Larry Girty, Author at AGC Education

How Many Washes Does Sublimation Last? Tips and Tricks to Preserve Your Designs

Larry Girty on February 7, 2024

If you’re looking for a unique way to customize your clothing or accessories, sublimation printing might be what you’re looking for! This printing technique employs heat and pressure to transfer ink onto the desired item, melding the ink to its surface to create a permanent, vibrant image.

However, like most things, it wears out after a while. But how many washes does sublimation last? Most sublimation designs last considerably longer than iron-on transfers, but the longevity ultimately depends on a handful of factors. Let’s dive into the general lifespan of sublimation designs and how you can create designs that last.

How Long Will Sublimation Designs Last?

Most sublimation designs last years, but the lifespan of your creations will vary depending on three primary factors: the quality of the ink, the type of fabric, and the care and maintenance of the garment.

Quality of Ink

The quality of the ink you use is one of the most important factors contributing to the lifespan of your design. Most cheap or low-quality inks begin to show signs of fading, peeling, and general wear and tear within just a few washes. In contrast, high-quality inks cost more but are designed to withstand the test of time, weathering many washes without peeling or fading.

If you want to create a design that will last, you’ll need to invest in good-quality ink designed for sublimation printing.

Fabric Type

The garment’s fabric type will also significantly affect the longevity of your design. Some fabrics, including polyester and nylon, are more receptive to sublimation ink than others. The ink often adheres better to the fibers of the material, ensuring the design lasts longer without fading or peeling.

These fabrics are commonly used for sportswear and other types of athletic clothing, as durability and moisture-wicking properties are essential. This bodes well for your designs, as they hold well to these fabrics.

Natural fabrics, including cotton, are generally less receptive to sublimation ink, which may cause your design to fade sooner rather than later.

Care and Maintenance

The care and maintenance of your garment will also determine how long your design will last. Although sublimation designs are intended to last quite a while, they still require proper care and washing to keep them in tip-top shape and looking their best.

This typically means washing in cold water, avoiding harsh or caustic detergents and cleaners, and avoiding ironing or drying on high heat. This way, the design can remain bright and beautiful through many washes.

Tips to Create Lasting Sublimation Designs

If you want your sublimation designs to last as long as possible, a handful of tips and tricks can help you preserve the quality and appearance of your designs. Here are a few tips and tricks to get started:

Choose High-Quality Inks

As mentioned, the quality of the ink is one of the most important factors that affect the lifespan of your sublimation design. To ensure that your designs last as long as possible, it’s essential to use high-quality inks that are specifically designed for sublimation printing. These inks are formulated to withstand the heat and pressure of the sublimation process and the wear and tear of everyday use.

Pick the Right Fabrics

Choosing the right fabric is also important when it comes to creating lasting sublimation designs. Polyester and nylon are some of the most receptive fabrics for sublimation ink, often providing more durability than other types of fabrics. However, if you prefer to use natural fabrics like cotton, be sure to choose a high-quality, tightly woven fabric that will hold up well to the sublimation process.

Invest in a Quality Sublimation Printer

Another important factor affecting the quality and longevity of your sublimation designs is the sublimation printer you use. A quality sublimation printer will ensure that the ink is evenly distributed and that the design is fully infused into the fabric, helping to prevent fading, cracking, or peeling over time that could skew your design. Be sure to choose a printer that is specifically designed for sublimation printing, as these models have the tools you’ll need to create beautiful designs.

Follow Proper Care and Maintenance Procedures

Finally, following proper care and maintenance procedures is important to ensure that your sublimation designs last as long as possible. This means washing your garments in cold water, using a gentle detergent, and avoiding high heat when drying and ironing. You should also avoid using bleach or other harsh chemicals, as these can damage the fabric and cause the ink to fade or peel over time.

Kickstart Your Sublimation Journey With AGC Education

The lifespan of your sublimation designs largely depends on the quality of the ink, the type of fabric, and the care and maintenance of the garment. By following our tips and tricks, you can create beautiful, lasting designs that withstand more washes.

If you’re ready to get started with your sublimation journey, we have the supplies you’ll need. From a high-quality sublimation printer to printing supplies, we have you covered. Browse through our sublimation supplies and take the first step toward creating beautiful designs today!

7 of the Best Valentine’s Day Sublimation Designs for Your Classroom

Larry Girty on February 7, 2024

Valentine’s Day is a festivity that rolls around every February to celebrate love, friendship, and admiration. It’s the perfect time of year to spread love and gratitude to your friends, family, and students, even helping your students do the same!

Whether you want to help your students create Valentine’s Day gifts for their loved ones or pass a token of gratitude to your students, sublimation can be the perfect way to do it. The options are endless – from adorable mugs featuring cliche yet cute sayings to colorful greeting cards that share the love.

