Wood Sublimation printing [2022]- Complete Guide For Beginners

These days, the home interior designing market is one of the fastest-growing. People invest millions of dollars into making their place of living aesthetic and appealing to the eyes. And when it comes to home decoration, we are sure you must have seen various wood sublimation art decorative pieces hanging in many houses with inspiring quotes to funny limericks.

If you are thinking of starting a business in the interior design field, then wood sublimation would be a wise choice, as it is a rapidly growing industry, and making profits through it, is inevitable.

If you are creative and skilled, investing in sublimation printing on wood could be a wise choice for your startup. It is now well-known that people are willing to pay any amount to make their interiors look beautiful and aesthetic.

Wood Sublimation printing

Now you must be wondering where to begin. Well, we have compiled a thorough guide on how to get started with the wood sublimation business. we hope this comprehensive guide will answer any questions, concerns, or inquiries that you might have regarding sublimation printing on wood.

Materials Required To Sublimate Wood

For your wood sublimation printing project, here is a list of items I have gathered for you.

Sublimation Printer: The first step in starting a wood sublimation business is investing in a high-quality sublimation printer. Sawgrass and Epson manufacture sublimation printers of exceptional quality. So make sure to check out their large assortment of sublimation printers and to make sure they will meet your needs before purchasing one. We recommend EcoTank 15000 and Virtuoso SG800.

Sublimation ink: Wood sublimation requires special inks, and for that, the SubliJet-HD would be the best choice for you since it prints vibrant quality prints on a variety of printables and is extremely suitable for you with its high-resolution results.

Wooden blanks: Wood blanks are a vital component of wood decoration. There are several types of sapless wood that are suitable for that purpose: Birch, maple, bamboo, and others. It is not recommended to coat pine because the sap tends to leak when heated.

Heat press machine: The sublimation of wood also requires a heat press, which is capable of printing on hard surfaces. To achieve success with sublimation printing, you need a high-quality heat press. It is important to have a press that delivers consistent, even pressure and heat regardless of the quality of the print. In addition, the temperature must be accurately controlled across the entire heated platen.  

Wood sublimation process

When conducting this process, two points to consider are the style and texture of the wooden blank. Here is a step-by-step guide to making your customized wooden sublimation process simple and hassle-free.

Step 1: You should first decide what design you want for your wooden blank, and then you should obtain the wooden blank that is correct in size and texture according to your printing requirements.

Step 2: To get vibrant prints, you will need to print your desired print with high-quality ink on the sublimation paper. In the above-mentioned paragraph, I also recommended the ink that would provide high-resolution prints.

Step 3: As soon as you have both items above, place the printed image correctly on the wooden blank and then place both items correctly and steadily on the heat press. Start the sublimation printing process by turning on the heat press. Your printed image will be transferred onto your wooden blank using heat and pressure.

Step 4: After the heating process has been completed, remove the wooden blank and let it rest at room temperature for a few moments before slowly removing the transfer paper.

In just a few steps you have your customized wooden blank ready with high quality to satisfy your customer’s needs.

Preparing wood for sublimation

Wood cannot be directly bonded with sublimation since it predominantly bonds with polymers. Polymer-coated wood products are readily available in the marketplace, so you should check out the websites of sublimation dealers to see what they have to offer.

Even though there are DIY coating products, it is difficult to achieve high-quality coating since there are a number of factors to consider, such as:

• The coating must bond with the wood in order to adhere to it.
• The coating should be covered and thickened consistently.
• For the coating, additional chemicals may be needed.
• It may be necessary to cure a coating in a kiln in some cases.

Sublimation companies rarely do their own coatings because it is difficult to do

Tips and Tricks For Wooden Sublimation Product

• If you want to sublimate wooden blanks successfully, the first thing you need to know is what coating is provided on the plank, since this will determine where the ink will penetrate.
• Another step is to understand the wood blank’s texture and color. When printing on wooden blanks, it is important to understand the color combination and texture, since this is what will determine how vibrant the print will be.
• Getting the perfect print takes a lot of practice, so you need to understand that perfect prints only come through consistent practice.

