The BEST Way to Sublimate on Acrylic (with Glowforge Tips!)

This video will be your ultimate guide to sublimating on acrylic-with some bonus tips thrown in if you want to sublimate on acrylic that you cut with your Glowforge or other laser cutter. Ever since we first got our Glowforge, we’ve been excited about exploring the intersection between sublimation and laser cutting. But the good news with this video is that you don’t have to own a laser cutter for this to be applicable to you.
We’ve done TONS of testing to figure out the best way to sublimate on acrylic (and with the Glowforge, what size to use for acrylic sublimation keychains and in what order to laser cut/sublimate). This video will give you our BEST tips to get your best sublimation result on acrylic. We cover everything from what kind of acrylic to sublimate on to whether you can sublimate on both sides of acrylic, as well as how to back clear acrylic that you’ve sublimated on.
We’ll cover laser engraving and sublimating in a future video. For now, we hope this sublimation tutorial is helpful. Let us know what questions you have in the comments!
If you're considering buying a Glowforge, you can also get up to $500 OFF your purchase by using our referral code (which will also give us a little something in return):
Glowforge Referral Code to get up to $500 off your purchase: link.justmight...
🛒 TOOLS AND MATERIALS:
(Links = Affiliate Links)
Glowforge Pro: link.justmight...
1/8" Cast Acrylic: shrsl.com/3ib6h
1/4" Cast Acrylic: shrsl.com/3ib6k
16x20 Heat Press: shrsl.com/3mmhx
Sublimation Printer (Converted): amzn.to/3KONC0h
StarCraft Sublimation Ink: shrsl.com/38nlo
JPP Sublimation Paper: link.justmight...
🤑 Use code 9PME6 for 10% off List Price at Johnson Plastics Plus*
Sublimation Paper: link.justmight...
Heat Resistant Tape: amzn.to/3MW1ZBe
Heat Resistant Gloves: amzn.to/3yiiyTN
Magnetic Board (for flattening): link.justmight...
Silicone Mat (for flattening): amzn.to/3MZLR1T
Kettle Bell: amzn.to/3OUzE09
Sponge: amzn.to/3yiAePw
Masking Tape for Laser: amzn.to/3si6aPX
Scraper: amzn.to/3kLjGHG
Keychain Pieces: amzn.to/3yyzDJF
UV Resin: amzn.to/3KQiSMq
White Pigment: amzn.to/3MS9GIK
Popsicle Sticks: amzn.to/3w0TXA8
Mixing Cup: amzn.to/3ynz9pD
UV Light: amzn.to/38WbHoL
Toothpicks: amzn.to/3MVcVPD
Face Mask + Filters - amzn.to/333IS6I + amzn.to/3FZfahR
Cricut True Control (Exacto) Knife: amzn.to/3i64AfJ
Self-Healing Cutting Mat: amzn.to/33lYqTy
Designs Used:
Keychain Bundle #1 (Dog Saying): designbundles....
Tye Dye Keychain Bundle: designbundles....
Beach Keychain Bundle: designbundles....
Affiliate/Program Notifications
We are a participant in several affiliate/influencer programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , which enable us to earn a commission when you click on our links and make a purchase. You don't pay anything extra for the items you buy...we just get credit for referring you! For a full list, go to justmightdiy.c...
*Johnson Plastics Plus Promo code valid through 2022 for unlimited usage. Excludes equipment, ink, fabrication and STB subscriptions 🤑
💰 SUPPORT OUR CHANNEL:
If you found value in this video, click the "Thanks" button below the video, which allows you to make a small monetary donation to help us keep creating content!
Get Social with Us!
📸 Instagram: / justmightdiy
🎬 TikTok: / justmightdiy
👤 Facebook: / justmightdiy
📝 Blog: justmightdiy.com/
🎶 MUSIC ATTRIBUTIONS:
Bubblegum Ballgame - JR Tundra
All My Shuffling - Silent Partner
End of the Rainbow - Quincas Moreira
Southern California - Riot
Happy Mistake - RKVC
⚠️ DISCLAIMER:
Use this information at your own risk. None of the authors or anyone connected with Just Might DIY, in any way whatsoever, can be responsible or held liable for any injuries or damages resulting from your use of the information contained in or linked from the Just Might DIY videos or blog. It is your responsibility to use all tools and materials safely and take all steps necessary to ascertain that information you receive here is correct.
#acrylicsublimation #sublimation #glowforge

[@JustMightDIY]

*Save More at Johnson Plastics Plus with Our 2024 Code!* Our JPPlus discount is now bigger & better! Go to: link.justmightdiy.com/JPP and use JustMightDIY15 for 15% off list price. (Valid through 2024 for unlimited usage. Excludes equipment, ink, fabrication & STB subscriptions.)

