Sublimation on Wood

Sublimating On Wood

Sublimation is used primarily for printing t-shirts at-a-time. However, it is also able to be applied to different metals and other materials, such as wood. If you wish to sublimate onto wood, it is necessary to choose wood coated with a polymer that lets it grasp the ink for sublimation more efficiently.

If you don't own poly-coated wood, you could utilize laminating papers to make a laminate of the wood, before sublimating it. This layer acts as an additional layer of support that will help the color adhere to wooden surfaces.

Its quality job is also dependent on the kind of wood used. If you're using natural wood, a portion of the grain will reflect through the style that the process. Many people are enthralled by this design and are keen to incorporate wood grain into their overall design. But keep this in mind when you are considering sublimating on wood.

Check this Video

This is how you can sublimate wood:

1. The first thing to do is make sure that the wood is being sublimated. If you've got wood coated with poly that is poly-coated, you can sublimate it on your own, however, should you not have it, you'll require a laminating machine as well as laminating paper. You'll need to laminate the opposite side of the wood that will sublimate. That means that when you laminate it the glossy surface of the laminating paper must be placed on top of the wood you wish to sublimate.
2. After you have laminated the wood, you are able to remove the extra paper that was used for laminating away. This will make it at the point of sublimation.
3. Prepare your design by printing your design with a sublimation printer, and some sublimation papers. It is not necessary to use a special ink specifically designed for wood since the laminated paper will make the ink adhere to the wood in a very fine way.
4. Lay the design flat on the surface of the piece of wood you're sublimating. If you've got a cut-out piece of wood with an image, you'll need to cover the entire thing with paper on the bottom and top of the wood, as well as the paper used for sublimation. So, as the pattern is transferred through the process of sublimation it won't get transferred onto your tabletop.
5. Utilizing your heat-press, make sure you use the appropriate pressure and setting for the sublimation ink and press it onto the surface of the paper for sublimation.
6. After a couple of minutes, you can remove the heat press and allow till the wooden surface cools slightly before taking off the paper that was sublimated. The design should have been effectively transferred onto the wood surface.