In this quick guide, we’ll talk about How to Use HTV Sublimation On Glitter and different fabrics, from basic cottons to stretchy spandex blends.
The best part? Sublimation on glitter HTV makes your shirts look like they’re literally covered in diamonds! (Well, if you squint.) So grab your glue gun and let’s get started with this guide on how to use HTV sublimation on glitter!
Steps of Sublimation On Glitter
1. Set up your sublimation machine in a well-ventilated area like your kitchen or garage with plenty of open space, so you don’t risk knocking over anything.
2. Load your transfer paper into your sublimation printer, start out with 5 sheets for practice, and then 10 if you feel comfortable doing more and have time available.
3. Set your temperature on the sublimating machine anywhere between 195-250 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Lower your pressure around 30 pounds so that it doesn’t blow bubbles on your garment(s).
5. Place your garments inside the tray directly onto a white sheet underneath it to catch any excess ink.
6. Press print! Depending on what color you are trying to achieve will depend on how long you press print for; so just follow the directions that come with your clothing kit and experiment with what works best.
7. Now remove your garment from heat, use an ironing board and make sure not to put too much pressure on top of it when pressing down as you can cause more damage than good depending on where/how deep they are transferred onto your shirt.
8. Once cooled enough lift your t-shirt and check its quality by looking at both sides of it making sure no areas were missed during printing, if there is repeat steps 6 & 7 until satisfied with results!
How to Use HTV Sublimation On Glitter
Create a Sketch
We start by creating a sketch in Adobe Illustrator. This gives us an idea of how we want our design to look on our garment before we make it. Try creating your own design, or find one online you like and follow along!
Print with HTV
Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) is a great product that can be used for so many things! Make sure you’re using it correctly by following these simple steps and being aware of some special considerations.
When using glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl, keep in mind that it is more susceptible to cracking than standard HTV, so for best results use powder-based inks such as metallic or neon.
Cut out glitter design
First, print out your design onto paper. Trim out all of your design with a pair of scissors. Cut out about an inch outside that on all sides for your carrier sheet.
Place it on top of your glitter and cut around it again. This will allow extra space, so you can get good edges and make sure that none of your sparkle is left behind when you take off the extra carrier sheet later.
Ink Design
Adding a design onto your shirt can be a little tricky and time-consuming, but is well worth it when you are ready to make that special custom shirt. I like using glitter because it really makes my sublimated designs pop!
Here is how I go about putting glitter onto my shirts: First, I tape off my design, so I don’t have any white showing through. Next, I put on my transfer paper and cut out just inside my taped line with a pair of scissors.
Heat Press
If you have a heat press, use it. If not, get a pressing cloth and roll each side of your garment under with an iron on low-medium setting. These methods will give you a good imprint that should hold up after several washings.
Peel Off Teflon
Though polyester, nylon and other Teflon-coated materials can be used for sublimation, a new technology is changing all that. Peel Off Teflon is a thin paper-like film that’s been specially engineered for high-heat sublimation printing. This means you can literally heat print on glitter and foil prints—it’s amazing!
Conclusion
If you are looking for a unique look on your garments, try adding glitter heat transfer vinyl. This is a new technique that is still being developed, but when done correctly will give you some gorgeous results. As with most of our techniques, it can be a little challenging to get right.
The vinyl itself can be hard to weed and may even tear if not cut carefully, especially on thicker areas like shirt collars. But if done properly and with patience, we think you’ll love how it turns out!
Last Updated on October 11, 2022
