Print photo tiles using sublimation

"A picture is worth a thousand words. And that is exactly why photo tiles are so much fun! Print the most beautiful stories on a tile, and put them on the cupboard or hang them on the wall. A love story, travel adventure or, maybe something that inspires you. Whatever the story, it fits on a tile."

Are you super excited about the sublimation photo tile? Excellent! Then perhaps you will want to know why it is the best option to choose for sublimation and, what makes this tile so different than regular tiles found at a hardware store. All this and more can be found in this blog.

What is a sublimation tile?

The sublimation tile is made of ceramic, with a white top layer and a high-gloss coating. Realistically, this tile is indeed the same as a regular wall tile that you have in your kitchen or bathroom. So why can't you ‘just’ get a box of tiles from the hardware store? We are happy to explain why you cannot use hardware tiles.

Sublimation tiles have a special polymer coating. Due to the heat and pressure of the sublimation process, this polymer coating absorbs the sublimation ink. As soon as the tile cools down again, the coating 'closes'. As a result, the print does not form a layer on top of the tile, but it is actually inside the tile itself. The final result? A beautiful and durable photo product, with bright colours, sharp lines and smooth transitions.

Checklist: what do you need to sublimate tiles?

Starting with printing sublimation tiles is very easy. You only need 3 things for this:

• Blank sublimation tile
• Sublimation printer + sublimation transfer paper
• Flat heat press

In the Technotape product range, you will find blank photo tiles in many different shapes and sizes. And even photo tiles with a magnet, that can be used on the fridge. You will also find various sublimation printers and heat presses here. Basically, everything you need!

Get started: print photo tiles in 6 steps

• Print the design using the sublimation printer.
• Set the correct time and temperature on the heat press. You can find this information on the product page of the website.
• Use a towel, fold it in half, and place it on the press plate. Then, place the tile or slate on top. Determine the pressure (light/medium) and preheat the tile or slate if possible.
  Tip: Place a PTFE sheet on the towel for an even print and to protect the towel.
• Place the print with the design facing up on the towel. Lay the slate face down, with the white sublimation side down, on the print (heat-resistant tape is not needed).
• Start the sublimation process by activating the heat press.
• Depending on the size of the tile, press for 240 to 300 seconds (slate for up to 480 seconds). Please refer to the online product description for each item.

Tip! Use the recommended settings for the printing process

For the best results, we advise you to use the recommended heat, pressure and time settings of the press for the tiles. The perfect settings differ per sublimation blank. Go to the page of the blank, here you find an overview with the recommended settings of the heat press.

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