Though you might think it would be easy to sublimate on wood, there are some important things to keep in mind if you want your final product to be excellent and eye-catching. If you don’t consider these things when sublimating on wood, your finished product will look more like it was painted on rather than sublimated onto the material.
This is definitely not the desired result! The following tips will ensure that your sublimation on wood turns out exactly how you want it to!
The Things You Must Keep In Mind When Sublimating On Wood
What Is Special About Sublimation On Wood?
While sublimation is a very popular choice when it comes to customizing t-shirts, if you’re looking for something that is truly unique, then maybe wood is what you need. For example, if you want to memorialize your child or make a memento of a significant person in your life who has recently passed away, then using one of these methods may help you do so.
It’s not something that most people would necessarily think about doing, but once they are made aware of what it entails and why someone would do it, it does make sense. All in all, though, many people like to go with more traditional methods when it comes to memorialization. For example; a headstone or picture plaque are both very popular options as well.
Make Sure You Have All The Supplies
The first thing you must do when considering sublimation on wood is to make sure that you have all of your supplies. If you are not willing to invest in professional grade supplies, then it is probably best to wait until you are before attempting sublimation on wood.
That way, if something goes wrong, you can easily replace anything that gets ruined and try again. The supplies will depend on what kind of art project you have in mind; if it’s a wooden picture frame or coffee table, then all of your supplies may already be around your house somewhere.
Make sure that you also have a nice flat surface like a counter top or table ready to work on so that nothing gets damaged during the sublimation process.
Consider Your Options Before You Start
Make sure you understand all of your options when it comes to your design. Some projects are more challenging than others, so don’t rush into a project that you have never done before. If you are going to sublimate on wood, make sure that you fully understand what sublimation is and how it works.
There are different types of sublimation products, and they work differently depending on what type of fabric or other material they will be applied to. Make sure that you get all of your questions answered so that nothing goes wrong with your final product.
Remember, if something goes wrong during production or with shipping along the way, there is not much that can be done about it unless it can be fixed relatively easily or quickly.
Get A Good Image Transferred Onto Your Project Before Doing Anything Else
If you don’t have a high-quality image, you won’t get good results from your sublimation printing. Try to make sure that your graphic is as clean and clear as possible before transferring it to your project. Remember, digital photos can often come out blurry and pixelated if they haven’t been taken or edited well.
Take Your Time: It can be tempting to try to rush through transferring your image onto your projects, but taking too long will give you poor results.
Look For Any Indicators That Something Might Go Wrong
Before using any substance on a wooden surface, it’s important to carefully inspect that surface for any damage. The process of sublimation can cause sudden damage to surfaces with cracks or weak points; if you notice one, don’t proceed until you’ve filled in those cracks.
Avoid Sublimate Near Direct Heat: Some substances can only be sublimated in an oven, but even then you should keep as much distance between your material and direct heat as possible. Turn Off Ventilation Systems And Close All Windows: This is where most accidents happen because they are unexpected.
Be Ready To Handle An Explosion: If something goes wrong and there is an explosion, having a fire extinguisher nearby (or at least knowing where it is) will be critical!
If There Are Problems, Don’t Panic – Just Try Again
Everyone gets stuck once in a while. Maybe it’s just not working out as well as you had hoped, or maybe things are just plain awful. This sometimes happens; that’s why we have an undo button on computers.
The same goes for printing; if something looks terrible (and isn’t salvageable) try again, or do your best to fix it so that you can at least get one good print out of it.
Be Careful And Pay Attention To Detail Because The Results Will Last Forever!
A sublimation printer uses high-quality ink to transfer images onto wood. Because wood is so porous, your image will be permanently embedded in it and very difficult to scratch off or damage. To ensure you’re making a beautiful product that’ll last for many years, you need to pay careful attention to every detail of your design.
With these tips and tricks for sublimation on wood, you’ll be able to make an item that stands out from its competitors and gives people something they can cherish forever.
Conclusion
There are many variations of prints you can make on wood. What I have demonstrated here is just one example, but you can use many other designs and colors to create a unique piece of artwork that brings character to your home.
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about sublimation on wood and now understand why it’s a growing trend for interior decorators, as well as furniture designers and home improvement enthusiasts alike. Remember, if you don’t like a particular print once it has dried completely or find that it left behind blotches or imperfections in your paint job, simply scrape it off with a putty knife.
Make sure to use old newspaper or drop cloths to protect your floors while working with paints, especially on older wooden surfaces.
Last Updated on September 29, 2022
