Wildcard Week
Sublimation
This week I will apply the technique called sublimation specifically on mugs, this technique is not normally developed in digital fabrication labs and it is an experience that I want to live, besides I have always seen the procedure but I have not experienced it yet. The technique of mug sublimation which is the process of transferring images printed with sublimation ink to a ceramic mug through a heat press. I will use digital processes incorporating computer aided design and manufacturing...
Equipment for mug sublimation
Week 15 Assignment
📆 May
IndividualTask: Mugs Sublimation
Mug sublimation is a digital printing process used to transfer images and designs onto objects, such as mugs, permanently and with high quality.
This method works thanks to a phenomenon called sublimation, which occurs when a substance passes directly from the solid state to the gaseous state, without becoming a liquid at any time.
Ideogram
Leonardo
Ideogram test
Leonardo test
The prompt I wrote is: A minimalist design of a yoga pose with the person in the pose breathing deeply. There are icons of a heart, a tree and a cloud. The background is white.
Prompt
Selected image
The art
For the art design I did I used Photopea which is a web application similar to photoshop but freemium which means that the basic form of a product is free and access to additional features requires payment.
Photopea
I create a new project with dimensions 205x95 mm. with white background and 300 DPI which is the format of the artwork for the 11 Oz. mugs that we are going to sublimate.
I create a new project
I import the image file that I selected and that I had previously generated using artificial intelligence.
Import the image
I edit the background to have a full gray background and add the texts that will be part of my art.
Edition
Final result, how beautiful it looked!!!
I prepare the artwork for printing and optimize the A4 sheet with 3 of my designs that I will then mirror print to be able to sublimate them.
Final art
Final mirror art
The printing
The printer model I will use is EPSON L1250 with sublimation inks, the format to be printed is A4 and the paper I will use is Premium sublimation Heat Transfer paper.
Epson L1250
Premium sublimation Heat Transfer paper
Supplying paper
Setting up
Printing
Final result of the printing, beautiful!!!!
Mugspreparation
In this process I will cut and paste the artwork on the 11 oz. cups using a thermal tape that will allow the printed paper to be attached to the cup and perform its function of transferring the artwork.
Cutting the paper
Cutting the heat tape
Glued
Final result
Temperature and baking time settings
We must set the time and temperature for baking at each station independently. The temperature is constant and the time is automatically controlled.
- Temperature for sublimation on ceramic cup: 180° C
- Baking time: 60 seconds
First station temperature
Timing first station
Second station temperature
Timing second station
Sublimation
For the sublimation of the 11 oz. cups we will use the Heat Press ST-210 machine of the Freesub brand with two stations.
Heat Press ST-210
Heating of the seasons
Starting to sublimate
Starting to sublimate
Removing the cups
Removing the paper
Final result
AboutLearning
- I understood how to use artificial intelligence applications to generate images from texts called prompts.
- I learned how to use the specific materials for sublimation such as the type of paper, the sublimation ink, preprime the surface of the mug and other considerations.
- How to operate the sublimation press and understand its parameters of use such as time, heat, pressure, etc. to get the design perfectly on the mug.
My Verdictfrom what I learned
- Sublimation is a creative and technical process that combines digital design, preparation and use of materials and equipment. It is an experience that mixes technology and creativity to create unique products, as in this case the 11 Oz. mugs.