The other items needed for running a heat press business from home are a sublimation printer, like the Sawgrass SG500, ink (often included with the printer), sublimation paper, and heat tape. I think the whole business revolves around creativity, from mapping out the perfect social media posts, to designing the website to creating custom illustrations for customers. As they expand into new designs and product lines, Castronovo is excited to see her creative potential thrive in this business. Alternatively, you can buy an image or mug graphic design from a craft store to save time. You can also use heat resistant tape to tape down your design if youre worried about it moving while you iron. Make sure it is firm in the mug frame, then set the temperature and time. I wouldnt suggest it. Start by cleaning the mug with rubbing alcohol to remove any dirt and grease from your fingers. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. And it turned out great! Surprise! This is especially helpful if youre not proficient in the use of graphic design apps. Both Multi-Trans and sublimation have their pros and cons with making custom mugs. There are many options out there, but we went with this one because it had a lot of positive reviews between blogs and YouTube videos, and the price was in our range. They design custom illustrations for the mugs using an iPad. Whether you are using an HTV or outdoor vinyl to do the transfer of your artistic image unto the mug, you must be careful. 2021 Coastal Business Supplies, Inc. All rights reserved. Trimming the sublimation paper makes it easy to apply heat resistant tape and obtain a tight wrap. In a continued effort to provide you with the best possible user experience, we've made some exciting new changes to coastalbusiness.com. If it is a standard mug of 11oz, cut the vinyl at 4 inches across or 3.7 inches at the least. Get help from sellers of heat press machines for inkjet printers to use if you dont like the brands we mentioned. As such, you wont have to spend more on an extra removable mug blanket/heating element to accommodate tall cups. You can enjoy your investment and make your heat-press last longer by carrying out proper and regular maintenance of your mug press. I used my Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software to design the quote, then cut it out using my Cameo, but you can easily do this project with a Cricut as wellany cutting machine will work! In this article, we have explored how to use a mug press efficiently. Turn off the machine and unplug it from electricity if you are pressing only one mug. There are two huge benefits for using Multi-Trans, and the first is that you can use it on any old ceramic mug not just ones with a polyester coating. We recommend selecting a digital mug press because they help you create vivid images on your mugs more accurately and are easier to use. Thats right while sublimation is certainly one of the most popular and effective ways to print custom and personalized ceramic mugs, were going to show you another way using your laser printer and, So how does FOREVER Multi-Trans stack up against sublimation? Want to share this project with your friends? Be careful; it is hot. In fact, some websites offer free mug sublimation templates, which are ready to print. Once your timer goes off, remove the mug from the wrap, place in cold water, and when the paper gets soft, remove the thermal tape and then the transfer in a smooth, consistent motion. Did you know that you can use heat transfer vinyl on mugs?! The following guide will help you to transfer the design on mugs using HTV: Create your cut out design on your computer, scale it according to the size of your mugs, and transfer it to the vinyl cutter to cut out the design. All right, so now that weve discussed Multi-Trans vs. sublimation, lets dive into the nitty-gritty on how you can start making your own custom mugs with FOREVER Multi-Trans laser transfer paper. Lets walk you through the steps now to create a CUSTOM MUG! Select the ideal time and temperature settings as well. Medium pressure works best for plastic and glass mugs whereas metal sublimation cups can take on a heavy press. As the name implies, the horizontal mug heat press lets you place mugs on the side when printing. Required fields are marked *. For printing mugs, they currently use the HPN Signature Series Automated Sublimation Heat Transfer Mug Press. When you sublimate your image onto a poly-coated mug, your image becomes embedded into the coating where it will remain for the life of the mug. If the mug is large, increase the size of the vinyl. I had to shut down my shops for several days to catch up with orders, Jordan says. When the set time elapses, open the heat press and remove your mug from the heating platen. To transfer with even pressure, the machine must have a smooth surface. We also discussed tips for perfect heat transfer on mugs using HTV, temperature guides on common HTV on mugs, and how to maintain your mug heat press machine. Only with a white toner printer will you be able to achieve all the benefits of printing on Multi-Trans such as printing on dark-colored mugs and surfaces. These specific units have cylindrical Teflon-coated heat platens with a vertical slot for accommodating the handle of a mug. Gently remove the lever holding the Mug in the mug frame and allow it to cool down. Alright, Ive Got My Supplies. How To Sew Leather On A Home Sewing Machine? We will also provide you with some tips for perfect heat transfer on mugs, temperature guides on common HTV on mugs, and ways to maintain the mug heat press machine. To me, the technology is the part I like the least, because we spend the bulk of our time and money on these machines that require constant adjusting and updating, she says. I believe that anyone can do crafts and DIY projects, regardless of skill or experience. Jordan recommends choosing a heat press to fit the items you want to sell (for instance, a larger press for shirts). To avoid this undesirable outcome, choose the Mirror-Image effect in the printer settings. You can set the temperature to 360F and time at 30 seconds. Castronovo works part-time as a waitress and is finishing up her Associates degree, while they work on getting their own website up and running. