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Let's talk about Sublimation Paper! There are a lot of different sublimation papers, and you may be wondering what's best and what's not. First sublimation paper is NOT the same as printer paper, though it might look the same. Good sublimation paper:
1. It holds the sublimation ink well without allowing the micro ink dots from your printer to blur together.
2. It withstands the high heat of your press.
3. It efficiently releases the dyes into your surface when heated.
I have a variety of sublimation papers: A-SUB 125G, A-SUB 105G, A-SUB ECO, TruePix paper, DyeMaster-R, and Printers Jack. And there are more! Most of these are general sublimation papers work for a variety of surfaces. There are OTHERS that get more specialized, but these SHOULD all work for most sublimation jobs.
How do you decide which sublimation paper to use? Pay attention to is the paper weight, like how A-SUB comes in 125g, 120g, 105g, and ECO. These numbers refer to the WEIGHT of the paper. 125 g stands for 125 grams and it's the thickest sublimation paper. The thicker and heavier the paper, the better it will hold the ink and saturate your surface -- if you want full color, vibrant designs, go for the heavier weight. This is my go-to for nearly every project. If you use the 125 gram paper and get wheel marks, however, you may want a thinner paper. This heavier paper can also cause issues with hard and rigid surfaces, as the ink has nowhere to go and can blur or ghost -- if this happens, again, go with a thinner paper.
105g is the thinnest paper. Why would we want thin paper if heavier gives the best and most saturated color? Thin sublimation paper is better when you're making seamless designs, like our full-color sublimation doormat or even a sublimation tumbler. The thinner paper is ALSO better for some printers that can get wheel lines or pick up extra ink. For example, 105 gram paper works better on my Epson Workforce. The catch with 105 g paper is that it is more likely to curl, and it doesn't do as well with heavy ink saturation -- the low weight of the paper is more likely to cause moving, bleeding, and ghosting. And if your surface looks dull and faded, like a T-shirt, it could also be related to the low weight of the paper -- use the heavier paper to get more ink on it and on your surface.
ECO paper by A-SUB is basically less expensive sublimation paper. So if you're doing a LOT of something, you could use this, but it's really only a little less money. I'm not sure it's worth it, personally, unless you're working in volume. Or if you need the design to mold to an uneven surface.
So WEIGHT of paper is a big factor. Another factor can be the compability of the paper with your printer. For example, TruePix paper is optimized to work with Sawgrass sublimation printers. It's 120 grams and works on a variety of surfaces.
DyeMaster-R sublimation paper is optimized to work for Epson and is 105 grams. I'm not sure why it's so thin, but it could be because the Epson Workforce, an early printer converted for sublimation, really needs a thinner paper.
You may have heard of people using regular paper for sublimation, like laser copy paper. It's possible to use laser copy paper because it's formulated to withstand the high heat of your heat press. The question is if it can hold and release the ink well enough, however.
So I thought we should do a TEST of six different papers -- three A-SUB papers, TruePix paper, Laser Paper, and a regular Copy Paper, just so you can see what it looks like for each one.
Topics covered in this video about Sublimation Paper:
0:00 - Best Sublimation Paper Tips, Tricks, and Hacks
0:42 - What’s the Difference Between the Brands of Sublimation Paper?
1:21 - A-SUB Sublimation Paper
1:55 - How to Tell Front and Back of Sublimation Paper
3:04 - How Do You Decide Which Sublimation Paper to Use?
3:16 - Comparing Sublimation Paper Weights
5:40 - Which Sublimation Paper is Compatible with My Sublimation Printer?
6:18 - Can Copy Paper Be Used for Sublimation?
7:54 - Testing and Comparing Sublimation Paper Brands
13:57 - Do You Need a Big Heat Press for Sublimation?
15:04 - Can You Use Cardboard to Protect the Pressing Mat?
18:09 - Is Heat Resistant Tape Necessary for Sublimation?
20:16 - Why Should You Use Butcher Paper when Sublimating?
22:27 - Comparing the Results of Different Sublimation Paper
26:52 - Comparing the Results of Copy Paper for Sublimation
33:07 - If You Cut Edges of Sublimation Paper Will You See a Line?
34:16 - What Weight Cardstock Should You Use for Sublimation?
34:57 - Join My Sublimation Made Easy Group!
35:55 - Can You Use A-SUB Paper in a Sawgrass Sublimation Printer?
36:20 - Which Way Do You Put Sublimation Paper in a Printer?
38:40 - Which Sublimation Paper Works Best for Mugs and Flat Surfaces?
40:13 - Want to Learn More About Sublimation?