Sublimation printing on leather produces a refreshing look on the bags and other leather-made accessories. Sublimation printing on shoes, jackets, and leather key rings is in trend nowadays. If you are fashionable and want a style in your jackets or bags, go for sublimation printing.
Before starting the process, you have to buy a leather blank. Generally, two types of leather are offered in the market – synthetic and genuine. Synthetic or faux leather is machine-made and doesn’t provide vibrant results like real leather.
Genuine leather can hold the sublimation ink perfectly upon cooling and drying. The sublimation printing shows brighter and more vibrant colors.
In the following lines, we will discuss the required items and the process of sublimation on leather. So, Let’s Start!
Which Materials Are Required for Leather Sublimation?
To start the sublimation process on leather, we have to arrange the following things.
Sublimation Printer
For genuine leather, usually, Epson printers are employed. Inkjet printers are also an option for natural leather, but they can’t be used for printing on faux leather.
Heat Press
A heat Press is highly required to provide the temperature up to 180oC. Other devices are not allowed. Remember the butcher paper as well.
Lint Free Cloth
The lint-free cloth will be used to clean the leather’s surface to be printed. Don’t use emery paper, as it will rough and dirty the surface.
Sublimation Paper
The desired design is printed on the sublimation paper, which will be transferred to the leather.
Leather Article
A wrinkle-free piece of leather which you want to be sublimated.
Ruler
A ruler is used to mark the desired area to be sublimation printed.
Design Software
Nowadays, every laptop has designing software such as Corel draw, photoshop, or adobe illustrator. You can even use Canva to design and save in Png.
Heat Tape
When the sublimation paper is placed on the leather piece, it can slip on the sides. Fixing it with heat tape will keep it static, making the design clear and perfect.
How to Sublimate on Faux Leather Earring?
When all the items mentioned above are available, you can now move to the step-by-step process guide for sublimating on leather.
Step -1: Prepare the Design
The first step in sublimation printing is designing the image you want print on the leather blank. Set the dimensions of image as per the size of leather piece.
Most experts advise leaving space up to 1/8 inch from each side. This space will help place the print on the leather piece even if it slips from the side. Although, there is less chance of movement of sublimation printed paper.
Step 2: Prepare the Surface of the Leather
Cleaning the surface of the leather is highly recommended. So, take a dry cloth off the piece and remove the dust and other debris.
If the surface is not correctly cleaned, the sublimation ink will not stick, and small spots will be visible after sublimation printing on leather.
However, there is no need to wash the leather piece. Moisture will be absorbed in the leather, affecting the sublimation printing on the leather.
Also, clean the surface gently; too much pressure will cause surface roughening.
Step- 3: Preparing Heat Press
The next step is to switch on the heat press and place butcher paper on the lower pad. Keeping the butcher paper will protect the leather from the direct effect of the heat of the lower pad.
Make a ready second piece of butcher paper to place on the upper surface, i.e., over the sublimation paper.
Step-4: Print the design and place the leather on Heat Press
The design is ready to be printed on the leather piece.
Step -5: Sublimate on Leather
As all the arrangements have been made,
Pro Tip:
The sublimation process should be about 1 hour so that the ink can adhere perfectly and doesn’t flake off.
Can You Sublimate on Faux Leather Without Vinyl?
No. You can only sublimate on faux leather with vinyl. If you sublimate it without applying vinyl, the leather will burn.
You can sublimate on leather sublimation blanks without using vinyl, but for faux leathers, you must apply a vinyl layer before sublimation.
Can You Sublimate on Leather Wallet?
Yes, you can sublimate on leather wallet and enhance its aesthetics if it is genuine. Sublimation process is similar to leather earrings.
The sublimation temperature for leather wallet is 356oF for 50 seconds at low to medium pressure.
Leather wallet care is crucial as sublimation print fades away when exposed to heat and sunlight. Heat may also cause dry out and crack the leather with loss of natural luster.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can You Sublimate All Types of Leather?
The simple answer is NO.
Sublimation printing on leather blanks that have smooth surfaces is not possible. This is the washing out of sublimation ink from such a surface. An alternative to sublimation printing is embossing or letter pressing, which is helpful on most synthetic leather blanks.
For example, a vegetable-tanned leather blank will absorb most of the sublimation ink, and no design will be visible on the surface.
So, not all leather types are feasible for sublimation printing.
What Is the Ideal Temperature and Pressure to Sublimate on Faux Leather?
Best practice is to implement the blank manufacturer’s guidelines. Usually, the temperature is kept in the range of 180oC to 185oC at medium pressure.
How to print designs on leather?
First, make a digital image with different colors and impart it on the transfer paper. Now, press it on the leather blank and peel off the back layer from the transfer paper.
How do you put a logo on leather?
To print a pattern or logo on the leather blanks, use an engraved stamp and apply impulsive force by mallet. Hitting slightly with a mallet will impart a traditional look.
What type of printer should I use to start sublimating on leather?
A standard sublimation printer is used for printing the sublimation design for leather blanks. For complex and intricate shapes, you can use a printer that has resolution of 600 dpi.
Is It Easy to Sublimate on Leather?
Yes. Sublimation printing on genuine leather is not that difficult. You can start sublimation by following the above-discussed process step by step. No special training is required for this purpose.
What Is the Main Difference Between Sublimation on Leather Vs. Wood?
The process is similar to wood sublimation. But in the case of leather sublimation printing you have to ensure that the sublimation ink has a stick to the surface. While in the case of wood sublimation, sublimation ink can easily absorb and adhere to the wood blank.
Final Thoughts
Genuine leather is used in most utensils like chairs, sofas, jackets, bags, etc. sublimation printing on all such items will enhance the design and produce a refreshing look. In the case of original leather, the step-by-step process has been discussed above. If you follow all the steps with great care, you can have impeccable sublimation print on the leather.
So, what are waiting for?
Fetch a leather blank and start the practice of sublimation on the leather.
Related Post: Can You Sublimate on Nylon?