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. With sublimation, you can only print on white mugs (or very light-colored mugs). Make sure the wattage and voltage are right to prevent the risk of a fire outbreak or damage to the machine internals. Did you know you can use heat transfer vinyl on mugs?! Press the iron down for 10-15 seconds in a new spot that isnt stuck down yet. Overall, Jordan loves the creativity that this business affords her, in creating and selling the designs. It is cheaper to replace the parts than buy a new heat press. Set your paper media setting to Transparency, Film/Foil, or User Type 1. And of course, you will need shipping supplies. How to Clean Your Cricut Mat; Without Losing Its Stickiness. How to Choose Free Embroidery Designs Before Downloading Them? Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. This website and its content are the copyright of Craft Industry Alliance LLC - Craft Industry Alliance 2015-2022. So at the beginning of 2021, she began outsourcing orders to a boutique print-on-demand company that also handles packaging. Full List of Hours of Operation: Click Here. Finally, peel off the transfer paper from the mug to reveal the imprinted artwork. After you weed away the extra vinyl, the clear backing will be slightly sticky which will help hold the design in place as you iron it. Use Teflon sheets to cover your transfers to stop them from sticking to the heat platen of your press. To prepare the mug for the sublimation printing process, first, place the mug into the machine and adjust pressure. These are the steps to create your very own custom mug! (Press models do vary, heating instructions may change depending on your model). They will work all the same. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQKY6dPrryc. She also works with Craftsy and Baby Lock sewing machines, and is an editor for Frommers Travel Guides. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. For the purposes of printing with Multi-Trans, we highly recommend the OKI white toner laser printers, which are designed for product and garment decoration. Bits of lint, hair, and other trash can get stuck in the mug during the transferring period, and affect the quality of your job, so keep the place clean always. It is wise to wear oven mitts or heat-resistant gloves to prevent accidental burns during this step. The second huge benefit of sublimation is durability. Make sure the sublimation paper with the image on it is completely dry before you place it on the mug. This is arguably one of the best mug press machines because you can adjust mug placement across the horizontal platen. As Jordan explains, most of her income is made during peak buying seasons and holidays. How to Buy the Best Serger Overlock Machine? Weed away any extra vinyl and position the design on your mug. Castronovo feels their growth potential for the business is limitless, though there have certainly been challenges along the waylike finding the right printer to use with sublimation ink. Depending on the model, you can use a regular inkjet printer with dye sublimation ink to print onto transfer paper that will be used to emboss graphics on mugs. A business plan would be ideal, but we didnt have one, she says. With a regular CMYK laser printer, youll still be able to make custom mugs, but youll be primarily limited to vector-based images with bold colors, and you can only print on light-colored mugs. These are the steps to create your very own custom mug! To image bottles or cups with different heights and shapes, consider a machine with interchangeable heating elements. Tee.design has 5 free designs for you. Frisco, Texas graphic designer Suzanne Jordan started selling Scrabble tile jewelry on Etsy in 2009, then expanded to personalized metal stamped jewelry a few years later. Second, with FOREVER Multi-Trans, you also print on colored mugs red, blue, black as long as youre printing with an OKI white toner laser printer. Clean the area you want to place the vinyl. How To Choose The Best Heavy Duty Sewing Machine? hpn Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. When loading dye sublimation paper on the printer, you should print on the release side. From heartfelt messages to photos of loved ones to favorite fiction or cartoon characters, there are endless designs to customize a mug and turn it into a thoughtful gift. Also, keep it where you can gain access to it easily to press mugs and for quick storage after using the machine. If youre using a CMYK printer, youll want to stick to a white or light-colored mug. Is is possible to use this transfer paper on For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. However, sublimations main benefits come in the form of color/print quality and durability. After the timer goes off, bring the mug out of the mug frame and let it cool down for 5 minutes. Keep in mind though that features vary from one model to the next. And with unlimited growth potential for her print-on-demand company, she looks forward to seeing whats next around the corner. Set the temperature of your heat press to 284F and your time to 180 seconds. Required fields are marked *. Is one better than the other? Place a clean dishcloth over the heat transfer vinyl and press down with your iron for about 10-15 seconds until the vinyl is really well stuck. Wear an oven mitt, and gently confirm that the tension on the mug attachment is firm. So, consult the suppliers manual for the specific heat press machine or material that you are