How To Sublimate: Hardboard Coaster With Cork Backing

Coaster personalized with a family photo and the word love

This helpful tutorial is provided by

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Coaster personalized with a family photo and the word loveCoaster personalized with a family photo and the word love
Item #5677
One-sided hardboard corkback coaster with gloss white finish.

Checklist

Before you get started, prep your work station with the following:
- Bare substrate & printed transfer
- Heat tape, cleaning cloth & all-purpose cleaner
- Heat gloves, scissors & blowout paper
Download & print our checklist and instructions below!
Tools needed for the project, substrate, printed transfer, heat tape, cleaning cloth, cleaner, heat glove, scissors, and blowout paperTools needed for the project, substrate, printed transfer, heat tape, cleaning cloth, cleaner, heat glove, scissors, and blowout paper

Step 1

First, turn on your heat press and set the temperature to 385°F / 195°C (temperatures based on prints made with small desktop sublimation printers). Strong pressure is recommended (settings may vary based on equipment).
Add a sheet of protection paper (blowout paper) on the bottom plate of the heat press.
Illustration of temperature setting on the heat press for step 1Illustration of temperature setting on the heat press for step 1

Step 2

Take your blank and peel the protection film from the bare coaster (coasters without cork on the back do not generally have film).
Clean the surface of the coaster with a cleaning cloth and some all-purpose cleaning fluid.
Illustration of how to peel the film from the coaster for step 2Illustration of how to peel the film from the coaster for step 2

Step 3

Clean the surface with all-purpose cleaner, a cloth, and compressed air.
Illustration of the items used for cleaning in step 3: cloth, compressed air, and all-purpose cleanerIllustration of the items used for cleaning in step 3: cloth, compressed air, and all-purpose cleaner

Step 4

Put your printed transfer face-up on a flat table. Next, put your blank gently face-down on the printed transfer.
Line up and center the coaster on the printed transfer and add heat tape on both sides of the item.
Illustration of how to attach the substrate to the transferIllustration of how to attach the substrate to the transfer

Step 5

Add everything in the center of the bottom plate of the heat press. Make sure the item receiving the transfer is facing up and the printed transfer is facing down on top of the receiving item.
Next, set the correct temperature & set the time to 1:00-1:10 seconds and close the heat press so the sublimation process starts.
Illustration of placing the item into the heat press for step 5Illustration of placing the item into the heat press for step 5

Step 6

When the sublimation process stops, remove the transfer paper immediately and allow the product to cool down.
Attention: the item will be hot, so wear protective heat gloves. (Panel shown here, but will be the same process for the dog tag)
Illustration for removing the item using a heat safe glove or mitten for step 6Illustration for removing the item using a heat safe glove or mitten for step 6
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