How do Sublimation on a Hat? Step-by-Step Guide

Sublimation on a hat is another major part of the sublimation printing world. Unlike, shirts and hoodie sublimation, people do not often perform sublimation on a hat. As it is not much popular right now!

However, with the flow of time. You will see that this hat sublimation temperature process would be one of the greatest processes in the sublimation world.

How to make sublimation patches? Several sublimation companies have already started to offer sublimation patches for hats as part of their services.

Follow this guide on how to properly bleach a shirt for sublimation. Learn what type of bleach to use, how to mix it, and how to apply it to your shirt.

Because they know that this process would be a big success Sooner or later in the future. The main reason for us to write this article is to inform the basic ways for performing sublimation on a hat. Please sit back, relax, and read this article to the end. You won’t regret it.

Products you need for Sublimation on a Hat:

How to sublimate a hat without a hat press? This hat sublimation template process is nearly similar to the other garment sublimation process. Moreover, it includes the same products that are used to sublimate shirts, hoodies, and pants. These products include;

1: Sublimation Printers

Performing sublimation on a hat requires a printer, which is the most important component. Therefore, you must have a fine-quality and highly functional sublimation printer for this purpose.

We advise you to go for branded sublimation printers like Epson, Canon, and Sawgrass. No doubt, these printers are responsible for creating long-lasting and vibrant designs on your materials.

Therefore, using a good sublimation printer will help you greatly in creating versatile designs for your hats. Moreover, your hats will become a unique and ever-lasting piece of craft.

2: Inks & Transfer Papers

Since your printer is all set for performing sublimation on a hat. In this step, you have to use sublimation inks and transfer papers for performing accurate sublimation on your hats.

As your designs will be transferred onto the surface of your transfer papers. Moreover, the inks will be added to the cartridges. So, that hats can easily be sublimated with accuracy and perfection.

3: Cutting & Butcher Paper

By seeing the term cutting, one thing would have come to your mind. And, that thing would be the vinyl cutting machine. But, this vinyl cutter is not used to trim the sides or the edges of the design containing transfer papers.

Besides these vinyl cutters, normal scissors or other cutters play their role in trimming the transfer papers. Moreover, this step also includes the use of butcher paper. As you have to place them at the top of your designs.

4: Heat Press Machine

The last major product you need to perform sublimation on a hat involves the use of heat press machines. These machines are well-known for their heat and pressure-producing abilities to create high-quality images.

A branded heat press makes a big difference in creating perfect sublimation designs or output images. Thus, by using all of these options, you can easily create the best design to sublimate on your hats.

Steps to Perform Sublimation on a Hat:

There are only 4 main steps that you have to follow to perform sublimation on a hat. The steps described above are quite straightforward. Moreover, they are also the same for other garments.

1: Choose Graphics & Print the Designs

The first main step in performing sublimation on a hat includes the creation of graphics. Make sure that you use high creativity in making these designs for your hats or other materials.

There are numerous software programs available for this purpose. These include Adobe Photoshop, Canvas, and Illustrator. All of them are sure to produce vibrant and versatile output images to perform sublimation on a hat.

Now, the designs or the graphics are ready. You now have to print them on the surface of your hats. Make sure that you are using a high-quality branded printer, inks, papers, and heat-press machine for this purpose.

You can also choose to pick your favorite designs from the internet. You can, however, create your design if you have a creative mind. As they would have the highest ability to attract customers in the market.

2: Use Hat blanks & Place Designs

In this second step, you have to pick a certain design and place it on the hat blanks. Additionally, we will mention where you can obtain these hat blanks. The most popular site for buying hat blanks is Amazon, eBay, and then Heat-press nation.

They are all known for selling hat blanks at a cheap or affordable rate. Therefore, you can pick your hat blanks from there and then place your designed papers on them for performing sublimation on a hat.

3: Heat Press your Hats & Designs

Now you have to place your sublimation hat blanks and designs with transfer papers in the heat-press machine. This heat press will generate a suitable pressure and temperature for accurate sublimation on a hat.

The best temperature you can choose for this process is about 400 F for about 1 minute. After this specific time, your whole design will be perfectly sublimated on the hats.

4: Let the Sublimated Hats Cool Down

Since your design is completely sublimated on the top of sublimation hat process. It is now time to take them out of the heat press and cool them down for 2-3 minutes for more accurate results.

Then, you can remove the sublimation layers and the butcher paper if you have used them from your sublimation hat designs. In the end, you’ll be able to customize your hats with a neat, clean, highly vibrant design that will be sublimated.

This process can also be used to answer the question of How to perform sublimation on Dark and truckers hats?

Tips for Performing Sublimation on a Hat:

Here are some tips that you can use to perform sublimation on a hat with perfection. In addition to being easy to use, they are also easy to remember.

  • Use heat-resistant taps to protect your designs during heat-pressing them.
  • Use the temperature of the heat press between 350-400 F.
  • Heat press for only 1-2 minutes.
  • Use branded products to complete this amazing process.

FAQs: 

Can you sublimate on a cap?

Although sublimation can be a great choice for decorating 100% polyester hats, and even blends can work in some cases, it is not an option for hats that are not polyester or do not contain a polyester-based blend.

What temperature do you heat press a hat?

Glitter HTV should be applied at 320 degrees for 20 seconds, but check the brands’ specifications. During sublimation on polyester hats such as two-tone trucker hats, the hats must be heated to 400 degrees for one minute.

How long do you press a hat for with sublimation?

Protect the press and hat with butcher paper. For 40 seconds, press the hat from side to side. If the tape and paper are still on the surface, it is recommended that they be removed. Have fun wearing your new sublimated hat!

Conclusion: 

Your success is not always determined by the latest trending items, and it is often determined by your unique approach.

You will undoubtedly gain an edge over those who know how valuable customized caps are by placing your site with them. Thus, you should grab your supplies from your workstation and start sublimating hats as soon as possible.

The steps we have provided you through this article are sure to help you in performing sublimation on a hat perfectly. Thank you for reading this article to the end, and we hope that the information provided to you is useful for you. We thank you for the time you have taken to read this article.

Mark Bryant