Sublimation
- SG500 / SG1000 Sublimation Printers
- Sublimation: Maintenance and Tips
- Creative Studio Software
- SPM Software
- Enhance ChromaLuxe
- Specialty Papers for Sublimation
- EasySubli Paper
- Liberty Subli
- Liberty Patch
- Liberty Patch Satin Effect
Find all the dates and register by clicking on this link.
Also check out all our video tutorials on our YouTube channel.
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See you soon,
The Créadhésif Team
Quick, everyone to your presses!
