Sublimation printing is known for its vibrant and durable prints, but even the most experienced artists sometimes get sucked into sublimation transfer issues, which is frustrating. Simple mistakes can lead to poor-quality prints, incomplete transfers and wasted materials. 

In this article, we’ll walk through the most common causes of sublimation transfer problems, and provide practical solutions to troubleshoot them effectively.

Newbies are probably not very familiar with what to look out for when checking the quality of your prints and transfers. I’ve compiled a list of different outcomes when sublimation doesn’t transfer properly.

If you move or shift your design during the transfer process, the results are a double image or a shadow appearing beside the original design. It looks misaligned and out of focus as if printed twice with the second time slightly off from the original position.

Faded colors occur when the final transfer appears dull or lighter than what you intended for it to be. The colors are less vibrant and lack contrast as if they have been washed out. Bright colors such as red may appear to be lighter shades of pink or brown. Faded colors are a result of using the wrong color profile, or using incorrect settings that prevent the ink from fully bonding with the substrate.

This happens when the print’s outline is fuzzy and unclear, having a shadow effect, as if it is bleeding into the substrate. For a proper transfer, the edges are crisp, defined and sharp.  blurred edges occur on the primary design.

Although it affects the entire design, making it lose its fine details (they appear to be muddled), transfers with blurred edges are more obvious along the edges. Blurred edges are different from the ghosting effect in that for ghosting, the entire design appears as a secondary image, but

This is when you get unwanted marks on the transfer paper or the substrate after the transfer process is complete. The spots are small discolored areas with an uneven texture appearing inconsistently. Depending on the cause, they can be clustered or distributed throughout the design, but are always standing out.

Sometimes the sublimation transfer might have inconsistency with the colors with some appearing lighter or darker than they should be, creating a splotchy effect. In other cases, you might have visible color bands running across the design especially where the transition between colors is smooth. The overall look is unharmonious and lacks appeal.

This happens when the design partially transfers onto the substrate. It means that some sections of the image don’t appear at all, leaving patches and gaps where the ink doesn’t bond with the substrate. The end result looks patchy and unprofessional.

Knowing that the sublimation did not transfer properly is not enough. You have to know its cause, the preventive measures to take, or how to fix the problem.

Clogged heads happen when the printers have a blocked print head nozzle preventing a smooth ink flow. The heads clog because of inconsistent printer use, gradually drying up the ink inside it, contamination by debris such as dust or dried ink, or a change in temperature causing the ink to thicken.

Using clogged print heads results in patchy prints with inconsistent colors and blurry edges. Sometimes in extreme cases, no image will print.

Always start by checking the print heads’ condition under “Print head nozzle check”. This is usually found under the settings and maintenance section. It prompts the printer to print out a sample of differently colored lines for a quality check.

There’s also an automated “Print head cleaning” option to cleanse the nozzles of any contaminants. 

If your printer doesn’t have the automated cleaning option, you can manually clean and leave them to dry before printing. Regularly replace ink cartridges and service the printer to keep it in good condition. Blocked heads often require professional cleaning if basic maintenance does not work.

Using a printer designed for regular ink, like inkjet, results in poor transfer. Regular printers also lack the heating elements needed for sublimation ink to bond effectively.

Using regular ink on a sublimation printer also doesn’t work because the ink does not sublime, and if by any chance the design prints, it will not bond with the substrate. Sublimation printers are meant to heat the ink to a sublime temperature and then apply it on the transfer paper as a fine mist. 

Using the wrong printer or ink also deteriorates the printer parts, leading to malfunctions. So, you’re not only going at a loss with your prints but might also need to replace your printer in the long run.

There are a variety of sublimation printers to suit your budget and printing needs for small or bulk volumes. Get one designed for sublimation, and pair it with compatible ink. Some good printers are Epson EcoTank and Sawgrass.

This is where most sublimation transfers have problems. With the Temperature Guide of Sublimation, you can get the Heat Press Setting right. Time and temperature are the two most sensitive ones, and could make or break the transfer. That is not to mean that pressure is not important.

If the heat isn’t enough, the ink does not fully sublime or bond with the substrate leading to partial transfers or faded designs. Using excessive temperatures might burn or scorch the substrate, resulting in smeared transfers.

When the time is insufficient, the ink doesn’t fully sublime, resulting in incomplete transfers and poor bonding with the substrate that wash off easily. Pressing for too long exposes the substrate to more heat, which could easily burn it, or lead to a loss of the colors’ vibrancy.

If you apply inadequate pressure when pressing, the ink might not fully penetrate and bond with the sublimation blanks, resulting in an incomplete or dull transfer. Excessive pressure might cause warping and bleeds beyond the intended area. Note that the pressure applied varies depending on the thickness of the substrate.

Different substrates need different temperatures and time settings for quality transfers. This chart shows the recommended heat press settings for various materials. 

In addition to these, consult with the manufacturer’s guidelines for accurate settings. Here is an example of what to look for in such guidelines:

This isn’t a very common problem, but it's worth the mention. Having moisture in your substrates alters the sublimation process and the ink poorly bonds with the substrate. Excessive moisture trapped on the substrate forms bubbles after heating which leaves spots after transfer.

Pre-press the substrate before applying the transfer. This dries up any moisture. Storing solid blanks in a dry environment prior to the transfer to prevent moisture accumulation is equally as important.

Any debris between the transfer paper and the substrate noticeably affects the quality of the transfer. It could be dust, lint, or other obstructions like wrinkles or misplaced tapes. These obstructions block the ink from bonding with the substrate leaving dents and spots after transfer.

Clean the surface before you start the transfer process, ensuring it is free of contamination and wrinkles. This can be done by rubbing solid surfaces with alcohol and a clean microfiber cloth or running a lint roller over fabrics. Ensure the transfer paper is tightly taped on the substrate, and that any curled edges are flattened to prevent wrinkles. 

A transfer will fail without a doubt when substrates not designed for sublimation transfers are used. Sublimation ink does not bond with incompatible substrates, and the designs consequently easily wash off. Some commonly used incompatible substrates are cotton garments, glass, metal, and untreated wood.

For a successful transfer, sublimation ink works best on polyester fabrics, polymer-coated surfaces, or pre-treated blanks. Ensure that your substrates fall under these categories for a high-quality transfer.

If your design doesn’t properly align with the position you want to transfer it, it appears off-center, which is sensitive on products where positioning is sensitive. Sometimes if it falls outside the intended area, some parts might be cut out leading to an incomplete transfer. The transfer paper might sometimes move during the process, resulting in a misaligned transfer.

When designing, make sure that everything falls within the registration marks so that the entire design is printed without getting cut off. The design should also be printed to the correct size and aspect ratio to ensure it is a perfect fit on the substrates.

During the transfer process, double-check the design’s alignment with the substrate before holding everything down using a heat tape to prevent movement during pressing. Some good heat-resistant tapes to use are polyimide tape, heat transfer tape or silicon-based heat-resistant tapes.