Kalina Mondzholovska – Page 4 – Coastal Business Current

How to Sublimate Name Badges

Looking for a new market to integrate a familiar product? Take a glance at places you shop: your local eateries, offices or even travel. Each has at least one thing in common… name badges! How would we put a name to the face of our friendly staff or wait service without them?

You may ask yourself how you can provide a step above other name badge offers. The answer is simple: full color, cost effective customization – most places are either getting them engraved or pad printed. With sublimation name badges you can offer a more economically friendly product with better image quality results.

Tools Needed

Printed sublimation transfer of designed name badges
Thermal heat resistant tape
Protective heat gloves
Silicone or Teflon to protect the heat press platen

Step by Step Pressing Instructions

Step 1: Set heat press to 400 degrees and time to 40 seconds

Step 2: Place transfer to name badges using thermal tape, be sure to use the bright white side face up on the transfer – this will be the smooth white finish compared to the non-bright white side

step3 — Step 3: Place taped transfer and product in the heat press with transfer face up. Press for 40 seconds at 400 degrees using medium pressure. Bonus: on a 16×20 press up to 15 can be pressed at 1 time!

Step 4: Using a protective glove remove transfer from product immediately after transferring is complete

Step 5: Once products have cooled, apply adhesive magnet fastener to the back of the name badge and press firmly to adhere to produc

Image should be vibrant and clear, with no smudges or uneven spots.

We offer a variety of sizes and materials to fit the needs of any business!

5 Ways to Use a Decorated Mug

Mugs are one of the top holiday purchases. Who doesn’t want a customized mug? Mugs can be used for everyday use, to save as a keepsake, put a variety of items in to showcase (flowers, writing utensils, home goods, etc. ), and to give as a gift with an added special gift inside. Another great bonus if you are transferring with sublimation is that your image will never fade, even when you wash it over and over again.

We have a few styles to choose from that are fully sublimatable in a mug press or with a mug wrap for oven use.

12_17oz_latte — 12oz/17oz Ceramic Latte Mugs

1. Personal drinkware

Mugs are perfect for coffee, tea, water, juice and even food items such as cereal or yogurt when a bowl is not available. Add some fun quotes, photographs and graphics to make it your own!

2. Personalized gift

A mug with the receiver’s name or image that means a lot to them is simple but thoughtful.

3. As holders for flowers, pens, home goods, etc.

Mugs are not limited to just liquid. They can be used in more unconventional ways as pen holders and flower vases among other things.

4. Give a gift inside a mug

Instead of using a gift box or a bag for a small gift, get creative with a ceramic or a glass mug to use as clever packaging for presents like gift cards, chocolates, candy, jewelry and other small items. Once the gift has served its purpose, the recipient gets to keep a mug that can be re-used as drinkwear or pen holder.

5. Commemorate an event

Highlight an event or a moment with a special keepsake. Add an extra spin to birthdays, weddings, graduation and more by personalizing mugs that can be taken home and serve as a reminder of the good times!

How To Press Our Photo Plaques

Our MDF sublimation photo plaques are incredibly popular, especially with photography and awards, but some questions do arise with the nature of the material and shape. Below is a step by step guide on how to press a 5″ x 7″ in plaque with black edge.

Step1

Set up your work space. Size your design by using one of our templates or by simply making sure it is a little bigger than 5″ x 7″ and print it out on sublimation paper. Make sure you have thermal tape ready as that will be the best way to attach your paper to the photo plaque and avoid shifting.

Step 2

Peel away the plastic film from the photo plaque. That will reveal your beautiful glossy sublimation surface.

These plaques are made of medium density fiberboard, therefore hold A LOT of moisture. We strongly advise pre-pressing them to eliminate as much moisture as possible.

To do that, place your plaque in your press face up and add a cover sheet on top (copy paper, silicone sheet or polyester fabric is best) and close the press for a total of 40 seconds. The temperature should be between 385-400F.

Repeat the process if a ton of steam is coming out after the 40 second pre-press.

Step 3

After the photo plaque has COOLED completely from the pre-press process, place it face down on top of your design and line it up.

To apply the tape, start from the back of the plaque and attach it to the paper while trying to avoid the tape touching the beveled edge of the plaque itself. Fairly often we see problems with the tape taking off some of the black coating on the plaque.

Step 4

Flip the photo plaque over together with the taped paper and carefully place it on the lower platen. Double check that it is still lined up correctly and a major shift of the paper hasn’t occurred.

Once satisfied, press the photo plaque at 385F-400F for 35 to 45 seconds (variations in presses account for the difference in temperature and time) with medium pressure.

Step 5

Immediately remove the sublimation paper away from the photo plaque in one quick motion to reveal your transferred image. We like to pull the paper up and away from the item and not sliding it sideways as that may cause ghosting, simply from just removing it improperly.

Step 6

Check for any imperfections such as inconsistent color/fade along the edges or the center of the plaque. Those are the most common areas, usually due to uneven pressure activating the ink in some areas more than others.