Sublimation Time & Temp Chart by Blank
Press settings for the most common sublimation blanks. These are consensus ranges compiled from multiple vendor and craft guides; coatings, press calibration, and blank thickness differ by brand, so the blank supplier's own instructions always take priority. Test one piece per new batch of blanks before running production.
| Material | Temp | Time | Pressure | Peel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sublimation on 100% Polyester Shirt | 385-400°F (195–205°C) | 45-60s | medium | hot | Pre-press 5-10 s to remove moisture, use butcher paper inside and on top, and lift the transfer straight off immediately to avoid ghosting. |
| Ceramic Mug (Mug Press) | 375-400°F (190–205°C) | 150-240s | firm | hot | Tape the transfer tight against the coating, then remove paper right away and cool the mug quickly (water dunk optional) to stop over-sublimation. |
| Stainless Tumbler (Convection Oven, shrink wrap) | 360-400°F (180–205°C) | 300-420s | n-a | warm | Pressure comes from the shrink-wrap sleeve, so tape the seam airtight to prevent ghosting; use a craft-dedicated oven, never one used for food. |
| Stainless Tumbler (Tumbler Press) | 350-385°F (175–195°C) | 40-65s | medium | hot | Rotate a quarter- to half-turn and press again on straight-wall presses so the seam area gets full contact. |
| Mouse Pad (Neoprene/Polyester Top) | 385-400°F (195–205°C) | 40-60s | medium | hot | Press with the rubber side down and the printed transfer on top of the fabric face; lint-roll the surface first for clean edges. |
| Ceramic Tile (Heat Press) | 385-400°F (195–205°C) | 180-300s | medium | hot | Times vary widely with tile thickness and coating (thin coated coaster tiles can finish in 60-90 s, oven method runs 6-8 min), so test one tile per batch and lift the paper straight up. |
| Polyester Socks | 385-400°F (195–205°C) | 40-60s | light | hot | Insert a sock jig or cardstock inside so the image does not transfer through to the back layer. |
| Poly Canvas Tote Bag | 385-400°F (195–205°C) | 45-70s | medium | hot | Only high-poly-content totes take dye well; place butcher paper inside the bag to block bleed-through and pre-press to flatten seams. |
| MDF Keychain / Hardboard Blank | 380-400°F (195–205°C) | 40-60s | medium | hot | Peel the protective film off the coated side before pressing and press coated-side up with the transfer taped face-down on top. |
| Acrylic Keychain | 360-400°F (180–205°C) | 45-60s | medium | warm | 385°F/60 s is the most-cited starting point, but cheap cast acrylic can warp at 400°F, so start cooler, use a silicone/foam pad, and let it cool briefly before peeling. |
Where the designs come from
Product suggestions are editorial picks. See our affiliate disclosure.
Every project needs an SVG or font before it needs a press. We use Creative Fabrica — one subscription covers fonts, cut files, and sublimation designs with commercial licensing included. Read the license terms before selling: craft SVG cut files carry a lifetime license, while for fonts and graphics you can create new for-sale designs only while the subscription is active (anything made during it can be sold forever).
Small gear, big saves
Product suggestions are editorial picks. See our affiliate disclosure.
- Infrared thermometer gun — Press dials lie — a $15 thermometer tells you the real platen temperature before you ruin a blank.
- Teflon (PTFE) sheets — Protects vinyl and blanks from scorching, and keeps sublimation ink off your platen.
- Heat-resistant tape — Sublimation ghosting is almost always a shifted transfer — tape it down and it can't move.
- Lint roller — One stray fiber under HTV shows forever. Roll every blank first — the 3-second habit that saves shirts.