How to sublimate on acrylic keychains
To sublimate an acrylic keychain, you will need the following materials and equipment:
1. Dye-sublimation printer and dye-sublimation ink
2. Heat-resistant tape
3. Sublimation paper
4. Hot pressing
5. Blank Acrylic Keychain
The following are the general steps for sublimation of acrylic keychains:
1. Design your artwork: Use graphic design software to create or select the design you want printed on your keychain.
2. Print the design: Use a dye-sublimation printer and dye-sublimation ink to print the design onto dye-sublimation paper. Make sure to mirror the image before printing.
3. Prepare the keychain: Place the blank acrylic keychain on a flat, heat-resistant surface. Make sure the keychain is clean and free of any dust or debris.
4. Fix the design: Use heat-resistant tape to fix the printed sublimation paper to the acrylic keychain. Make sure the design is in the correct position and securely taped in place.
5. Heat Press: Preheat the heat press to the recommended temperature for sublimating acrylic. After heating, place the keychain with the tape design on the heat press.
6. Sublimation Process: Turn off the heat press and apply the recommended pressure and time to sublimate the acrylic. The heat press will transfer the sublimation ink from the paper to the acrylic keychain.
7. Remove the key chain: After the sublimation process is complete, carefully remove the key chain from the heat press and allow it to cool.
8. Peel off the sublimation paper: After the keychain has cooled, carefully peel off the sublimation paper to reveal the transferred pattern.
9. Final touches: Inspect the key chain for any defects and make any necessary adjustments.
It is important to note that acrylic sublimation requires specific temperature, pressure and time settings to ensure a successful transfer. It is recommended to test the process on a sample keychain before doing a full production run. Additionally, always follow the manufacturer's guidelines for the specific dye-sublimation equipment and materials being used.