using. Next, set the timer to 30 seconds. You can press assorted images of different materials on mugs and adjust mug sizes digitally using a knob. Thanks to advancements in printing technology, there are many techniques these days that allow you to transfer artwork onto mugs. craft cricut storage vinyl organization crafts rooms space desk woodworks elite pink organizing press office heat cjs cameo silhouette diy Make sure that you have all the supplies and tools you need before embarking on the printing process. So, look out for mainly coated ceramic mugs. To safeguard your heat platen and make them last longer, use Teflon sheets to cover the heat platen. We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Weed away any extra vinyl, then position the heat transfer vinyl on your mug. I used a quote by Douglas Adams from Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy and some glittery heat transfer vinyl from Expressions Vinyl, and I just love how it turned out! When pressing FOREVER Multi-Trans, the paper lays the design on top of the mugs surface, and while its durable and dishwasher-friendly, there is still a risk of the design getting scratched or wearing off over time. Note that you cannot print on all mugs. Programs like Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw and Photoshop also come in handy if you want to design your own mug graphics digitally. We generally process 10 to 15 orders per week, Castronovo says. Another nifty tool that I use for lifting paper from the mug is a hook weeding tool. If you are working with FOREVER TransferRIP, make sure that you change the WhiteFill Upto300% when working with a black or dark-colored mug. Once its clean, try to avoid touching the mug anywhere other than the handle. Pressing custom designs on mugs is an awesome gig for you if you want to indulge in a new hobby, or if youre who is always full of design ideas or if you want to start a new business. Due to a customers request, they now offer bulk orders of mugs with the same custom image on them. Your main piece of equipment to start making custom mugs is a laser printer, which is a toner-based system that has either CMYK, CMYWT, or CMKWT toner. Did you know that you dont need a sublimation printer to create custom mugs? You can easily download images, clip art, and other graphics online to print on mugs. A mug heat press machine is created to print your artwork on a mug. Since you are pressing mugs, with HTV, set the temperature to 360F. We also use cooling baking sheets to place our hot item on while it cools down., Jordans shops serve as her full-time business, and she runs everything out of her home studio, which means taking over much of her familys living space. Before they invested in their own heat transfer mug press, they used print-on-demand (POD) companies for about 6 weeks to fill orders. If you are not wearing any protective gear, wait for the mug to cool down until it is safe to touch before you remove the sublimation paper. Sewing Threads: Essential Guide For Beginners. This limits you to the kind of mugs that you can print. Clean the machine often, to prevent it from running hotter due to dust that builds upon it over time. Next, place the mug inside the mug frame and make sure it is firmly in place. When you heat press it, the vinyl will melt into place so you dont have to worry about bumps. The wait is over. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. You should buy sublimation mugs with a polymer finish on the exterior. Jennifer Castronovo and her boyfriend started their custom mug business, PennyPrintsCreations on Etsy, in December 2020. According to Castronovo, you can start this business with just an idea and some motivation. That means if you have some mugs sitting around that werent purchased from Coastal or another sublimation blanks supplier and likely arent poly-coated, thats no big deal. We recommend pressing with firm pressure. Fill your heat transfer mug up with a cup of tea and enjoy! If you dont have a white toner laser printer, you can still make custom mugs with Multi-Trans, but youre limited to white or light-colored mugs. With this unique machine, you can make a clear, crisp, full-color image on a coffee mug. Both Multi-Trans and sublimation have their pros and cons with making custom mugs. My customers love the presentation when they receive their items, she says. Before buying sublimation papers in bulk, experiment with different brands. So I decided to make a fun mug for my morning tea. www.lindsaysews.com,www.lazyasscats.com, Hello my name is Tanya and Im trying to start my business I have the printer with the supplemental ink and the paper and I have to press machine Im having a problem of acorn old to my mug do I need something to spray on it before please help me what am I doing wrong, You need coated mug for printing not normal you will get sublimation mugs in market, Your email address will not be published. This website uses cookies to improve your experience on the site by remembering your preferences if you visit often. If you want to print designs on mugs, youll need to invest in a digital mug heat press. A special printer prints sublimation ink on paper, and a heat press transfers the image from a solid-state to a gas without ever turning to a liquid. However, transferring outdoor vinyl is harder to do than HTV. Now, increase the temperature to 325C and time the heating process for four minutes. Now you are ready to start creating your own custom mugs with FOREVER Multi-Trans. Peel away the clear plastic backing andyoure done! Depending on how rounded the exterior of your mug is, you may have to do this a bunch of times to make sure its stuck everywhere! With the tips shared in our guide above, mastering how to use a mug heat press should be a breeze. By January 2021, theyd made their first sale. When the timer goes off, remove your mug from the press. You will also need the one thing this entire article is based around. She and her husband realized they were in over their heads when they had more than 500 orders in one week during the peak Christmas holiday season! Turn your iron on and set it to the cotton or linen setting (about 400-425 degrees F). When they learned it would be financially beneficial to cut out the middle man, they quickly switched to pressing and shipping in-house after making enough profit from their products to purchase equipment and supplies. It is because more and more people are buying a mug press and churning out their own designs. