How To Sublimate An Image On The Bottom Of A Tumbler (and get a free template!)

Hey, and welcome! In this episode, I’m gonna create some text and sublimate that information onto the bottom edge of a tumbler. The trick is to get the image, both the outer and inner parts the exact size. I’ll create an outer circle and an inner circle to use as my guide, then hide both circles before printing.
I’m not sure about your Photoshop skill level, so I’m just jumping in and creating this image as I normally would. If it’s beneath your skills, please accept my apology. If it seems overwhelming, check out my Photoshop Elements Video Series.
If you’re looking for some unique designs, be sure to check out my digital design website. www.industrial...
And don’t forget to check out our Facebook group, www.facebook.c.... If you enjoy sublimation, just answer a couple of quick questions and join. We’d love to have you!
I hope you enjoy, and if this video helped you, please give it a thumbs up! And also, be sure to subscribe for more fun and (hopefully) informative videos!
Here’s the link to the design for tumbler bottoms. If it’s not the exact size, you can try resizing it, or use this tutorial to make your own! It will be available for download through the end of 2021. Feel free to download and use it! Google Drive file: drive.google.c...
This video is NOT sponsored, and I don’t receive any commissions if you click on any of the links. The links are simply here to help you in your search for more “stuff!”
Links to items I used in this video:
Harbor Freight 4” Digital Caliper: www.harborfrei... (You could probably use this one too, it’s only $1.99): www.harborfrei...
Hot Plate: www.amazon.com...
Digital thermometer: www.amazon.com...
Tumblers: rtssublimation...

[@NanetteFloydPatterson]

Lol…you had me laughing first thing this morning…”If you don’t care…Harold.”🤣. Great info! Thanks.

[@industrialfringe953]

Fantastic! Harold thanks you!

[@JonPri1]

Me too!!

[@Lisa_Zapata]

I use a lil craft iron and it works perfect. The temp is around 350. I just put the iron on it and keep turning it till I see the words through the paper.

[@industrialfringe953]

That’s a fantastic idea!

[@bonghahn6610]

so I improvised and turned my smaller circut easypress upside down on a sturdy base and set temp to 400 for 60 secs. Worked great. Just make sure you make your easypress stable and wear heat gloves. Loved this trick! did a frosted tumbler too 17oz 356 for 70sec holding tumbler firm. Didn't have to guess the accuracy of the temps.

[@industrialfringe953]

That’s fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

[@90jeepgirl]

This is a great idea. One suggestion, you should be able to create a circle and add your words as a path around the outside of your circle and then it will automatically space everything correctly around the circle without having to do each phrase separately. Just an idea and thought I’d share.

[@industrialfringe953]

You’re absolutely right! I’m not a Photoshop pro, and I wasn’t sure I could do that, as Photoshop Elements doesn’t support paths. However, after doing this video (and a little researching), I realized I can do it in Photoshop Elements using shape! Thanks you for bringing it up, and thanks so much for watching!

[@jerridyke8706]

I so like your channel! You teach me-you make me smile-what a great combo! Thanx so much!! 😊

[@industrialfringe953]

Awe, thank you so much! And thank you for watching, learning and smiling! We all gotta smile a little!

[@brooklynscollection]

This is awesome. Finally someone is trying and succeeded. You are freaking awesome

[@industrialfringe953]

Thanks so much!

[@lisacorbitt5984]

I tried it work with my heat press at 410 degrees for 60 seconds. Thank you so much. I am going to try to add my company's name on it as well. Thanks again😀

[@industrialfringe953]

Best of luck, and thanks for watching!

[@brendanurre1517]

Thank you for sharing how to do this and how to do our tumblers better. I appreciate your help and time.

[@industrialfringe953]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@dondeawatson8828]

Good Morning Mr. Roy. How about holding it up agsinst the heat press. Also do you think it could se subbed in the oven while dubbing the tumbler if using shrink wrap? Or do you tjink there would be ghosting?

[@industrialfringe953]

Hi, Dondea! The very first one I tried was holding it against the top of the heat press! It “worked,” but was a little blurry, as it was difficult to hold it still. It may work in the oven, but I wanted to have better control over the process. If you try the oven, I would try to add some weight to the top, maybe a small thin brick? You’d just have to be really careful when removing everything.

