What you can do with a heat press machine? VIVOHOME Choice

    Heat press machines are much closer to your daily use than you thought. Do you have a thing about collecting mugs? We are always drawn to bold and distinctively designed mugs displayed in the shop. You can make your personalized mugs with the help of a heat press at home. Here are some ideas about how to start this exciting DIY plan.

    Knowing what tools are needed and how the printing process works can help you get started more easily. Dye sublimation is undoubtedly the easiest and most cost-effective method. It involves printing the artwork on special transfer paper, wrapping it around a cup, and finally applying heat and pressure over a period of time.

    Before starting the printing process, make sure you have all the supplies you need. First, you need to purchase a heat press that suits your needs. Being able to vary the temperature and heating time is important if you plan to print artwork on mugs made of different materials.

    Next move is to make your own design. You can create your artwork through graphic design tools on your PC such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Or you can always download a particular picture online and use it straightaway.

    The third step is to print your mug graphic on sublimation paper with sublimation ink. Before printing a hard copy of your sublimation graphic, make sure to select the correct settings. For example, when loading the paper on the printer, it should print on the release side. If you print on the wrong side, the transfer will not produce the best color and you may end up with mug art that looks faded or peeled off. After printing the picture on the paper, let it dry for at least 30 minutes.

    Now we proceed to stick the paper on the mug. Put it on the part of the cup you want to customize. Get thermal tape that can withstand the heat of a heat press. Tape the picture to the surface of the cup, then press lightly on the cup to evenly attach the sublimation paper.

    Then switch on your heat press and adjust it to the ideal time and temperature in preparation for subsequent operations. If you're heat pressing plastic cups, be sure to use an insertion tool. This accessory helps maintain the shape of the plastic cup. Note: The temperature and heating time may vary depending on the material of the cup and the quality of the sublimation paper. Check the manual of the heat press machine prior to the operation for better results.