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. But the time varies according to the type of press and material you are using. FOREVER Multi-Trans is a self-weeding, one-step transfer paper made specifically for hard surfaces and laser-based printers. Make sure you enter the (*) required information where indicated. Some multi-attachment heads even feature a tapered cylindrical platen to print designs on coffee cups. We dove into a lot of research before finally choosing our press, Castronovo explains. Continue until the heat transfer vinyl is attached to the mug everywhere. Etsy shops selling customized mugs, apparel, and other items are all the rage. The cylindrical platen of a mug heat press adjusts easily via a knob to fit the diameter of various mug sizes. Ireally love my morning tea ritualcoffee works for some people, but for me, its tea that makes me feel like an actual human being in the mornings. The sublimation dyes used to print on mugs undergo an endothermic reaction that changes ink from solid to a gaseous state when subjected to heat and pressure. When the ink cools on the transfer product, it gets properly fused and turns back into a solid for long-lasting designs that can go in the dishwasher. After selecting a good mug press, you can follow the step by step guide below to use a mug press. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Remember, invest in the best mug press you can afford and have all the required supplies at hand to achieve good results. Surprise! Load your heat transfer vinyl into your machine and cut out your design. This paper can also transfer to wood, ceramics, glass, heat-accepted plastics and more. In addition, spreading multiple sublimation graphics on a single piece of paper can reduce waste and help to bring down printing costs. [Our Simple Guide]. Whether you decide to print designs on mugs as a hobby or business, it is important to know what tools are involved and how this process works. In addition, you can turn your newfound passion for mug printing into a business. We recommend pressing with firm pressure. It wasnt until April 2020 that she expanded her Etsy shop WickedlyMod to include sublimation printed mugs, mousepads, and ornaments. But for HTV, it is easier to work with wear off easily compared to outdoor vinyl, and you can reposition it many times on your mug before you heat press it. Now that you know how to handle a mug press, why not read our mug press reviews to select the right one for you or your business? JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. We highly recommend printing through your printers multi-purpose tray, as a straight feed, if available. All you have to do is look for small establishments and big corporations that want to print promotional messages on mugs. I use heat transfer vinyl all the time for baby onesies in the Practically Functional shop, but I never thought to try it on anything other than fabric. You will also need the following supplies: a standard heating element for your mug press, a mug wrap for your convection oven, and thermal tape to tape your printed design to your mug. How to Create Custom Mugs with FOREVER Multi-Trans Laser Heat Transfer Paper, Did you know that you dont need a sublimation printer to create custom mugs? If youve firmly pressed the heat transfer vinyl onto the mug, youll be fine washing it by hand, but dishwashers are a lot hotter and more forceful, whichcould softenthe adhesive and cause the design to peel up. Learn how to apply HTV to a ceramic mug so you can personalize and customize it however you'd like! There is a printable version of this project tutorial at the bottom of this post; scroll down to grab it. You also need the pressure of the weight of the iron pushing down on the mug as well as the heat. Decorating With TheMagicTouch CPM 6.2 Hard Surface Heat Transfer Paper, 2444 Northline Industrial Dr. Maryland Heights, MO 63043. Honestly, my husband and I just couldnt physically ship due to the limitations of our bodies. These days, there are digital mug heat press machines that are far easier to use. With metal, plastic and ceramic mugs, you can wait for the heat press to reach idle temperature before placing your cup inside the platen. When the heat press is cool, clean the heat platen with alcohol, iron cleaner or mineral spirits. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Now dont get me wrong, FOREVER Multi-Trans will allow you to print some very fine-looking images, but nothing touches sublimation on this front. Note that the heating temperature and the timing may vary depending on the heat press machine and material you are using. Depending on the size and the type of heat mug press you bought, you should keep it in a place where you have enough room for easy movement. There are plenty of mug heat presses on the market and various manufacturers offer a wide range of prices that fit any budget. In this post, you will learn how to use a mug heat press machine. You can start with a somewhat basic machine and then upgrade as you sell more, she says. Shipping mugs is physically demanding, which isnt something we expected.. Learning how to heat press a mug can be beneficial in many ways. So, always check the description of the material and follow the manufacturers guide on the heat requirements.