You might have read in previous articles that you can only achieve great results with sublimation if your fabric is white or light-colored and 100% polyester. While the latter is still accurate, there is a loophole in creating high-quality sublimation custom designs on dark fabric: using sublimation heat transfer vinyl, but with a twist.

Since you cannot sublimate white on anything (sublimation is translucent), you have to be tactical with your craft; otherwise, all the white areas will end up with the same color as the substrate. In this article, I will show you how to sublimate on white HTV, and share all my tips and tricks for the most durable bond and vibrant transfer.

There are many different sublimation products on the market today. When stocking up for this project, avoid the HTV brands that are not designed to absorb sublimation inks because you will end up with smudges and poor-quality prints.

I would recommend HTVRONT white HTV because it has a polyester-based coating that allows sublimation ink to bond properly. It also has great adhesion to fabrics, and you are certain that the design won’t lift or peel after washing. HTVRONT HTV also has other great qualities that will be good for your design, such as a smooth surface, high heat resistance, and flexibility.

Similar to any other sublimation transfer, you need to have your workspace ready before you start the process. You need to have:

When buying white HTV for sublimation, your first check should be whether it is sublimation-ready. You also want a smooth and non-porous surface to prevent uneven ink transfers and blurry prints. Lastly, ensure the HTV can withstand the high temperatures required for sublimation, typically about 385-400°F without melting or warping. You can choose a matte or glossy finish according to your liking.

Now that everything we need is ready, let’s get the sublimation process going.

The first thing you need to do is to create and print a design. If you are feeling very creative, you can use graphic design tools such as Canva, Adobe Illustrator, or Photoshop to customize a design. These design spaces also come with good-looking free and paid templates that you can edit to come up with something you love.

Next, print the design on the sublimation paper. (You can skip this step if you have an already printed sublimation design.)

Load your sublimation machine with enough ink and paper, and adjust the color profiles. In the design space, mirror the design by clicking the “flip horizontally” button so that it has the right orientation after transferring. Select your paper type and color mode, ensuring your ICC profile is enabled, then print.

Avoid touching the printed side of the paper until it is dry to avoid smudging the ink.

As you wait for the sublimation design to dry out, cut the white HTV. Remember that you are printing nothing on the HTV; just cutting it out in the same shape and size as the sublimation design so it fits perfectly beneath it.

For precision, upload the sublimation design to your cutting machine’s design space in an acceptable format, usually PNG, JPG, SVG, or DXF. Once the design loads, select the image type, and then click the “cut image” button.

Finally, select the image and add it to the canvas. It first opens in an oversized image that needs to be sized down. If you do not know the size of your sublimation design and have no digital copy to compare, use a tape to measure the physical copy’s width, then downsize the soft copy to match it.

Remember, before making a copy of the image, you should always bring it back up to 100% after resizing it to match the sublimation design’s size. After making a copy, change its color for easy comparison and drag it over the original one. Slightly reduce the size from the edges to make it slightly smaller and with an equal margin all around so that the white HTV does not bleed beyond the sublimation design.

Since you only need to cut one of the designs, delete one copy, and click the “make it” button. This directs you to the mat screen where you can set your base material (in this case, vinyl).

The next step is to load the HTV in the Vinyl Cutter.

The HTVRONT white sublimation HTV comes with a carrier sheet, so you don’t need another one. The glossy side should face up while the matte side (the vinyl) faces down on the mat. Load the mat on the cutting machine and start cutting.

Once it is done, unload the mat and weed out the extra vinyl using a weeding tool. You can trim off the margins on the carrier sheet if they are extra-long, then everything is ready to press.

It is always a good idea to preheat the heat press to the required temperature, and while at it, pre-press the fabric.

Pressing fabrics with creases often affects the texture of the vinyl and ultimately the quality of the design after transfer. To counteract that, I always prefer pre-pressing it to flatten out any wrinkles. As a bonus, it completely drains out any moisture that could reduce the tack on the vinyl.

Fold the shirt in half to get a line running down the middle for accuracy when positioning the design. If you have a lint roller, use it to remove any lint or dust from your fabric. It’s not a mandatory step, but it is extra caution to remove anything that will reduce the adhesive on the HTV.

Don’t forget that in this process, the HTV goes first on the shirt before the sublimation print.

If you want to centre the vinyl on the fabric, fold it in half to create small creases in the middle, which you can use for alignment. You can use parchment paper to protect the vinyl from extra heat.

Press the fabric following the manufacturer’s recommendations, usually about 305-320°F, for 20 seconds. Allow everything to cool down to peel off the carrier sheet so that the vinyl does not lift.

Now you are ready to press the sublimation design on the white vinyl. Place it over the vinyl, facing down, ensuring it aligns perfectly to avoid having white bleeds. A good way to do it is to line up one end, tape it down using heat-resistant tape, and then follow up with the rest of the sides.

Cover everything again with parchment paper before sending it back to the heat press to protect the plates from the sublimation dyes.

Adjust the heat press setting to sublimation temperatures, 385-400°F, and press for 60 seconds.

After it is done pressing, wait again until it is cool to the touch to peel off the carrier sheet, and there goes your vibrant sublimation design.

You need to care for your fabric to keep the design vibrant and intact. A good place to start is to avoid washing it with hot water, as it could weaken the vinyl’s adhesive bond and start peeling. High temperatures could also cause the sublimation inks to start bleeding into the fabric.

Always turn the fabric inside out when washing, and use mild detergents only, avoiding fabric softeners. Air drying is the best drying option, and if you have to iron it, avoid applying heat directly over the design.