Sublimation Blankets Ideas: How To Make Photo Designs

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY FREE SUBLIMATION BLANKET IDEA DESIGNS

First, download my Sublimation Blanket Ideas designs from my free library -- look for Design #574. Alternatively, you can use the Save This Project form near the top of this post and the design link will be emailed to you.

There are many designs in the PNG folder: heart shapes in different colors that align with the border flowers, flowers in a heart shape, two single flowers, a flower bunch, several single hearts, and groups of hearts using different color patterns. You can customize and print them using Cricut Design Space.

I used an AI art generator to create the designs, then made them even more fantastic with image editing software. If you want to learn more about the process, check out my workshop on creating and using AI-generated art in your crafts.

TIP: If you’re not sure how to upload, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs to learn how to unzip and upload files to Cricut Design Space.

STEP 2: PREPARE AND PRINT YOUR DESIGNS

MEASURE YOUR GRID OPENINGS

1. Check if the blanket manufacturer has listed the opening sizes on the packaging so you can size your images to fit.

2. Some of my grids were uneven, so it’s a good idea to measure the height and width of each one just in case. The fabric is stretchy, so make sure each grid is flat but not stretched during measuring.

3. If you want an image to completely fill the white space, you’ll need to make the pieces large enough to overlap the grids where they’re farthest apart.

NOTE: It’s OK if the grid opening is larger than your printer can create. We’ll tile the photos in Cricut Design Space to make them print on 8.5” x 14” paper and then reassemble them before pressing. This is also a good time to plan your design by deciding how many boxes you want to fill with photos and which other design elements you want to put in the other spaces.

CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

1. Open Cricut Design Space and click “New Project.”

2. Click “Upload” and then “Upload Image.”

3. Click “Browse.”

4. Select the photo you want to use.

NOTE: Use a large, high-quality photo since you’ll need to print it very large to fill a grid opening.

5. On the Upload Image screen, click “Complex” and “Continue.”

6. Click “Apply and Continue.”

7. Select “Print Then Cut Image” and click “Upload.”

8. On the next screen, select your image and click “Add to Canvas.”

NOTE: You may see a low resolution warning even after resizing your image, and that's OK. It will print just fine at the size needed for the Sublimation Blanket. However, I don't recommend enlarging these images for larger projects.

9. Click the “Shapes” icon.

10. Select a free Square to add it to the Canvas.

11. With the Lock icon closed, adjust the Square’s dimensions to match the open spaces in the blanket's grid.

NOTE: The grid openings in my tests varied, but were all smaller than 10.5” square, so I used 10.85” as my template dimensions so some of the image would overlap with every edge of the grid opening.

12. Use the Operation dropdown to change the square to “Guide” so you can see through it and it won’t be part of the final design.

13. Drag the Square over the image so the subject is within the shape.

14. With the Lock icon closed, drag a corner of the photo’s bounding box to resize the subject, if needed, so it fits in the square.

15. Hold the Shift key to select both the Square and the image.

16. Click “Slice.”

17. Delete the excess image Layer.

18. Select the Square guide.

19. Click the lock icon to open the proportions.

20. Change the “W” (width) field to be half that of the grid square plus .2” for a small overlap.

21. Select the image and Click “Duplicate,” then move the copy aside for now.

22. Hold the Shift key to select both the Guide and the original image.

23. Select “Align” and “Align Left” to begin moving the Guide into position.

24. Then select “Align” and “Align Top” to get the final position to cover the left half of the original image.

25. Click “Slice.”

26. Delete the excess original image outside the Guide.

27. Use Steps 21-26 to Slice the Guide out of the duplicate image, but use “Align Right” (instead of "Align Left") so you create the right half of the image.

28. If there is a red warning icon on the first Layer in the Layers Panel, click it.

29. Make sure the paper size shown matches your 8.5” x 14” material. If not, click “Change Page Size” and adjust it.

30. Now add any of the other design elements you'd like to print to the Canvas, changing sizes and quantities as needed.

31. Your designs are ready for printing.

32. Make sure the correct machine is selected in the top right.

33. Click “Make.”

34. If prompted, click "On Mat," choose your mat size, and click “Confirm.”

35. On the Prepare Screen, make sure your Material Size is set to “8.5 in x 14 in (Legal).”

36. Click “Mirror” for each mat since we’ll apply the designs face down.

37. Select the first mat and click “Continue.”

PRINTING

1. On the Make Screen, select the first mat with half of your picture and click “Send to Printer.”

2. Select your printer from the Printer dropdown.

3. Toggle “Add Bleed” off since we don’t want extra ink around the photo pieces.

4. Toggle “Use System Dialog” on.

5. Click “Print.”

TIP: You may need to minimize or move your Design Space window to see the print dialog window. It sometimes appears behind Design Space. Each printer is different, so consult your printer's user guide for additional support.

6. The print dialog box should have the correct printer selected, the Media set to “Photo Matte Paper,” and the Quality set to “Best.” “Flip Horizontally” should be unchecked.

NOTE: Your screen and settings may look different, but use mine as a guide to pick the closest options you have available.

