How to Sublimate a Perfect Ceramic Mug: A Beginner's Guide to Sublimation

Use this handy guide to create a custom personalized mug with your favourite photo, design, or saying! Ready to get started? Here we go!

🛠️ Essential Tools:

In this post, we'll walk you through:

Let's get baking!

🎨 Design:

Create your design in Creative Suite, Canva, or using the design tool of your choice. Not comfortable creating your own designs? Check out Creative Fabrica for a library of millions of designs and projects to choose from. A subscription is well worth the monthly cost! Make sure you size your design appropriately.

For logos, we recommend:

  • 15oz mugs = 2.75" x 2.75"
  • 11oz mugs = 2.5" x 2.5"

For full wraps, the size is usually around:

  • 15oz mugs = 10" x 4.3"
  • 11oz mugs = 9.65" x 3.75"

Remember, all mugs are slightly different, so always confirm your dimensions first! A wise person once said, measure twice, cut once!

BONUS: Download our 11oz and 15oz mug templates here!

🖨️ Print & Prepare:

Now you're ready to print! You can print the design on your own (if you're new to this, check out our article on sublimation printing here). Or you can have HFX print it for you! Just remember, for ceramic mugs, you need to mirror your design before printing.

Now its time to prepare your mug for baking:

  1. Use a lint roller. Clean the surface of the mug of debris, then wipe it with the alcohol to remove any oil/adhesive residue.
  2. Trim the edges of your sublimation transfer to eliminate any excess paper from hanging over the edges. Excess paper can burn, and leave scorch marks on your mug.
  3. Wrap the sublimation transfer around the mug so that the printed side faces the surface of the mug. Start with one edge and pull it tight as you go. A felt-tipped squeegee can help you smooth out your transfer if needed.
  4. Optional: Use tumbler clamps to hold your design in place while you get ready to tape in the next step. It's like having an extra set of hands!
  5. Secure the design using heat-resistant tape. You need just enough to make sure your design is smooth and tight against the surface your mug.

Pro Tip: Even if your design is smaller, cut your sublimation paper to fit the full size of the mug's surface (with no excess). This makes it easy to make sure your design is centred, level, and placed consistently across multiple mugs. See the bottom of this post for a link to download our template for standard 11oz and 15oz mugs.

🔥 Bake:

Now we're Cooking! All sublimation transfers require heat to transfer their image to your blank surface. The heat converts the sublimation ink into a gas, which is absorbed into the blank surface, creating a permanent and professional finish. There are a few different ways to crank up the heat. We've outlined the most common ones below!

These times and temperatures are a guideline, so these may vary for different mugs and heat presses. Check out the manufacturer's recommendations, if applicable. And test, test, test! Once you figure out what works for you, write it down!

Pro Tip: Sublimation ink will only adhere to materials with a high polyester content, or with a similar coating. Make sure the ceramic mug you choose is appropriate for sublimation!

Cooking Method #1: Pressing

  1. Pre-heat your mug/tumbler press to 370°F ( 188°C).
  2. Wrap the mug (with transfer in place) in a sheet of butcher paper. This will absorb any excess ink and prevent it from transferring onto the platen of your heat press (which can create ghosting on future projects - not good!)
  3. Place it in the press with medium pressure (approx. 40psi, if your press tracks this). You want the design to be pressed comfortably snug against the mug, but not so much that you might break the mug.
  4. Leave it in the press for 200 seconds.
  5. Carefully remove the mug using heat resistant gloves (it will be hot!). Peel the transfer sheet while it's still warm, and place your mug somewhere safe to cool. If any paper sticks to the mug, you can try soaking it or using a magic eraser.

Cooking Method #2: Cricut Mug Press

Honestly, the Cricut Mug Press is very similar to using a heat press, but on easy mode. Follow the same steps as above. But when it comes time to place your mug in the press, look for the power button to turn green (this means it has reached target temperature). Then just pop the "handle" down. The Mug Press automatically adjusts the time and temperature. Usually it takes around 6 minutes... and voila! You're done. You can remove your mug when the press beeps. 

Cooking Method #3: Convection Oven

  1. Pre-heat your oven to 400°F.
  2. Wrap the mug (with transfer in place) in a sheet of butcher paper. This will absorb any excess ink.
  3. Optional: Place your mug in a shrink sleeve (securing it tightly in place with a heat gun), or use silicone tumbler bands to lock the design in place. This can help ensure your design is secured comfortably against the surface of the mug.
  4. Place it in the oven for 15 minutes. And turn it half way through.
  5. Carefully remove the mug using heat resistant gloves (it will be hot!). Peel the transfer sheet while it's still warm, and place your mug somewhere safe to cool. If any paper sticks to the mug, you can try soaking it or using a magic eraser.

Cooking Method #4: Air Fryer

Use the same steps as you did with the Convection Oven, but only cook your mug for around 9 minutes and remember to turn it half way through!).

WARNING: Sublimation requires a dedicated cooking/heat source. Do not use the same appliance you use to prepare food. And always bake your mug in a well-ventilated area.

Pro Tips: If your design is faded, you likely need more time and/or heat. If your design appears to be fuzzy/bleeding, it likely isn't tight enough against your blank, and needs more pressure. Or the transfer shifted, and needs to be secured more tightly. If your colours look overexposed/yellow, or your blacks look brown, your mug is likely "over-baked" and need less time and/or heat.

Download our 11oz and 15oz mug templates here!

🛍️ Shop Sublimation Ceramic Mugs in Canada

Looking to sublimate your first Ceramic Mug for your next project? We’ve got you covered.

👉 Shop Sublimation Ceramic Mugs at hfxvinyl.ca - with fast shipping across Canada and friendly service from fellow makers. We've got all your sublimation tools too!

Feeling ready? You've got this! Reach out if you have any questions - we're happy to help!

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