[@africats2]

Thanknyou for the template!!!

[@industrialfringe953]

Thank you for watching!

[@maria_g_k9]

Thank you for sharing, great video…I will try with my easy press 🥰

[@industrialfringe953]

Thank you! Let me know how the easy press works! I’ve heard great things.

[@maria_g_k9]

@@industrialfringe953 thank you again from the wonderful tip and template 😃

[@junehess501]

Great idea!!

[@JackieSpivey518]

Quick tip to cut some steps out. Make your smaller circle in white. Click the "effects" button bottom right and select "stroke". It'll give you a black (or whatever color you want) line around the white circle

[@industrialfringe953]

Thanks so much for the tip! I’m still learning Photoshop as well, so any help is greatly appreciated!

[@BobbieBTexas]

Love this idea

[@industrialfringe953]

Yes, it’s a great way to get your branding out! Thanks for watching!

[@brendawootenporter]

great idea! thanks for the file

[@industrialfringe953]

Thanks for watching!

[@georgehorsman6164]

Thought use mini easy press but love your idea great job and love your show

[@industrialfringe953]

Thanks so much, George! Yes, I was thinking it might even work with an iron, but I do like the idea of setting it down on the flat surface. Less work on my part! Thanks again!

[@jerridyke8706]

Like your experiments and your generosity. Thank you for the file!

[@industrialfringe953]

I’m glad you enjoyed! Thanks again for watching!

[@sunnybunny222]

this is really cool...i wonder if a cricut press like the really small one would work. i think you can preset a temperature.

[@industrialfringe953]

I think any flat surface that can remain still and heat up may work! It very well could work! Great idea!

[@TYJ419]

That came out good...! Thanks for sharing. Perhaps when you first start with subbing the bottom that the temp should be about 410 with the expectation that it will drop some after adding tumbler and hopefully it will maintain a consistent temperature of 400. Tracey

[@industrialfringe953]

Thanks! Yeah, at one point I got it to maintain around 405 degrees. But most of the time, it was too high or too low. I think I’ll just set the tumbler on when it’s just at or over 400 and falling. I may also research to see if I can find a hot plate that is digital.

[@TYJ419]

@@industrialfringe953 yeah using a digital burner may work. I suggested started higher because I was thinking in terms of when you're boiling water and after you add the contents the temperature drops but then shortly after it starts boiling fully again. I know a weird analogy but that's how it came to me. Hahaha

[@industrialfringe953]

No, that’s actually a great point. And as someone who can boil water (and not much else), I completely understand!

[@patricespreciouscreations4907]

I love your videos. I am a new business and your videos help a lot. Question? What do you do with the tumblers that you mess up while demonstrating for us?

[@industrialfringe953]

You have great timing! Just take a look at the most recent video I released and let me know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2fEZad_oKx_iaM

[@lindaheidecket3597]

Can you do all at once in the convection oven? Like the main part of the tumbler then the round piece. Use the tac stuff on the round piece and shrink wrap???

[@industrialfringe953]

Great question! I haven’t tried that. My concern would be if the bottom would get enough pressure. Maybe if you put a rock or something he’s in on top of the tumbler? Thanks for watching!

[@pressonnatty2677]

Thanks for video. I do the same it works better with a circular 3Lb weight on it 6-7min, i use a food warmer that gets to about 340deg, i fold the tape to make 2 sided and put in middle of design(weight will cause pressure) then stick on bottom.

[@industrialfringe953]

YES! A weight makes perfect sense! Thanks for watching!

[@srobson8875]

Thanks so much for this video and idea! For my 16 oz straight-sided tumbler I flipped over my Cricut Easy Press... it worked very well. My 20 oz skinny tumblers have an inset. Do you have any suggestions on how to sublimate something like that? I've got the pattern ready, but can't figure out how to get the pressure that I need because of the "lip". I used my Cricut mini press, but the design shifted and blurred on half of it. 🥤Thx

[@industrialfringe953]

I completely understand! My tumblers had the lip as well. The design has to be the exact size to be able to fit within the “ledge.” I also taped my paper down, and the biggest key for me was to be able to set the tumbler down on the surface, put a small weight on it, and not touch it while it’s baking. I don’t know if I mentioned it in the video, but I originally tried to do this using my heat press by holding the cup against the platen. I quickly realized I drink way too much coffee to be able to hold it perfectly still on an angle…upside down! Thanks for watching!

