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A Guide to Choosing the Right Mug for Dye Sublimation
Gus Altmann • Oct 10, 2019
Did you know that coffee mugs are the most popular product to sublimate in the world? They’re an item that everyone uses, whether they’re enjoying a hot beverage or using it for something more unusual (such as a makeshift pen holder).
Making the right choice of mug, however, is not as easy as it seems because blanks are not all created equally. This is why we’ve put together this handy how-to guide to ensure that you’ve made the best choice for your business.
There are many different styles and sizes of dye sublimation mug available, from plain white and matte textured ones through to cool colour changing and jumbo 15oz options. There isn’t really a wrong choice. Once you’ve settled on the style, shape, size and colour of the mugs you want to create, there are a number of other factors that you should consider:
Quality Coating
The ink penetrates through the polymer coating during the dye sublimation process. Therefore, the higher the quality of the coating, the higher the quality of the finished product. The coating should also have been applied as perfectly as possible. Lower grade blanks can have many defects in the surface, which usually comes down to dust or particles underneath the coating that have resulted in ‘pimples’ in the surface.
Dishwasher Fast
Keep in mind that not all coatings are suitable for dishwasher use, which means they will fade when exposed to the high temperatures that a dishwasher produces. Some coatings have been known to fade as quickly as the first wash, whereas others could take 10 to 20 washes before it starts to breakdown.
Don’t be fooled by lower quality coffee mugs that claim to be dishwasher safe but don’t offer a guarantee. We’ve heard all sorts of horror stories from people who have purchased cheap mugs from places like eBay and then been flooded with returns after the print has washed off after only a couple of uses.
Remember to always use mugs that are specifically designed for dye sublimation.
White = Bright
Another thing to remember with dye sublimation is that an accurate colour reproduction is best achieved when working with a white substrate. Choosing a mug with a bright white finish will provide accurate and ultra-sharp prints, as well as brilliant colour reproduction.
If the mugs you’ve chosen are slightly yellow or otherwise discoloured, your finished product isn’t going to have the high quality that you want to sell (or that customers are going to be willing to pay for).
Drink or Decor?
It’s also important to double check that the mugs have been certified for contact with foodstuffs (in other words, that they’ve been certified to be drunk from). Not all blanks will have the required certifications, so this is something that you need to determine prior to printing.
Be sure to check out our range of dye sublimation blanks. Our range has also recently expanded to include more coffee mug colours, as well as plenty of other options (including ornaments, travel mugs and key rings). Got any questions? Give us a buzz!
