What You Need | Preparation | Design & Print Then Cut | Apply | Care | FAQ 

Sublimation Iron-On Kits let you create vibrant, full-color heat transfer projects that can easily transfer onto any blank, regardless of fiber content or color, with an added special finishing effect like glitter or glow-in-the-dark for one-of-a-kind pillows, t-shirts, totes & more.  

Select options above to learn how to use Cricut Sublimation Iron-On Kits.  

Note: Looking for information about Sublimation Printer Paper only? Click here. 

What You Need

*Print Then Cut compatible, including: Cricut Explore, Cricut Maker, Cricut Joy Xtra, Cricut Joy 2, and Cricut Venture machines.

**The tool that comes in your machine. No specialty blade required.

† Includes sublimation printer paper & iron-on vinyl.

Preparation

→ Pre-wash

Pre-wash fabric base materials without fabric softener to pre-shrink and remove chemicals that may prohibit strong adhesion.

→ Identify

Take a moment to identify:  

• Sublimation Printer Paper: Cricut Sublimation Printer Paper has one printable side, which is white. The pink side is the back.  
• Iron-On Material: Sheets of special effect iron-on – such as glow-in-the-dark or glitter – also come in your kit. These sheets are flexible and come adhered to a clear, shiny liner.
• Printer load orientation: Check your sublimation printer instructions or print a test page on printer paper to ensure you know which way to load the printable side of the material.  

→ Recommendations

• Make a test cut using a small basic shape to verify cut setting.  
• Apply test cut in an inconspicuous area on base material to verify application settings.
• Ensure base material is fully dry before applying your Sublimation Iron-On transfer.

Design & Print Then Cut

→ Design

1. Create your printable design in Design Space.  
   • To learn how to create a printable design, visit How to Print Then Cut in Design Space.
2. Duplicate your design. Then, change the Operation of the duplicate from Print Then Cut to Basic Cut. This layer will be used to cut out the Iron-On “base” for your design.  
   • It should change to a solid color when you change the operation to Basic Cut. This layer will not print; it will cut only.  
3. Your Canvas should now contain a printable design, and a solid color cut-only design. Select Make.
4. Mirror your design. Your project will populate to two mats: One for the Print Then Cut design, which will use the Sublimation Printer Paper, and one for the cut-only design, which will use the Iron-On material from your kit. Choose the Mirror option for both mats.  

→ Print Then Cut Sublimation Paper

1. Following the instructions in Design Space, print your design on your sublimation printer.
2. Allow ink to dry completely (approximately 1 minute).
3. Place printed sublimation paper on Light Grip machine mat, printed side up, and load it into the machine for cutting. Ensure the page is oriented on the mat as it appears in Design Space.
4. Select Browse All Materials, then select the Sublimation Printer Paper setting.
5. Select Go. The machine will scan the cut sensor markings printed on the page, then cut the design.
6. When the cut is complete, select Unload.
7. Carefully remove design from mat and set aside.

→ Cut Iron-On

1. Place iron-on, shiny liner side down, onto Cricut Standard Grip machine mat.  
2. Select Browse All Materials, then select the setting for your iron-on material (Glitter Iron-On or Glow in the Dark Iron-On).
3. Follow prompts in Design Space to load mat/material and blade into the machine.  
4. Select Go.  
5. When the cut is complete, select Unload.
6. Use a weeder to remove excess iron-on from your design, leaving design on the liner.

Apply

→ Preheat the press

Set your heat press to the time and temperature instructed in the Cricut Heat Guide for your specific type of Sublimation Iron-On Kit and blank.

→ Prep the blank

1. Place blank on top of Cricut EasyPress mat or Cricut Pressing Mat.  
2. Use a fresh adhesive to lint-roll the entire surface of the blank.  
3. Preheat application area for 5 seconds to remove moisture and wrinkles that could cause unwanted transfer effects.
4. Remove butcher paper.

→ Apply Iron-On  

1. Place the cut Iron-On design on the base material with the liner side up.  
2. Cover design with a fresh sheet of butcher paper.
3. Press at the time and temperature instructed in the Heat Guide.
4. Remove butcher paper and slowly remove liner when cool to the touch.

→ Apply Sublimation Design

Tips for applying your sublimation design

• Avoid seams when positioning heat plate on your design + blank. Additionally, do not slide the press or move your hands (if using a Cricut EasyPress model) while pressing.  
• Align and secure your design – To help prevent unwanted ink transfer, carefully align your sublimation design with your iron-on shape before pressing. Use Heat-Resistant Tape to keep the design from shifting. You can also place a sheet of white cardstock inside fabric blanks to help protect the back layer and pressing mat from stray ink transfer.

Steps

1. Place sublimation design, printed side down, on top of the iron-on, ensuring shapes are aligned.  
   • Use heat-resistant tape as desired to secure your design.
2. Cover design with a fresh sheet of butcher paper to protect heat plate from sublimation inks.
3. Press at the time and temperature instructed in the Heat Guide.
4. Let cool completely. Then, remove butcher paper and sublimation paper to reveal your design.  
5. Finished!

Care

• Allow 48 hours after application before washing
• Machine wash cold, delicate cycle
• Hang to dry
• Do not bleach
• Do not iron

FAQ