• Coated ceramic mug, P30 per pc
• Coated sports bottle, P80 per pc
• Dye sublimation transfer paper, P500 per 100 sheets
• Thermal pad extension, P500 per pad
• Heat resistant tape, P500 per 30m roll
• Dye sublimation ink, P900 per 100ml bottle
• Mug heat press machine
  

*There are suppliers offering starter packages containing all these materials. Graficad Creation, for instance, offers a mug heat press package for around P30,000 inclusive of VAT. The package contains a complete setup, including mugs and a desktop printer.

Each sheet of the transfer paper can be used for 3 photographic mugs or sports bottles. For every 100ml bottle of dye sublimation ink, you can produce 450 mugs or sports bottles.

PROCEDURE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC MUG

Step 1. Create a design or make use of available graphic art. Some clients already have their own concept and designs, but others will ask you to design it for them. Then print the design on the dye sublimation transfer paper. Make sure you load the printer with the dye sublimation ink.

Step 2. Wrap the transfer paper around the mug, with the design facing the mug. Make sure you're using a coated mug or a coated sports bottle; otherwise, the ink won't transfer properly unto the surface.

Step 3. Secure the transfer paper with the heat-resistant tape.

Step 4. Put a plain mug (not the one you're designing) into the mug holder of the mug heat press just to absorb its heat during the pre-heating stage. Set the mug heat press at 180⁰C and preheat it for 3 to 4 minutes. When the heat reaches a temperature of 180⁰C you can already use it  continuously if you're making many mugs in one go.

Step 5. Replace the plain mug with the one wrapped with the transfer paper. Heat it for 3 minutes. As a rule, 90 percent of the ink should be transferred onto the mug, with the remaining 10 percent staying on the paper.

Step 6. Remove the mug from the machine and let it cool down before peeling off the transfer paper.  

PROCEDURE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC SPORTS BOTTLE:

Follow the same procedure used in doing photographic mugs from Step 1 to Step 4.

Step 5. Since a sports bottle is narrower than a mug, you need to put the thermal extension pad on the heat press. Then you need to preheat the machine again so that the thermal pad will also be heated.

Step 6. Put the sports bottle that has been wrapped with the transfer paper unto the mug holder of the heat press machine. Heat it for 3 minutes. If your design extends to the top of the bottle, turn the bottle upside down and heat it for another 3 minutes.

Step 7. Remove from the machine and let it cool down before peeling off the transfer paper.

Where to buy supplies:
Graficad Creation Inc.
Unit 208 Richville Corporate Center, 1314 Commerce Ave. Extension
Madrigal Business Park, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Telephone: (02) 771-1959; 772-1378 to 79
Fax: (02) 772-1380
Email: sales@graficad-inc.com
Website: www.graficad-inc.com
 

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