Sublimation spray for cotton, also called poly spray for sublimation, makes it possible to use the dye sublimation process on cotton fabrics.
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What Is Sublimation Spray And Why Do I Need It?
If you’re just getting started with dye sublimation printing, you’ve probably already spent quite a bit of money on a sublimation printer and all the accessories to go with it. So, you’re likely wondering whether you need to spend any more money on buying sublimation sprays.
Dye Sublimation printing works by heating a solid dye directly into a gas, skipping the liquid stage. This is called sublimation. The gaseous dye then permeates and colors polyester, creating your design and image onto the item being sublimated. In many cases, the item being dyed is clothing.
Dye Sublimation does not work on cotton! Dye Sublimation requires the presence of polyester, or else the gaseous dye has nothing to permeate and color.
Therefore, dye sublimation is often done on 100% polyester clothing. However, the look, feel, and low price perception of polyester clothing is not always desired by creators or their clients. It turns out that cotton/polyester blends also work well for dye sublimation. At a minimum, the polyester percentage needs to be 40%, and some say that the minimum should be 60%
That’s where sublimation spray for cotton comes in. These sprays apply a polyester coating to the clothing to be dyed, allowing dye sublimation to be done on even 100% Cotton items.
Additionally, these coatings give images a glossy look and a smooth, pleasing tactile experience. Also, your design will be protected against scratches and wear.
These coatings can be used on all fabrics, from 100% cotton to cotton/poly blends to 100% polyester. Some creators use these sprays even when sublimating 100% Polyester items.
As a creator working with dye sublimation on clothing, you will need sublimation spray to enhance the look and feel of your designs and to give you a much wider variety of materials to work with.
Using a sublimation spray is quick and easy and will give you a much nicer final result. All you need to do is to apply the spray to your fabric evenly and liberally. It’s a good idea to have something under the item while spraying, just so that the spray doesn’t go on anything else.
Allow it to dry for a minute or two before sublimating. Now all that remains is to move forward with the dye sublimation process.
Top Sublimation Spray Reviews
There are so many choices when it comes to Sublimation spray for cotton that choosing the right one can feel daunting. But it doesn’t need to. Here are four of our favorites and we’re confident that you’re going to love them just as much as we do.
Summary Table of Sublimation Poly Spray
Dyepress Poly T Pro Sublimation Poly Spray Coating for Cotton
We think that this is a great option if you are making children’s clothing as it is designed and approved for use on kid’s products. This non-toxic formula gives you the peace of mind that your products will not only be perfectly sublimated but also 100% safe. And there’s nothing more important than that, especially if you are running a business.
Dyepress Poly T Pro Sublimation Poly Spray Coating for Cotton is our choice for BEST Dye Sublimation Coating Spray!
Dyepress Poly T Pro Sublimation Spray
What’s more, you get a lot of bang for your buck. While the Dyepress Poly T spray only comes in a 4oz bottle, it’s concentrated so you actually end up with 8oz of spray. It’s easy to use and can be diluted with water. Once you’re ready, you’ll be able to print up to 16 T-Shirts using this one bottle of spray.
It’s worth playing around with the ratio of concentrate to water but most would agree that 60/40 works very well. Having looked at designs where this ratio has been used, we’re pleased to say that the results speak for themselves!
We all love a homegrown product so you’ll be pleased to know that the Dyepress spray is made right here in the USA. Not only are you getting a high quality product but you’ll be supporting national businesses and we think that’s a brilliant bonus.
One thing that we would point out is that this doesn’t actually come in a spray bottle. In order to use the spray, you will need to purchase an atomizer and where user reviews are concerned, this is absolutely key. Choosing the wrong type of spray bottle or one that doesn’t evenly distribute the spray will result in a lower quality finished product.
NGOODIEZ Sublimation Coating Spray for Cotton
This sublimation spray has a lot going for it. It boasts a non-toxic formula that’s 100% safe to use on all fabrics. It’ll work with cotton, polyester, blends, and on a whole range of products including cushion covers, t-shirts, socks and much more.
NGOODIEZ Sublimation Coating Spray
The NGOODIEZ sublimation spray leaves you with a high quality finish without any ghosting. It’s super adhesive quality keeps everything in place and the quick drying formula means that you won’t have to wait around for ages before you can get to the printing process. The result is a high gloss finish that looks so professional.
But while it does give a professional result, you certainly don’t have to be a pro to use this spray. One of the things we love about it is how simple it is to use. It comes in a spray bottle which distributes the product evenly so there’s no need to buy anything else. Moreover, unlike the previous spray we looked at, this one is ready to use; there’s no need to dilute or mix, just spray and go!
When your t-shirt is finished, the spray offers a protective finish. Not only will it look great but you will find that the design lasts far longer. This sublimation spray protects against rubbing and fading; your design will not scratch or blur.
DIYGame / SLANZVAL Sublimation Spray
If you are looking for a versatile sublimation spray that can be used on any fabric then this is a great choice. It’s perfect for cotton, polyester, canvas, wood, and much more so you won’t be limited on what you can create. What’s more, this sublimation spray gives an extremely high quality finish that is far brighter and more vibrant that many of the competing products.
You’ll also notice how well the design fares once you have used this spray. It’ll remain just as bright and free from scratches for a much longer time. Plus, the high gloss finish is hugely attractive.
We also love that DIYGame / SLANZVAL poly spray for sublimation is so easy to use. It comes premixed so you don’t have to mess around adding water and is in a spray bottle for super quick and easy application. The spray dries quickly so there’s no waiting around to print and it goes on so evenly.
Also, it’s totally non-toxic and suitable for use on products for children and animals.
Lovely Bamboo Sublimation Spray for Cotton
Some sublimation sprays are only designed to work only on clothing and that can really limit you on what you can create. So when we learned that this one can just as easily be used on a ceramic mug as it can a T-shirt, we got super excited. If it’s versatility you want then this is one of the best products on the market at the moment.
Lovely Bamboo Sublimation Spray
What really caught our eye after using this sublimation spray was how vibrant the design was. There is no smudging, no ghosting, just a super clear, high gloss design that will stand the test of time. Once applied, the design is resistant to scratching, fading, and rubbing so you won’t be left with something inferior after a couple of washes.
The Lovely Bamboo sublimation spray comes in a handle spray bottle so it’s completely ready to use; yes, that means no mixing or diluting required! If you’re in a hurry and just want to get printing, this is great news. Moreover, it’ll dry quickly so you can get your design on that heat press far more quickly. Oh, and did we mention that it’s entirely free from nasty ingredients and is eco-friendly? It couldn’t get any better!
Alternatives to Sublimation Spray
Others option for sublimation printing on dark fabric and cotton fabric involve the use of Heat Transfer Viny (HTV), or Siser EasySubli and EasySubli masks. These are multi-step processes that can also produce good results.
Conclusion
Poly Spray for Sublimation is a literal necessity for printing on cotton and poly cotton blends with less than 40% polyester. They offer other benefits as well.
Using a sublimation spray will help to improve your designs making them longer lasting and resistant to damage. But more importantly, you’ll notice that ghosting and smearing is a thing of the past thanks to these super easy to use sprays.
It’s a good idea to look for products that are in a spray bottle as they don’t usually need to be diluted and they’re easy to apply. However, if you want something that’ll help you do more designs out of one bottle, then concentrated sublimation spray is just what you’ll need.
There are alternatives to sublimation spray which involve quite a few steps and use HTV.
If you need a little help deciding which is the best sublimation spray then our reviews will guide you in the right direction. Whether you’re printing t-shirts, towels, socks, bags, or anything else, these products will take your designs to the next level! So go get creative!
Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
