Learning From Your Sublimation Mistakes

Many years ago, I started my journey of learning how to sublimate. This journey continues today, and I would like to share some of my counter intuitive ways I have learned to make a better product. I will be using our sandstone car coasters as an example, but the techniques I mention in this blog can be used with almost any substrate.

I have always learned by observing and asking questions. It is very simple to list instructions and require people to follow them. However, this can frustrating for some people as they do not understand why they are doing specific steps.


Below I will be showing what can happen when instructions are followed incorrectly and why it is important to follow the recommendations listed.

Time & Pressure Too Low

The image below is an example of when the cook time and pressure are too low. As you can see from the substrate, the product is nowhere near complete and most of the ink is still on the paper.

Sublimation does not happen with one quick press. It is a gradual process that takes time – usually a few minutes – to complete or. Let's increase the pressure for the next example and see the results.

Better, Time Still Too Low

This finished product looks much better than the previous example, but it could look even better. The edges are not completely imaged and some sections are under cooked.

Looking at the transfer, you can see where the ink has not quite finished seeping into the substrate. Let’s add some more time to the next press.

Perfect Results

The image below has great edge quality and a consistent color throughout the entire substrate. There are some tiny spots of dye still on the transfer but if we press any longer, we will start to overcook the substrate.

This product below is ideal. If you would like to practice with the same product and colors, I used the IronClad Sublimation Blank Sandstone Car Coaster available at www.conde.com. The color I chose is RGB 0,0,0.

Mistakes cost time, money, and frustration. Make sure you use all the tools available at your disposal. At Condé, we have already completed product testing to ensure our clients produce the best results possible. To find the product instructions, simply search the item on our website, click on the item, and scroll down on the page until you see "product instructions".

If you make a mistake, be sure to record how it happened and what you did to fix it so it never happens again. We recommend that you use our Condé Sublimation Journal to log your techniques and processes.

Thanks for reading and please share. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our support team.