Glitzy's Eye Sublimation Tutorial

Glitzy’s Guide to Sublimating Eyes for Beginners

You can also use this for minky, which I will cover another time.

Step 1: Gather your Materials

• Printer:  Link here.  This is a cheaper one than what I have but it should work. Any ecotank should be okay! We will be converting a brand new ecotank printer.
• Heatpress:  Link here. This is what I use. Its fairly cheap and accessible. Many makers use a better heatpress and thats fine too. However, this one works great for me and is inexpensive. I will try to pick up a better one soon and do some write-ups
• Sublimation Ink: Link here. You should use HIPPO sublimation ink. Make sure the box you buy comes with syringes and gloves or else you will need to buy those as well.
• Sublimation Paper: Link here
• HeatProof Tape: Link here
• Butcher/ protective Paper: here
• Heatproof Mat: Usually comes with the Cricut Easy Press I linked above. Here.
• EyeMesh: You can buy some from me by dming me I can do $20 for a page of mesh or if you want it faster you can buy some on amazon here. I buy it in bulk because I mess up a lot. if there is interest in getting a group order together, because Im happy to organize something like that for yall.
• Recommended: Adobe Photoshop

Step 2: Set up your Ecotank printer

There is an excellent guide here on how to set it up and also how to add ink. It is recommended that you use it brand new from box. You cannot use this printer for anything except sublimation after you convert it. If you absolutely need to use a used Ecotank printer, then this guide might help you to clean it and convert it for your needs.

Note: Never let the printer update if you can help it.

Step 3: Prepare your computer to handle the printer

Unfortunately if you have much trouble at this stage I cant help much unless you are using Procreate/Photoshop.

3a. Connect your printer to your computer either wirelessly or other. Install any drivers.

3b. Download these ICC Profiles Ive attached and install them. There is a video on how to do this here. (please throw this lady a subscription!)

Step 4: Make your Eyes Digitally

4a.Get the size of the outer rim of your eyeblank opening. So Measure your eyeblanks and then translate that to your drawing program of choice. Go ahead and print out some circles of your eyeshape  to test it out before getting too crazy. You can just print using a normal printer and normal sized paper that matches the size of the sublimation paper (8.5 x11 in)

4b. Create your eyes! If using procreate, make sure to set the colors to CYMK mode.

4c. Send these to your computer, make sure they are uncompressed.

Step 5: Print your eyes

5a. Now its time to print your eyes. Load 1 sheet of sublimation paper into the printer face down.

5b. Go to your computer and opent the file in photoshop or a similar program. Go to Image >> Mode> CYMK

5c. Click print and make sure photoshop is using the ICC profile you downloaded before. Here is my print settings.

5d. Print. Please note the print will look faded, this is normal. Do not panic.

5e. Set the print aside for now,

Step 6: Perform a Head Cleaning on the Printer

Put a normal piece of paper in the printing tray. And go to the printers touch screen. Click Maintenance >>> Print Head Cleaning.

Let the printer do its thing (it takes a few minutes) and leave it alone while you move to step 7. This should be done after EVERY print.

Step 7: Sublimate the eyes (finally!)

7a. Heat your Cricut or heatpress up to 320 degrees Set the timer to 50 Seconds

7b. Lay your heat proof mat down and then put your heat proof paper down on top of it. Tape that down with the heat proof tape. I usually leave this for multiple uses.

7c. Place your eye mesh face up on the paper/heat proof mat

7d. Carefully place the print you want face down on top of the eye mesh and then tape the corners with heatproof tape. This is so that it doesnt slide around. I usually cut my eyes into two separate things in case the eye doesnt come out how i want, I am not wasting mesh.

7e. Place one more sheet of butcher paper over top of the whole thing.

7f. Pick up your heat press by the handle and set it down on top of everything. Do not push, no pressure is needed. The click the counter and let it do its thing for 50 seconds.

7g. Pick up the heat press after the ding, and then put the heat press on its thingie.

Step 8: Revealing your eyes!

8a. Let the eyes cool for about 10 seconds minimum. The mesh will be malleable at that point so be careful. Carefully remove the paper and print from the eye mesh revealing your pretty new sublimated eyes!

And thats it! There are some colors that are harder to print than others, but through experimentation you will find out a lot. Next month Ill try to review some better equipment.

Important Note:

Remember to run maintenance EVERY time after you print for best results. This will cause an issue where the maintenance box will go bad after every 30 or so maintenance. Don't panic, you can by the maintenance box here and its super easy to install.