The best sublimation papers for cotton T-shirts are A-SUB, HTVRONT, Printers Jack, and Seogol. But if you want to do sublimation printing on 100% cotton T-shirts, use heat transfer vinyl. Alternatively, you can use a Sublimation spray to pretreat the fabric before sublimation printing.
Do you want to know more about the best sublimation paper for cotton t-shirts? Read this article to find out more.
Contents
- 1 What Is The Best Sublimation Paper for Cotton T-Shirts? A Quick Guide
- 2 What Is The Best Sublimation Paper for Cotton T-Shirts? A Detailed Guide
- 3 Which Sublimation Paper is Best for 100% Cotton T-Shirts?
- 4 Best Methods of Sublimation Printing on Cotton T-Shirts
- 5 FAQ’s
- 6 Conclusion
What Is The Best Sublimation Paper for Cotton T-Shirts? A Quick Guide
These are the best sublimation papers for cotton T-shirts:
| Sublimation Paper | Paper Weight | Rating | Price |
| A-SUB | 125 g | 4.8 stars (43,727 ratings) | Check Price |
| HTVRONT | 120 g | 4.7 stars(3,549 ratings) | Check Price |
| Printers Jack | 120 g | 4.3 stars(15,807 ratings) | Check Price |
| Seogol | 125 g | 4.4 stars(4,324 ratings) | Check Price |
However, this sublimation paper can not be used on 100% cotton T-shirts directly. To sublimation print on a 100% cotton T-shirt, you can use 2 different methods.
What Is The Best Sublimation Paper for Cotton T-Shirts? A Detailed Guide
In this section, I will do a detailed comparison between the 4 best sublimation papers for cotton T-shirts.
A-SUB: Most Popular
Key Specifications
- Paper weight: 125gsm
- Microporous structure
- Transfer rate≥98%
- Coated Paper Finish
- Color: White
- Sheet Size: 8.5 in. x 11 in., 8.5 in. x 14 in., 11 in. x 17 in., 13 in. x 19 in.
Pros
- High transfer rate
- Not very expensive
- Works well with t-shirts with cotton < 40%
- Does not stick to fabric
- High thickness
Cons
- Does not work well with low-polyester blends
- Can not be iron-transferred
- Heavy
HTVRONT: Most Affordable
Key Specifications
- Color: Clear
- Paper weight: 120 Grams
- Paper Finish: Coated
- Transfer rate≥98%
- Sheet Size: 8.5 in. x 11 in., 8.5 in. x 14 in., 11 in. x 17 in., 13 in. x 19 in.
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Lightweight
- Very fast drying
Cons
- Not good for polyester blends < 70 %
- Some users complain about wheel marks
- Low thickness which increases the likeliness of bleeding
Printers Jack: Best Compatibility
Key Specifications
- Color: White
- Coated Paper Finish
- Sheet Size: A4, 8.5 in. x 11 in., 8.5 in. x 14 in., 11 in. x 17 in., 13 in. x 19 in.
- Paper weight: 8.5 in. x 11 in. : 120 gsm, A4: 105 gsm
Pros
- Lightweight sublimation paper
- Specifically designed for Epson, Richo, and Sawgrass printers
- Transfer rate≥98%
- The non-use side has a bluish tint
Cons
- Can not be used with polyester blends < 70%
- Can not be iron-pressed
- Thin paper
- The ends can get curled up in the printer
Seogol: Best Warranty Policy
Key Specifications
- Paper size: 8.5 in. x 11 in., 11 in. x 17 in., 13 in. x 19 in.
- Color: White
- Paper Finish: Coated
- Transfer rate≥98%
- Paper weight: 125gsm
Pros
- Lifetime warranty and unconditional 30 days money back guarantee
- High thickness
- Drys fast
- The back side has a light pink hue
Cons
- Not good for fabric with < 70% polyester blends
- Heavy
Which Sublimation Paper is Best for 100% Cotton T-Shirts?
No sublimation paper is good enough for 100% Cotton t-shirts. This is because the sublimation dye used in the printing process is synthetic.
The synthetic sublimation dye does not bond with the natural cotton fibers of the T-shirt. This will cause the dye to get washed off in the first wash.
So, to do sublimation printing, you need to have t-shirts made from polyester blends. The more polyester you have in the blend, the more durable and vibrant the sublimation print will be.
Best Methods of Sublimation Printing on Cotton T-Shirts
Generally, sublimation doesn’t directly work on cotton, but you can do sublimation printing on 100% cotton t-shirts by using a heat transfer vinyl or a sublimation spray.
Method – 1: Using a Heat Transfer Vinyl
This is what you need to do sublimation printing on a 100% cotton t-shirt using heat transfer vinyl:
Tools Needed
- A heat transfer vinyl sheet
- A sublimation paper
- A heat press machine
- A cutting machine
- A sublimation printer with sublimation ink
- 2 butcher papers
- Some heat-resistant tapes
- A scissor
- A 100% cotton T-shirt
Working Procedure
Firstly, make your design. Then print your design on sublimation paper using sublimation ink. Load the vinyl into a cutting machine with the glossy side facing down and the matte side facing up. Cut the heat transfer vinyl to the shape of the design using the cutting machine.