[@wickedstang2003]

Great idea! Queation does photoshop elements have a off set text feature (shadow on text) I'm looking for a new design program.. i need more features and designability then the free silhouette or cricuit gives you (cricut would be good if you could export your designs)

[@industrialfringe953]

Hey, Robbie! Yes, Photoshop Elements will allow drop shadows, beveling, glowing and strokes to text and objects. An I just looked, and it’s on sale right now for $59! www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

[@VanTekConsulting]

Tape won't pull the design off once it's been set. Additionally, to can add designs to an item that's been sublimated. Example: a mug with a logo on one side, you can add a name to the back with no affect on the original. I'm new to sublimination, so I'm pushing the limits to see what I can actually do. I also use 400 for ceramic and 350 for these tumblers, and getting amazing results. Last thought, maybe a plate press would work better than the hot plate. Thanks for the vids.

[@industrialfringe953]

Thanks for the note! You’re absolutely correct, tape won’t pull the design off. But there are some tapes that leave a nasty residue and can actually permanently become part of the design. Yikes! And yes, you absolutely can add a name or other design/image to a substrate that’s already done, but you do have to be careful that the new heat doesn’t fade the existing already set ink. And you’re absolutely correct, a plate press would work wonderfully! (I suggested the hot plate as they’re free standing and pretty cheap.) Thanks so much for watching!

[@martinjones5725]

good idea!

[@industrialfringe953]

Thank you, Martin! There are certainly a few ways to do this.

[@lrdslugo]

I love your page. Do you have a video for inside mug

[@industrialfringe953]

Thank you! I don’t have any videos on subbing inside a mug. I’m not so sure the insides are sublimatable, but I’ll certainly look into that! Thanks for watching!

[@MileyonDisney]

I don't know, but aren't sublimated tumblers dishwasher safe? Why would you say to hand wash only? Again, I don't know - just asking so I can understand. I just sublimated my second tumbler, so I know very little, still. Thanks!

[@industrialfringe953]

Yes, they ‘should’ be. To be safe, I always suggest hand washing. (I live in central Florida and keep mine in my car for days, and they’re fine, but I also suggest people “Avoid Extreme Heat!”) Thanks for watching!

[@kimberlyarmstrong2929]

I haven't tried it yet, but I have seen this done with the Cricut Mini Press (or similar from Amazon).

[@industrialfringe953]

Yes, I’ve seen them done with those as well. Carlos, a subscriber who joined the Facebook group used a generic press he bought off eBay, and the tumbler just sits on the inverted press!

[@lisasansone3646]

I'm a little confused if you submit the cup up after you've done the bottom won't the heat from that already make the bottom fade if you do the bottom 1st?

[@industrialfringe953]

Lisa, thanks for asking! I actually talk about this towards the end of the video, and suggest subbing the tumbler, then adding the design to the bottom. But I ended up having good luck doing it both ways. In the end, I’d rather the bottom fade just a little over the bottom portion of the tumbler. Of course, the perfect answer is that neither fades! My final way was to sub the tumbler first, then add the bottom design. Thanks so much for watching!

[@lynnmuller2511]

Hi, plz, What the font name at the thumbnail for words: sublimate...?

[@filigroove]

the tiny craft iron works also

[@industrialfringe953]

Great to know! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for watching!

[@craftavenuecreations4931]

I just got my hot plate today! Did you find which setting gave the closest to 400 degrees?

[@industrialfringe953]

You know, I have to keep adjusting throughout the process. And on my heat plate, it’s a little different each time, which drives me crazy! I try to get it close to 400°, then lower it just a bit so it drops during the sublimation. Thanks for watching!

[@laverngordon]

Thank you I just download the long but what size to print them out?

[@industrialfringe953]

You should print at 100%. That’s what they were saved to be able to print! Thanks for watching!

[@laverngordon]

@@industrialfringe953 ok thank you so much I'll keep you updated as soon as my sublimation printer gets here and I print and press mine

[@gerrywolfe2549]

Is this still a good hot plate to get? I’ve been wanted to add to the bottom of my tumblers.