7. Make sure the sublimation paper is loaded correctly in your printer.

8. Click “Print.”

9. Set the print aside to let it dry. Be careful not to smudge it.

10. Use Steps 1-9 to print the other half of the image.

11. Use the same settings to print the other sheets for your design.

NOTE: If you’re adding heart or flower elements that won’t completely fill the grid opening, keep “Add Bleed” turned off because you don’t need the extra ink around their edges either.

12. We’ll cut the pieces by hand, so you can close Cricut Design Space.

CUTTING

1. Place the left half of one of your photos face up on a self-healing mat.

2. Put your safety ruler along the right side of the image so just a little ink is visible beyond the edge.

3. Align the photo’s top and bottom edges with marks on the ruler to make sure your vertical cut will be straight.

NOTE: Make sure the protective vertical piece on the ruler is between your fingers and the edge that you’ll cut. Once the ruler is in place, you can press down to keep it and the paper in place due to the non-slip material on the ruler’s bottom.

4. Hold the craft knife in your dominant hand and keep the ruler in place with your other hand. Make sure your fingers and nails remain on the other side of the vertical protective piece.

5. Use your craft knife to trim away the excess paper along the ruler’s edge.

6. Then, place the right half of the image face up on the self-healing mat.

7. Place your ruler so the cutting edge is between the image’s left side and the vertical sections of the black registration marks.

NOTE: We want to leave some white paper to the left of the image for the overlap, but we need to remove the registration marks so they don’t bleed through.

8. Make sure your fingers are protected by the vertical piece on the ruler and safely cut away the excess paper.

9. Align the image halves with the white edge underneath.

TIP: You can use the black horizontal lines or top and bottom edges of the paper to help with alignment, but they aren’t always consistent, so using the image itself is most reliable.

10. Once the image looks perfect, use heat-resistant tape to secure the seam section below the image on the front of the paper.

11. Smooth along the seam to make sure there are no bubbles and the image remains aligned.

12. Then tape the top section above the photo.

13. Carefully flip the paper and tape the image seam with heat-resistant tape on the back side.

14. Press the seam with your scraper tool or fingernail to smooth any gaps and really secure the halves together.

15. Flip the paper and use your ruler and craft knife to trim all the white and registration marks away on all four edges, even if you need to remove a bit of ink

16. Use the same process to prepare any other large images.

17. Cut the rest of the designs apart with scissors and feather their edges.

STEP 3: PREPARE AND PRESS THE GRID SUBLIMATION BLANKET

CAUTION: Good ventilation is important any time you use sublimation. Have your windows open and a fan going to help the fumes dissipate quickly. And don’t breathe in very close to the project while it’s still warm.

NOTE: Your design’s colors will be influenced by the printer profile you use and will not exactly match what is on the printed paper. It’s a good idea to sublimate a test design on some scrap white polyester fabric using these steps before moving to your final project.

1. Set your heat press to the correct temperature and time. According to my Sublimation Cookbook, the EasyPress 2 needs to be set at 385°F (196° C) for 60 seconds with light pressure for polyester fabric.

2. Lay out the blanket face up, making sure it’s not stretched or wrinkly.

3. Place your pressing mat on the pressing area.

4. Put the first design area face up on the covered mat.

5. Lint roll the first design area to remove dust or debris.

6. Put fresh white butcher paper on top of the design area to protect the fibers from the heat press.

NOTE: The black grids on my blanket were sublimation ink, so make sure they are completely covered to avoid transferring ink to your press if it reactivates.

7. Lightly press the design area for 5 seconds to remove excess moisture from the material, and smooth out any extra wrinkles.

8. Put white cardstock under the blanket to protect the pressing pad from excess ink.

NOTE: While I didn’t experience ink going through the blanket, some fabrics might behave differently.

9. Use your hand to brush the blanket’s fibers all in one direction so the ink sublimates a smoother, more consistent surface.

10. Gently adjust the blanket so the open grid area is on the covered pressing mat and the fabric isn’t stretched at all.

NOTE: The grid boxes in my tests did not have straight lines and are very easy to skew. Focus on getting the fabric to lay flat.

11. Place the design face down so the image is correctly oriented for the blanket design.

NOTE: Since the grid lines are wavy, do your best to completely cover the white blanket area without stretching or moving the fabric.

12. Tape the design in place with heat-resistant tape so just a little bit touches the grid lines on the blanket.

NOTE: The tape lifted some of the black in my tests, so the less the tape touches the grids, the less it will be impacted.

13. Place a fresh piece of butcher paper on top of the blanket and taped design so the entire grid is covered.

14. Press the design with light pressure for 60 seconds at the correct temperature.

15. After pressing, allow the design to sit for approximately 10 seconds to help prevent ghosting. Remove the butcher paper, tape, and transfer sheet to reveal the first photo on your blanket.

16. Add more design repeats all over the blanket’s front.

NOTE: Remember to move the pressing pad as needed, lint roll and pre-heat the design area, always secure the design with heat-resistant tape, cover it and the grid lines with fresh butcher paper, and don’t let your heat press get too near existing designs or the ink could reactivate. The ink may not fade but will transfer to the butcher paper, and it’s likely to transfer if you use the same butcher paper again.

NOTE: When you get to a design that is larger than your heat press, press it in sections with the least amount of overlap.

STEP 4: SHOW IT OFF!

Here is what my finished grid sublimation blanket looks like!