Sublimation on Ceramic Tiles: A Step-by-Step Guide in 2023

Last Updated on January 27, 2024 by Fredrick Miller

Sublimation on ceramic tiles is a unique decoration. If you aim to generate an impression of people’s lives in the room, you’ll use it. This sort of appearance improves your mood. Consequently, it easily develops into the habit of spending time in these decorated interiors.

Sublimation isn’t limited to just t-shirts. Many people are not aware of this and might be surprised. Today I’m going to focus on sublimation on ceramic tiles. This article will walk you through the step-by-step process of Sublimation on Ceramic Tiles, things to consider before sublimation printing, and much more.

What is Sublimation Printing?

In the world of printing, sublimation printing is a method that uses a heat press machine to transfer images with pigment to media such as clothing, plates, plastic cups, and coffee mugs. Sublimation printing is also known as phase-change inkjet printing.

The dyes are transferred from the ink to the substrate in one step. Unlike, traditional methods of printing, where multiple steps are required for each color. This makes it much quicker than other forms of printing.

Things to Consider Before Sublimation On Ceramic Tiles

Sublimation on ceramic tiles is a great way to transform your kitchen, bathroom or other areas of your home. If you decide to do this, be sure to know what is required before beginning the process. Here are some things that you should consider before sublimating your ceramic tiles:

• Consider the design and color scheme of your room.
• Substrate temperature should be above 100°C for optimum performance and durability.
• It is extremely important to use good quality dyes in order to achieve the best results.
• To ensure that there is no space between your ceramic tile and your image, make sure the image is the same size as the ceramic tile.
• The main thing that you should note is that sublimation on ceramic tiles is not suitable for all types of tiles. Ceramic tiles made of porcelain or earthenware are best suited for this technique.

Material Required for Sublimation on Tiles

The following is a list of all the materials you need for sublimation on tiles:

• Sublimation paper: (transfers images to the skin of the tile)
• Sublimation ink
• Ceramic tile: or glass surface with the flat backside
• Sublimation printer: (flatbed printer, inkjet printer, laser printer)
• Heat press machine or heat gun: (with temperature control)
• Transfer paper
• Heat-resistant glue: ( for attaching the image to the tile once it has been printed off on sublimation paper).
• Heat-resistant tape
• Masking tape: (to tape down your workspace, so nothing moves while you’re working on it)
• Scissors
• Sponge: (for cleaning the surface and eliminating dust)
• Goggles: (to protect your eyes from any splashes of ink or glue)

How to Sublimate on Ceramic Tile?

Ceramic tile is a popular option for flooring due to its durability, ease of cleaning, and stain resistance. But what if you want to put up artwork on your ceramic tile? It’s possible to sublimate images onto tiles, but it may not be as complex as you think. Here’s how:

Step 1:

Make sure your image is sized correctly. You’ll need to have an image that’s larger than the tile itself. Too small images won’t show up well on tiles.

Step 2:

Lay down protective paper around the edges of your tiles, so they don’t get damaged during sublimation.

Step 3:

Use a brush to spread liquid polyurethane onto each tile’s back evenly. Be sure not to use too much polyurethane, or it will drip all over!

Step 4:

Place two or three pieces of cardboard behind each tile, so they don’t warp while drying overnight.

Step 5:

Let the dry polyurethane overnight before peeling off the protective paper from around each tile (leaving it on will allow the ink to stick better).

Step 6:

Peel off the protective paper from around each tile. The polyurethane layer should come off with it!

Step 7:

Now, you can print your sublimation ink onto each tile using an inkjet printer.

Step 8:

Let the ink dry for at least 24 hours before peeling off any extra bits of paper or lint from around the edges of your tiles.

Step 9:

Once the ink has dried, you can peel off any extra bits of paper or lint from around the edges of your tiles.

Step 10:

Use a wet rag to wipe away any excess ink in hard-to-reach places.

Step 11:

Let the tiles dry overnight before using them again (this will make sure the ink doesn’t smear).

FAQs

Final Words

Sublimate’s ceramic light tiles are elegant, functional, and easy to install. These beautiful additions to your wall or desk can illuminate your life in so many different ways.

They are an excellent addition to any home or office, and they are easy and quick to install. The hardest part of sublimating on ceramic tile is choosing a design. Once you’ve figured out that part, follow the steps outlined in our guide, and it’ll be smooth sailing from there.