[@industrialfringe953]

It’s worked well, but it’s hard to dial in the correct temperature. If you can spend more money, one with a a digital temp gauge would probably be better. But still don’t rely on a digital readout! Always confirm with a infrared thermometer!

[@gerrywolfe2549]

@@industrialfringe953 thank you. I do have a infrared thermometer, but I will certainly check out a digital one.

[@CS-PROD-i3s]

I know this is an old video but please adjust the distortion on the text when you do this. It looks so much better when the text is aligned with the curve.

[@industrialfringe953]

Absolutely!

[@samanthaserie3257]

I know its been a year since you posted. Super fun, but as I’m watching you hold the cup to the hot plate that’s sitting on the cool side of the clam shell, why don’t you just hold the bottom of the cut to the hot side of the clam shell? HeHe , just a thought…

[@industrialfringe953]

It’s funny you should ask! I tried that first! I found that I wasn’t able to hold it still enough, but on the hot plate, it was easier.

[@janettagagnon3245]

Did you find a hot plate that works? I bought one, and even on the lowest setting it burned within seconds

[@industrialfringe953]

I recently switched to adding any text to the bottom of tumblers with a laser. But I never switched hot plates. I just had to ride that temperature and use the heat gun pretty much the entire time. I hope it works out for you. You may have to adjust the heat during the sublimation process. Thanks for watching!

[@jinnytripp9940]

Could you just add it to the sublimation of sides with shrink wrap to add pressure?

[@industrialfringe953]

You could certainly try, but I’m not sure you’re gonna get enough consistent pressure. If you try, let me know how it works out!

[@jinnytripp9940]

I have another question have you tried to add a logo to the center where that silver tape is? Also how does hold up to sublimation of your design after?

[@hopemack7701]

Do you think the cricut mini press would have worked

[@industrialfringe953]

I’m sure it would. I think the trick is to have a heating surface that you can set the tumbler on (& maybe weigh it down). I found that I would get slight smudging if I tried to hold it still. Of course I drink way to much coffee, so that doesn’t help! Thanks for watching!

[@keronaus6914]

It just came to me that you could use a plate heat pad attachment

[@industrialfringe953]

That may work! I don’t have one of those, but if I get one, you bet I’ll try! Great idea!

[@stephanieguss]

I don't have photos photoshop. Could you possibly show how to do this is silhouette?

[@industrialfringe953]

Boy, would I love to! I’m not familiar enough with Silhouette yet, but I know I need to get with the program and learn the program! Thanks for watching!

[@stephanieguss]

@@industrialfringe953 I actually think Canva might be easier.

[@raymondgonzalez4878]

😂 Hi Harold.

[@industrialfringe953]

HA HA HA!!!!

[@keronaus6914]

Couldn't you put butcher paper over the top and push it against your top plate of the heat press?

[@industrialfringe953]

Hi! I tried that first, but I couldn’t keep the tumbler from shifting. I must have been shaking from too much coffee!

[@rustyneuron]

Has anyone tried to do this with a ceramic mug. I want to sublimate on the bottom and I can't find reliable information as to whether the bottom of a ceramic sublimation mug is even poly coated, let alone an actual technique to sublimate my brand name efficiently and cost effectively onto bottom of mug. This is a real obstacle for people like me who want to build a design brand and put my brand name on the bottom of each mug I make. If anyone could help I'd appreciate it. If someone could just tell me if the bottom of a ceramic mug is even poly coated it would be a start . . . . .

[@industrialfringe953]

That’s a great question! While I don’t know the answer, I’ll certainly look into it! And if I find out it can be done, I’ll make a video! Thanks for watching!

[@fayeb1376]

how come links dont show up?

[@industrialfringe953]

I’m not sure. I just used my wife’s account and pulled this video upon her computer, and all the links worked. Maybe try a different computer/browser?

[@hrivera72rivera39]

😂😂. Harold 😂😂😂

[@industrialfringe953]

Yes?! HA! Harold says thanks for watching!

[@lowwifedesigns7743]

Couldn't you just hold it up to your heat press ??

[@industrialfringe953]

I know I drink too much coffee, but for the life of me, I just couldn’t hold it still enough and I got ghosting. Believe me, that was the first way I tried! I found that if I could set it down and not move it, I got much better results. Thanks for the question, and thanks for watching!