What are the methods to print on nylon?

There are many methods to print on nylon, like Screen Printing , Direct To Garment (DTG) Printing, Sublimation printing, etc. Mainly it depends on your budget and the quantity of the prints. Screen and DTG printing are for high-volume printing and also require a high-cost initial setup. Whereas sublimation printing is for low volume printing and is very cost-effective.

Which is better to sublimate, nylon or polyester?

Polyester is far better for sublimating than nylon. Sublimation printing works best on polyester blanks. And the results are also bright and more vibrant than nylon.

Can you sublimate on a nylon jacket?

Yes, you can sublimate only jackets. First, print the image with sublimation inks on sublimation paper and then transfer it to the jacket using a heat press at a temperature of 220 degrees .

Sublimation On Nylon: The Definitive Guide [2022]

I’m sure you’ve heard of sublimation printing before. It’s the most popular printing technique out there.

It allows printing on many blanks. You can sublimate on fabrics, metals, glass, etc. But can you sublimate on nylon?

Yes, you can. You can easily do sublimation on nylon and can give them an attractive look.

In fact, many people want to sublimate on nylon but don’t know how to do it. Well, it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

You just have to be a little careful while sublimating on nylon. Below I have outlined simple and easy steps to get the job done.

As well as some tips to make the outcome brighter. All you have to do is to read and follow the complete guide, and you’ll be done.

Ready to get started? Let’s get started!

Sublimation Printing: What It Is And How It Works

Before moving further, it’s essential to know what sublimation printing is and how it works.

If you don’t want to read about sublimation printing, click here and jump directly to the step-by-step guide to sublimate on nylon.

Sublimation Printing

Sublimation Printing is a printing process that uses heat to put the print on the blank like fabric, glass, tumblers, and many more.

Sublimation Printing is the most popular and widely used printing method. Its results are bright, vibrant, and attractive. And they are durable too.

More importantly, it’s a very cost-effective method and is affordable for a beginner.

How Sublimation Printing Works

The overall process is very straightforward. Firstly the image is printed by a sublimation printer on sublimation paper.

Then it’s transferred on the blank using a Heat Press, Tumbler Press, or Cricut Press.

However, some steps of the process are different for different blanks.

Such as, sublimation on glass is slightly different from sublimation on canvas.

Step-by-Step Process To Do Sublimation On Nylon

Let’s move on to the step-by-step guide to sublimate on nylon.

There are only two steps. Carefully read and follow them, and you’ll get perfect results.

How To #sublimate On Nylon In The Best Way. Click to Tweet

Required Things

To sublimate on nylon, you must have the following things in hand.

#1 Sublimation Printer

First of all, you’ll need a sublimation printer to print on sublimation paper.

Sublimation printers are printers filled with sublimation inks.

You can’t use regular inkjet printers for sublimation as inkjets are incompatible for this purpose.

But you can convert them to a sublimation printer. Check out how to convert a printer to a sublimation printer.

Additionally, if you are looking for a new sublimation printer. Have a look at these best printers for sublimation.

#2 Sublimation Paper

Secondly, you’ll need a sublimation paper on which the image will be printed.

You can’t use regular plain paper for sublimation. Many people recommend using plain paper, but that’s not right.

Using plain paper gives the lowest result. Always use the best sublimation paper when doing sublimation on nylon.

Although my recommendation would be 120g sublimation paper.

#3 Nylon Blank

Thirdly, you’ll need a nylon blank like nylon jackets or nylon bags, or nylon fabrics.

#4 Heat Tapes

Then you’ll need heat tapes to fix the image with the blank. Heat tapes are very crucial while doing sublimation.

They prevent unnecessary movements during sublimation.

Movements during sublimation ruin the entire process and effort.

So always use heat tapes to avoid unnecessary movements.

#5 Heat Press/Cricut Press

Lastly, you’ll need a Heat Press or Cricut Press to transfer the image on the nylon blank.

Don’t forget the butcher papers; they are also part of the Heat Press and Cricut Press.

Step #1 (The Printing Process)

Now you have all the required things, let’s move on to step 1, i.e., The Printing Process.

Follow the instructions written below.

1- Create your design using software like Corel Draw, Canva, or Illustrator.

Make sure that your design is simple. Don’t use colorful images. Keep the design as simple as you can.

2- Now turn on the sublimation printer and put the sublimation paper inside it.

Ensure that the sublimation printer has plenty of ink and is up for the task.

I recommend printing a trial image on regular paper to check for issues. In case you find any problems, fix them.

3- Check all the print properties and then print the image. Make sure to print in the highest quality and turn any fast printing mode off.

Step# 2 (Final Sublimation Process)

Done printing; it’s time for the final sublimation process. Follow the steps outlined below.

1- Take the printed image, heat tapes, and nylon blank to the heat press.

2- Turn on the heat press and set its temperature to 220 degrees.

The temperature of the heat press is not the same for everyone. Therefore I recommend using the blank manufacturer temperature.

However, if you don’t know the blank manufacturer temperature, go with my temperature, i.e., 220 degrees.

3- In the heat press, place butcher paper first, then nylon blank, and then the printed image facing down the nylon.

Make sure to align the image over the nylon correctly. You can use a ruler for perfect measurements.

After that, fix the image and the nylon with heat tapes. Put two tapes on the two sides of the image.

4- And after all, press the nylon for 15 seconds using medium pressure.

5- When done pressing, remove the image by removing heat tapes, and you’ll have your product, i.e., sublimated nylon.

Tips To Make The Outcome Brighter

Let’s discuss some tips to make the sublimation outcome brighter.

These are minor tips, but they can make a massive difference in the outcome.

Use high-quality materials. I am talking about sublimation ink, sublimation paper, and sublimation blank.
Run printer head cleaning before printing the image from it.
Always use heat tapes while sublimating on any blank to avoid movements, as movement is the enemy of sublimation.
Use optimal temperature and pressure. Don’t go too high or too low.

Some Questions About The Process

What are the methods to print on nylon?
There are many methods to print on nylon, like Screen Printing, Direct To Garment (DTG) Printing, Sublimation printing, etc. Mainly it depends on your budget and the quantity of the prints. Screen and DTG printing are for high-volume printing and also require a high-cost initial setup. Whereas sublimation printing is for low volume printing and is very cost-effective.
Which is better to sublimate, nylon or polyester?
Polyester is far better for sublimating than nylon. Sublimation printing works best on polyester blanks. And the results are also bright and more vibrant than nylon.
Can you sublimate on a nylon jacket?
Yes, you can sublimate only jackets. First, print the image with sublimation inks on sublimation paper and then transfer it to the jacket using a heat press at a temperature of 220 degrees.