Learn how to bleach shirts for sublimation in 7 easy steps. Create unique and personalized t-shirts with bleaching and sublimation techniques.
Sublimation is a popular technique to transfer your designs onto t-shirts, but it usually works best on white or light-colored fabrics. What if you want to sublimate on a dark or colored shirt? Don’t worry. There’s a simple hack: bleaching!
Bleaching shirts for sublimation allows you to create a light-colored area on your shirt where you can sublimate your design. It also adds cool effects and patterns to your shirt, making it unique and eye-catching. For more about best fabrics for sublimation.
Make Bleach Shirts for Sublimation
In this blog post, I’ll show you how to make bleach shirts in 7 easy steps. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need
To bleach shirts, you’ll need the following materials:
- A 100% polyester t-shirt in any color (preferably dark or vibrant)
- A sublimation printer and paper
- A heat press or iron
- A piece of cardboard or foam board
- Bleach (regular or color-safe)
- A spray bottle, a paintbrush, or a stencil (depending on the bleaching method you choose)
- Water and hydrogen peroxide
- Protective gloves, goggles, apron, and mask
- A bucket or sink
Bleach Shirts for Sublimation
Step 1: Print and Cut Your Sublimation Design
The first step is to prepare your sublimation design using software like Photoshop, Cricut Design Space, or Silhouette Studio. You can create your own design or use a ready-made one from online sources. Make sure to format your design as a PNG file and print it on sublimation paper using a sublimation printer. If your plan has words, mirror or flip it horizontally before printing.
Cut it out after printing your design, leaving at least 0.25 inches of white space around the edges. This will prevent any unwanted ink transfer to the shirt.
Step 2: Insert Cardboard into the Shirt
The next step is to insert a piece of cardboard or foam board into the shirt. It will stop the bleach from bleeding through to the back of the shirt and also help you align your design. Iron the shirt on the lowest setting to remove wrinkles before inserting the cardboard.
Step 3: Apply Bleach to the Shirt
Now comes the fun part: applying bleach to the shirt. There are different ways to do this, depending on the effect you want to achieve. Here are some examples:
- Spray bottle method: Load a spray bottle with bleach and spray it lightly over the shirt. You can cover some areas with paper or tape to create some contrast.
- Paintbrush method: Dip a paintbrush in bleach and paint it over the shirt. You can use different brushes and strokes to create different patterns.
- Stencil method: Place a stencil over the shirt and spray or paint bleach. You can use any shape or letter as a stencil, such as stars, hearts, or initials.
Whichever method you choose, apply bleach only to the area where you want to sublimate your design. You can use your printed design as a guide and trace its outline on the shirt with a pencil or chalk.
Step 4: Dry and Rinse the Shirt
After applying bleach to the shirt, leave it in the sun to dry for about 15 minutes. The sun will help activate the bleach and lighten the fabric. You can check the shirt periodically and reapply more bleach if needed.
Once you’re happy with the result, rinse the shirt in cold water and soak it in a bucket or sink filled with water and hydrogen peroxide. This will stop the bleaching process and prevent further damage to the fabric. Leave it for 10 minutes, then wash and dry the shirt normally.
Step 5: Press the Shirt
Before sublimating your design onto the shirt, press it first. This will remove any moisture and wrinkles from the fabric and prepare it for heat transfer. Set a piece of butcher paper inside the shirt and press it with a heat press or iron at 400°F for 60 seconds.
Step 6: Sublimate Your Design onto the Shirt
Now, you’re ready to sublimate your design onto the shirt. Place your printed format face down over the bleached shirt area and align it carefully. Cover it with another piece of butcher paper and press it with a heat press or iron at 400°F for 60 seconds.
Step 7: Enjoy Your Bleached Sublimation Shirt!
Peel off the paper and admire your bleached sublimation shirt! You’ve just created a unique and personalized t-shirt using two techniques: bleaching and sublimation. You can wear it proudly or give it as a gift to someone special.
Explore the world of sublimation and printers with our comprehensive guide, for more information or a step-by-step how-to guide.
Final Words:
Bleaching shirts for sublimation is a fun and easy way to create special and personalized t-shirts. You can transfer any color or design onto a dark or colored shirt.
You only need basic materials and tools, such as bleach, a sublimation printer, a heat press, and cardboard. You can also experiment with different bleaching methods and patterns to create different effects and styles.
Bleaching shirts for sublimation is a great way to express your creativity and personality through clothing. I hope you found this tutorial helpful and inspiring. Thank you for reading! 😊For more about Bleaching shirts.
