To understand how sublimation works in printing pens, let’s take a closer look at the process. First, the pen is coated with a special sublimation coating. This coating allows the dye to bond with the pen’s surface, ensuring a long-lasting, high-quality image. You can also use a traditional heat press. I would NOT recommend using an iron. The heating plate on a household iron is not designed to give perfect, even heating and your project will most likely end up splotchy and uneven. If desired, color in your project by hand. I used a variety of colors to create my look. Transfer Your Image Once the pen is clean and dry, it’s time to apply the sublimation coating. This coating is what allows the ink to transfer onto the pen during the sublimation process. Sublimation pens in various colors are ideal for writing, sketching and great color drawings that you can sublimate onto, for example, mugs, ceramic cups, stainless steel bottles, t-shirts and pillows.

You will use laser copy paper to transfer your drawn design to your base material, as you’ll see below. To clean the pen, use a soft cloth or paper towel and some rubbing alcohol. Gently wipe down the entire surface of the pen, making sure to remove any dirt or debris. Be careful not to scratch the surface of the pen. Applying the Sublimation Coating Create Your Design: Create a file in Cricut Design Space to draw, or you can choose to draw by hand. Make sure to resize your image to both fit on your blank and to fit under your EasyPress 2 / heat press in one go (you don’t want to have to press more than once!). Hard surface objects (keyrings, coasters etc) - 200 degrees for 60-90 seconds. (increase the time the larger the object)

Preparing the Pen for Sublimation

As the heat press heats up, the sublimation ink on the transfer paper turns into a gas. This gas then bonds with the sublimation coating on the pen, becoming a permanent part of its surface. Once your design is complete, place your sublimation blank on top (face down) of your design, and using heat tape tape it into place. Use the lint roller to clean off the shirt before you do your transfer (see my troubleshooting tips). If you are using coasters, use a lint-free cloth to clean them off. You can view all of the temperature settings in Cricut’s interactive Heat Settings Guide. What Base Materials Work with the Pens and Markers? For this project, I’m using a Cricut women’s t-shirt. This would also be so cute on a tote bag! Create Your Design

Once taped, filp the paper and blank over so that the paper is face down on top. Cover with a silicone sheet and press for the recommended time and temperature. The first step in finishing the pen is removing the transfer paper. This paper was used to transfer the design onto the pen during the sublimation process. To remove the paper, gently peel it off the pen. Be careful not to damage the design in the process. If any parts of the design did not transfer properly, use a lint-free cloth and gently rub the area until the design appears. The is then placed on the pen and secured in place using heat-resistant tape. The pen and transfer paper are then placed in a heat press, which applies heat and pressure to the transfer paper. Once you’ve cut the design, you can apply it to your pen using heat transfer tape or another adhesive. Make sure you apply the design evenly and avoid any wrinkles or bubbles.

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To apply the coating, use a brush or sponge to spread a thin layer of the coating over the entire surface of the pen. Make sure to apply the coating evenly and avoid leaving any clumps or streaks. After printing, you’ll need to cut and trim the design to fit your pen. This involves using a pair of scissors or a cutting machine to remove any excess paper. It’s important to cut the design as accurately as possible to avoid any gaps or overlaps. Related: Ultimate Guide To Heat Press Shirts: Benefits, Tips, And Design Inspiration Choosing the Design