Highly recommended places to buy wood sublimation blanks

By looking through this list, you will find a wide range of companies that sell high-quality wooden blanks.

Amazon

Globally, Amazon is the largest marketplace. It is convenient to get everything you need in one place. There are a variety of sublimation printers and their accessories available on Amazon. Additionally, there are millions of product reviews on this site.

Aliexpress

You must be familiar with this site. If you are looking for bulk deals in wooden blanks, Aliexpress will be the best choice for you because it deals with good quality wooden blanks with a vast range, making it easy to pick the wooden blank that works best for you. As well as fulfilling all your sublimation needs. 

Etsy

This website features vintage-inspired products. Also, the site is a good resource for all your sublimation needs. Those interested in vintage woodblock designs and vintage products should visit this site.

eBay

This is the perfect site if you are looking for the best quality wooden blanks at the lowest prices possible. It deals in a wide range of different wooden blanks at the best prices, so you can save some money. 

HeatPress Nation:

Sublimation products at HeatPress Nation are among the cheapest on the market. On this website, you will find a wide range of sublimation products. Besides that, it offers the best prices because it imports products in bulk from wholesalers but still maintains high quality.

Woodcraft

From dimensional lumber to craving woods, they deal with a wide range of wooden blanks. There may be something you’re looking for on their website. 

Sublimet

With Sublimet, as the name suggests, you can find a variety of products, such as vinyl products, accessories, machinery, ovens, and even sublimation printers that are essential for starting up a business. A site offers a variety of product types and categories. In addition, this is one of the best places to buy wooden blanks.

Bestsub

As Bestsub deals in all sorts of accessories, it is easy to find sublimation accessories on the site. There are currently over 6000 products listed on this site, and the number is growing daily. This site has a large delivery network, so you will never be without your goods. The site puts a high priority on quality products.

Market to sell Wood Sublimated customized products

Getting a higher price for your work will be much easier if there is little or nothing to compare it to. You are going to attract people’s attention, for example, if you are the only vendor selling sublimation items at a craft fair. If they see the quality of your products, they will give you top dollar. Nevertheless, this method will only work if you have all the necessary equipment on hand at the event. 

Craft fairs are the exact opposite of Etsy. Originally, Etsy was a great way for local crafters to earn money on the side. The Etsy market is overcrowded, making it hard for new sellers to compete with those who have been active on Etsy since the beginning. Before you decide to sell on Etsy, research ways to attract and keep customers. Even though the price is important, it doesn’t mean that it should be the most important factor.

To sell your products online, you should use social media and create a website. You can advertise quality products at decent prices. If people know you, you will sell them something. Social media is the easiest way to attract people and grow business.

Wood Sublimation – FAQS:

Can wood be sublimated?

A common question people have is whether sublimation can occur on wood. Yes, but it needs to be coated with a polymer.

How long do you keep the wooden blank in the heat press?

To get an ideal sublimation print, heat press wood for about ten minutes at 360 degrees Fahrenheit with light pressure.

What surface is required for sublimation?

With dye sublimation, you can easily sublimate on plastic, polyester, or ceramic. Polymer or plastic coatings can be used, as well, to sublimate wood.

Do I need special paper for printing?

A special paper is required for dye sublimation. It is highly absorbent. Several brands are available for you to choose from. 

Where can I find affordable items for the sublimation process?

It is easy to purchase sublimation blanks from sublimation vendors. Despite the items being locally sold, experimenting with them can be fun and sometimes profitable.

Conclusion:

As I mentioned at the beginning, the home interior industry is growing, so investing in it is a wise move. You only need a wooden blank and a good sublimating printer to get started on your startup wood sublimation business. There’s no doubt that this is a great way to make money with an easy and hassle-free method.