Sublimation printing is a fantastic technology for creating vibrant, long-lasting personalised products — but it's not as simple as hitting print and expecting perfect results every time. Over the years we've worked with thousands of customers, from hobbyists to professional print shops, and the same mistakes come up again and again.
Here are the top 10 sublimation printing mistakes we see most often, and exactly how to avoid them.
1. Using the Wrong Sublimation Paper
Not all sublimation papers are created equal. Using the wrong paper for your substrate is one of the most common causes of poor ink transfer, ghosting, and bleed-through — and it's entirely avoidable.
Different papers are formulated for different substrates. A paper that works brilliantly on polyester fabric may perform poorly on ceramic or metal. Always use a paper specifically suited to what you're printing on, and buy from a reputable supplier rather than opting for the cheapest option available.
We stock a range of sublimation papers suited to different materials and production volumes — if you're unsure which is right for your application, get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.
2. Forgetting to Mirror Your Image
This is the mistake that hurts the most — you've set everything up perfectly, pressed your item, peeled back the paper, and your design is completely backwards.
Always mirror your image horizontally before printing. Because sublimation works by transferring ink from paper to substrate, the design needs to be flipped so it reads correctly on the finished product.
The one exception worth knowing: if you're printing onto the back of a transparent substrate that you'll view through the front — such as glass coasters, glass cutting boards, glass clocks, or glass ornaments — you do not need to mirror. The image will read correctly when viewed through the glass.
3. Skipping the Pre-Press
Pre-pressing your substrate before applying the transfer is a step many beginners skip, and it makes a real difference. Pre-pressing removes moisture and wrinkles, flattens the surface, and ensures the substrate is at a stable starting temperature before you apply the transfer.
For garments especially, moisture trapped in the fabric during pressing will turn to steam and can cause uneven transfer, dull colours, or blotchy results. A quick 5-10 second pre-press eliminates this entirely.
4. Incorrect Temperature or Pressure Settings
Getting your temperature and pressure right is arguably the most important variable in the entire process.
Too low a temperature and the ink won't fully sublimate — you'll get faded, washed-out results. Too high and you risk damaging the substrate or burning the ink. A telltale sign of overheating is black areas in your design coming out brown or with a reddish tinge, and the transfer paper turning more yellow than usual.
Pressure matters just as much. Too much pressure on textiles can leave lines where the edge of the paper has pressed into the fabric. Too little and the ink won't transfer fully, giving you inconsistent or patchy results.
Always do a test press when working with a new product or substrate. Check our recommended settings for each product, and don't hesitate to contact us if you're unsure.
One tip that makes a real difference when pressing hard or fragile substrates — photo slates, ceramic tiles, glass ornaments, and glass cutting boards — is to use a silicone heat pad between the heat press platen and your transfer. The pad evens out pressure across irregular surfaces, protects fragile items from cracking or shattering, and helps produce more consistent results.
5. Mishandling the Transfer After Printing
Once your design is printed onto sublimation paper, handle it carefully. The ink on the printed surface can smudge easily — avoid touching it with bare fingers, as oils from your skin can affect transfer quality.
Keep printed transfers flat. Folding or creasing the paper will show up as lines or marks in your finished print. If you're not pressing immediately, store printed transfers in a clean, dry environment away from direct sunlight, which can cause the ink to degrade before pressing.
6. Ignoring Colour Management
If your finished prints look dull, washed out, or the colours don't match what you saw on screen, colour management is almost certainly the issue.
Sublimation colours always appear more muted on the printed transfer than on screen — this is normal. The colours intensify significantly during pressing. However if the finished result still looks wrong, the issue is usually one of three things: your monitor isn't calibrated, you're not using the correct ICC colour profile for your sublimation inks, or your printer settings are off.
Install the ICC colour profile provided by your ink manufacturer, and consider investing in a monitor calibration tool if colour accuracy is critical to your work.
7. Using Low Quality or Uncoated Substrates
The quality and coating of your substrate has a direct impact on your finished print. Sublimation ink only bonds with polyester coating — uncoated or poorly coated items simply won't accept the transfer properly, regardless of how good your printer, paper, or press is.
Low quality substrates often have inconsistent coating, leading to patchy results or fading over time. Always buy sublimation blanks from a reputable supplier who can confirm the coating quality. All of our sublimation blanks are specifically sourced and tested for sublimation printing.
8. Neglecting Equipment Cleaning and Maintenance
Ink residue, dust, and debris build up on printer heads, press platens, and other components over time. Left unchecked, this leads to banding in prints, inconsistent pressure, and transfer contamination.
Follow the manufacturer's recommended cleaning schedule for your printer and heat press. For printers, regular head cleans and nozzle checks take minutes and can prevent hours of troubleshooting later. For your press, wipe the platen regularly and check that it's heating evenly — an uneven platen is a common cause of inconsistent results that's often blamed on other factors.
9. Rushing the Cooling and Removal Process
What you do immediately after pressing is just as important as the press itself.
Remove the transfer paper promptly once the press opens — don't leave it sitting on the substrate as it cools. As the item cools, the sublimation gases can re-release and cause ghosting or smearing where the paper meets the surface.
However, once the paper is removed, allow the item itself to cool fully on a heat-resistant surface before handling. Moving or stacking hot items before they've cooled can distort the image or cause ink to transfer onto other surfaces.
10. Not Tackling Ghosting Properly
Ghosting — where a faint shadow or double image appears in your finished print — is one of the most frustrating problems in sublimation, but it's almost always preventable.
The most common cause is movement of the transfer paper during or after pressing. Make sure your transfer is taped down firmly on all sides before pressing, with no air pockets or loose edges. Use plenty of heat-resistant tape and pull the paper tight against the substrate before securing it.
The second most common cause is leaving the transfer paper on the substrate after pressing. Remove it immediately when the press opens — in one smooth, confident motion. Hesitating or partially removing then repositioning the paper is a recipe for ghosting.