7 Design Ideas to Share the Love

If you’re ready to spread love, friendship, and admiration in your classroom by creating beautiful items, there’s no shortage of design ideas. But coming up with those ideas can be challenging, so we’re here to help. Here are seven of our favorite Valentine’s sublimation design ideas to wow your students, friends, and family when the holiday arrives:

Love-Themed Mugs With Cute Sayings

It’s hard to go wrong with a cozy, love-themed mug. Pick your favorite cliche saying, such as “Love you a latte,” and paste it on a pastel pink mug. Or, add heart-shaped light strings wrapped around the mug, a simple design that communicates love without being too over-the-top.

Customized School Bags

Customized school bags are the perfect canvas for a Valentine’s Day design. Add adorable line-art hearts and swirls, adding splashes of vibrant pinks and reds across the bag. You could even add a thick brushstroke of red or pink as a backdrop, adding a heart lined in gold atop it.

Printed T-Shirts

T-shirts are a go-to pick for customizable designs for all holidays, including Valentine’s Day. They’re simple and practical and can be adorned with all sorts of designs. Paste an adorable teddy bear clutching a heart with a personalized message or a fuzzy baby animal clutching a rose. The options are nearly endless – go with something personalized to communicate feelings or something simple to keep creating items for your students’ loved ones easily.

Printed Tumblers

Add a splash of color to a plain tumbler, incorporating a wash of pink or red. Spice things up with a gradient hue fading from red to pink, or add sprinkles of gold and gold lettering with a personalized message.

Colorful Greeting Cards

If your students are exchanging Valentine’s Day gifts, colorful greeting cards can be your contribution to the mix. Create customized greeting cards on business cards, or print multiple designs on a single sheet of paper and cut them into smaller cards. Pick a design that reflects your preferences, from adorable Valentine’s Day-themed sayings to vibrant hearts.

Fun Puzzles

Puzzles are an entertaining activity to fill the day, whether your students need something to do during a snowy or rainy recess or something to use in your classroom’s reward system. Around Valentine’s Day, swap out your puzzles for fun-themed puzzles with love-centric designs, such as a cute saying or design. Animals holding vibrant-hued hearts are a great option if you’re looking for a more complex design to stimulate your students’ minds.

Printed Keychains and Lanyards

Many folks tote their keys around with them every day, driving to and from work, running errands, and going to appointments. Since they often have their keys on them, creating a love-filled keychain or lanyard is a perfect way to communicate your love and gratitude. It could be as simple as a red heart on a gold or white background with the person’s name on the other side.

Create a Valentine’s Day-Themed Classroom With AGC Education

Valentine’s Day is a beautiful occasion to spread love, joy, and gratitude to those around us, including our students. With the help of Valentine’s Day sublimation designs, you can create beautiful and personalized gifts that your students will cherish forever. Whether you go for love-themed mugs, customized school bags, printed t-shirts, or fun puzzles, the options are endless. Let your creativity flow and create a Valentine’s Day-themed classroom that will bring a smile to your students’ faces.

With AGC Education, you can get access to all the tools and resources you need to make this Valentine’s Day a memorable one for you and your students. We have everything you’ll need to get started with your themed projects, from the sublimation printer to transfer your designs to the supplies, including lanyards, t-shirts, and tumblers, that act as your canvas.

Poster Printers: 5 Creative Ways to Use Them in Your Classroom

Larry Girty on December 21, 2023

As a teacher, you always look for ways to make learning fun and engaging for your students. One great way to do this is by using a poster printer to create custom posters for your classroom. Posters are incredibly versatile and serve many purposes, from displaying classroom rules to showcasing historical events, science experiments, book reviews, and inspirational quotes.

Let’s explore five creative ways to use a poster printer in your classroom and how it can help keep your students engaged and motivated. So, let’s get started!

1. Classroom Rules

Learning and remembering your classroom rules doesn’t need to be boring. Bland white posters with black lettering are unlikely to catch or hold your students’ attention, especially if you teach easily distractable younger children.

So, keep them intrigued by creating posters that display your classroom rules and expectations in a creative way. Add fun elements to keep things interesting and help the rule board catch your students’ eyes.

For example, if you teach science, you could add cartoon beakers, test tubes, thermometers, and other elements. Or, if you teach language arts, add a splash of intrigue by adding book cartoons, some open and others closed, with funny or artsy cartoons popping out of the “open” books.

Hang them in a prominent place so students are reminded of them throughout the day, like by the door, at the front of the class, or next to a reading corner.

2. Historical Events

Posters are an excellent tool for history teachers. As you progress through the school year, use posters to show which part of history and historical events you focus on. Add real photos or cartoons of significant historical figures alongside a fun fact to help the information stick.

You could even design posters with a map outlining your journey through a historical era. Create a design similar to a game board, with different stops along the way. Add a thumbtack with a “We’re Here” banner to signify where you are in the lesson and keep your students on track.

Not only will this help your students learn about important events, but it will also add color and interest to your classroom.

3. Science Experiments

The science classroom is another great place to use posters. