Sublimation · Guide

Sublimation on the TagTales tag

The tag is white 100% polyester fleece, which is exactly what sublimation ink wants. Full-colour, permanent, and no hand-feel. Here is how to press it without cooking the plush.

At a glance

Temperature: 190–200°C
Time: 45–60 seconds
Pressure: Light to medium
Peel: Hot, straight up
Design size: Up to 7.5 x 5cm

Starting points, not gospel. Follow your ink, film, vinyl or thread maker's instructions and test one tag first.

Sublimation is the cleanest match for the tag. The ink turns to gas under heat and bonds inside the polyester fibres, so the finished tag feels exactly like a blank one and the print will never peel. The only real skill is keeping the heat on the tag and off the toy.

Step by step

Design and mirror

Size the artwork to no more than 7.5 x 5cm so it stays inside the blanket-stitched edge and clear of the grommet. Mirror it before printing. Anything you leave white in the design stays white fleece, so there is no need for a background.
Prepare the tag

Lint roll the fleece to lift stray fibres. Pre-press the tag for 5 seconds under protective paper to drive out moisture and flatten the pile, then let it cool for a moment.
Position

Lay the tag flat, printed side of the paper face down on the fleece, and tape both short edges so nothing shifts. Tuck the cord under the paper so it cannot mark the print.
Keep the plush out of the press

Hang the plush body over the front edge of the lower platen so only the tag sits on the plate, or use a mini press. The plush is polyester too and will flatten or scorch under a full-size platen.
Press

Cover with protective paper and press at 190–200°C for 45–60 seconds with light to medium pressure. Heavier pressure crushes the fleece and makes the print look flat.
Peel and cool

Lift the paper straight up while hot, in one motion, to avoid ghosting. Let the tag cool completely before you touch the print or attach anything else.

Tips from the bench

Start at the lower end of the range on your first tag. Presses run hot or cold by 10°C more often than you would think.
Bold shapes and solid colour print best. Fine lines under about 1pt sink into the fleece texture.
Fleece has a slight nap. Pressing with the nap flattened (pre-press) gives a cleaner, brighter result.
If the print looks faint, the usual causes are too little time, a cold spot on the platen, or paper printed on the wrong side.
Because the tag hangs on a cord, you can press a batch of tags side by side on one platen with the bodies hanging off the edge.

Questions

Can I sublimate the plush body as well?

No. The body pile is deep and the colours are not white, so sublimation would be faint and patchy. The tag is the print surface.

Will the colours be bright?

Yes. The tag is white 100% polyester fleece, which takes sublimation vividly. Expect the same colour depth as a polyester garment, with a soft fleece texture.

Do I need a special press for plush?

No, but a mini press or hat press makes life easier because the plate is small. With a standard press, let the body hang over the front edge of the lower platen.

Can it be washed?

Sublimation is dyed into the fibre, so it will not crack or peel. Treat the toy as spot-clean, which is the normal advice for a weighted plush.