Then place the newly cut vinyl on the T-shirt on which you want to print the design. The glossy side should be in contact with the T-shirt while the matte side faces up. Put the butcher paper on top of the vinyl cutting. Set your hot press to 365 F. Press the butcher paper with medium pressure for about 5 seconds and then remove the hot presser.
Afterward, remove the butcher paper from the T-shirt. Cut the design that you printed on the sublimation paper to remove the excess. Place the design on the vinyl cutting on the T-shirt. The printed side of the sublimation paper should be in contact with the heat transfer vinyl. But avoid inhaling the sublimation fumes.
Put heat-resistant tape on the sublimation paper to hold it in place. Put the butcher paper on top of the sublimation paper. Set the hot press at 400F temperature. Place the hot press machine on top of the butcher paper. Press the hot press machine for 40 seconds without changing its position.
Cool down the t-shirt, peel off the sublimation paper. You have now sublimation and printed your chosen design to a 100% cotton t-shirt successfully using heat transfer vinyl.
Which Heat Transfer Vinyl is Best for 100% Cotton T-shirts?
These are the heat transfer vinyl brands that will give you the best sublimation print with a 100% cotton T-shirt:
| Heat Transfer Vinyl | Style | Rating | Price |
| Siser EasySubli | Matte | 4.4 stars (1,722 ratings) | Check Price |
| Siser Glitter | Glitter | 4.8 stars(2,439 ratings) | Check Price |
Method – 2: Using Sublimation Cotton Spray
You can also use a sublimation cotton spray as well to do sublimation printing on a fully cotton T-shirt.
Tools Needed
- A flat board
- 2 butcher papers
- A roller
- Some sublimation spray solution. Go Fuze is a great option.
- A spray bottle
- Some heat-resistant tapes
- Sublimation ink
- A sublimation printer
- A sublimation paper
- A heat press
- A 100% cotton T-shirt
Working Procedure
Put the flat board inside the cotton T-shirt. Put the sublimation cotton solution into a spray bottle and then shake the bottle well. Then spray the solution on the area of the T-shirt in which you want to print the design. But you need to ensure that you cover the whole area well otherwise the print will come off.
Do not worry if the solution spreads outside the area of design. But it is important that you cover the design area well with the solution. Then use the roller to roll the area that you just sprayed. Press the roller downward as you roll and then remove the board from the T-shirt
Heat your heat press to 365 F temperature and then put the T-shirt into the press. The design side of the T-shirt should be facing up with the butcher paper underneath the T-shirt. Not using the butcher paper could leave burn marks on the fabric.
Then place the polyester paper on top of the cotton T-shirt and another butcher paper on top of that. Put the heat press on the butcher paper and press it down. Press the machine with medium to heavy pressure for 15 seconds.
Remove the heat press machine, the butcher paper, and the polyester paper from the T-shirt. Wait for the T-shirt to cool down. Print your design with sublimation ink on a sublimation paper. Put the sublimation paper on the cotton T-shirt with the print in contact with the T-shirt. Hold the sublimation paper in place using heat-resistant tapes.
Put the butcher paper on top of the sublimation paper. Press the T-shirt with the heat press at medium to heavy pressure for 70 seconds. Open the heat press and remove the butcher paper. Wait until the T-shirt cools down. Remove the heat-resistant tapes and the sublimation paper. You may have difficulty peeling off the sublimation paper.
FAQ’s
Is sublimation printing better than heat transfer?
Yes, sublimation printing is better than heat transfer. This is because in sublimation printing the sublimated ink directly bonds with the polyester T-shirt. In heat transfer printing, however, the ink does not bond with the fabric but creates a new layer instead. This makes sublimation prints better than heat transfer prints in terms of durability and feel.
What type of material is best for sublimation?
Polyester, nylon, and spandex are materials that are the best for sublimation printing. This is because the polymers of these fabrics open up when heat is applied. The polymers directly bond with the sublimated ink during the heat-pressing process. As a consequence, the sublimation print on these materials lasts forever and feels like a single layer of fabric.
Is sublimation printing expensive?
Yes, sublimation printing is expensive. This is because sublimation printing is a complex process that increases labor costs. Sublimation printing also requires a lot of time, making it unsuited for bulk orders. Additionally, sublimation printers and their special sublimation inks can be very expensive for most people. So, if you are looking for a form of printing that is affordable, check out other forms of printing.
Conclusion
So, now you know all there is to know about the best sublimation paper for cotton t-shirts. Sublimation printing generally does not do well on cotton fabric.
But if you choose the right sublimation paper and the right technique, you can still print on pure cotton. I hope this article helped you pick out the best sublimation paper for sublimation printing on cotton T-shirts.
That is all for today. Thank you for reading my article. Goodbye and good luck with your new sublimation paper.
Emily loves making things special.
She’s also a mom and a wife who enjoys crafting and runs a small business from her home. She knows that the little things can make a house feel like a warm and loving home. This belief has led her to explore the exciting world of sublimation, a crafty way to add a personal touch to just about anything. Her website shares valuable information about sublimation, her crafty ideas, and tips.