[@leviteapparel]

This is amazing I do so many different types of apparel using using different types of machines printers and screen printing. I forgot how wonderful sublimation can be Thank you

[@JustMightDIY]

Thanks so much! We’re glad you like it. Sublimation is SO fun! 😄

[@mindy1208]

You guys are awesome.

[@JustMightDIY]

We really appreciate the compliment! Thank you!

[@Salmonde_At_Home]

I love your tutorial. It gave me some great tips. Since you love the resin backing though I just wanted to let you know you can use white casting resin. It cures in about 10 minutes and it white.

[@JustMightDIY]

We love to look into new ideas! What was the brand of white casting resin you used?

[@JudyAmacherWitherby]

@@JustMightDIY it is casting craft polyurathane resin, it's awesome

[@esmeesmeralda.design]

I love this video! 👌👌👌

[@JustMightDIY]

Yay! We’re so glad.

[@DerekRonin]

very informative and entertaining team!

[@JustMightDIY]

We appreciate that! Thank you for watching!

[@Penguin817]

@JustMightyDIY - Should you have mirrored your image if you were going to cover the back with vinyl or UV Resin?

[@JustMightDIY]

That really depends on if you want a gap between your backing and image or not. We didn't like having that gap. Bumping the image right up to the backing made the image pop more. :)

[@MAHESH1993able]

You guys are awesome very informative videos

[@JustMightDIY]

We're so glad you like them! Thank you for watching!

[@jamieriley6080]

Love your videos guys, they are so helpful. In your opinion, can you use the same transfer paper that you use for t-shirts as you would for hard surfaces like acrylic or coasters?

[@JustMightDIY]

We do use quality sublimation paper with no differentiation for what it's being applied to! Thanks for watching!

[@neoqueto]

I'm gonna be using a Trotec Speedy instead of a Glowforge but thanks for the tips they'll definitely come in handy. Do you think using white paint as backing is a good idea? My goal is to make a "sandwich" with two thinner acrylic sheets with print on each side and hopefully a clear frame around my opaque design. Is that possible? I thought about using opaque white UV glue/resin for that but I'm not sure

[@JustMightDIY]

We're catching up on these comments coming back from our honeymoon, sorry it took so long. We nerve tried to do it like that. Did you give it a try? Let us know what you did / how it turned out?

[@lindsihanchey1749]

Is your Glow Forge able to cut around an image that has already been sublimated on a piece of acrylic? From your video it looked like it was a live image of your piece of acrylic in your glowforge?

[@JustMightDIY]

We did several experiments. The heat the laser has will fade the sublimation closest to the point of contact. Obviously the less power you use the less fade. Yes you can with Glowforge trace image feature

[@Khadija-ph1ms]

How did you get your epoxy dry so fast? I have a UV light and mine doesn't harden fast.

[@JustMightDIY]

Hey! Our UV resin cures in about a minute under the dome light. If yours takes longer, you may want to get a stronger light. Pigments can also effect cure time.

[@RainorShine1]

Wonderful video. Do you know where we can get cast arycil that are circles already that sub like yours and different cut size squares as well. I thought about sub a image on a 5 by 7 aryclic then but in a light base and see how that would work. Or do you know if we can print on glow htv then press on aryclic and how it would come out

[@JustMightDIY]

Hey! You might try Etsy for the acrylic shapes. To get a glow effect, you could sub on clear acrylic and then back it with glow in the dark resin. Hope this helps!

[@WKWenzEnterprises]

Great video! What kind of pressure did you have on the heat press?

[@JustMightDIY]

Thank you! The press was set just below a medium pressure. Happy crafting!

[@kelseyschwab3404]

Super helpful! Do you get the same results from sublimating on white acrylic?

[@JustMightDIY]

Hey! Yes - white acrylic works great - just remember to mirror your image. We show some sublimation on white acrylic in this video, as well as our other acrylic/sublimation video here: How to Laser Engrave on Sublimated Acrylic - kzbin.info/www/bejne/moaumaSubq6Xq80

[@sharonshowman6665]

Have you ever sublimation on sheet if acrylic

[@JustMightDIY]

Hey there! Thanks for watching. We’ve sublimated on a variety of shapes that we cut out of a sheet of acrylic.

[@TheGrantAlexander]

Smokes like a smokey bear? Common now!

[@JustMightDIY]

Clearly, my brain wasn’t working well in that moment. 😂 I was thinking of Smokey the Bear. 🐻

[@aweirdguynamedjeff]

I'm going to judge you for spreading the jump ring instead of twisting it open. I can almost hear Vincent grinding his teeth while you put that together 😬🤣

[@JustMightDIY]

Hahaha - was being lazy and didn’t want to get the other pair of pliers from downstairs. Judgement earned.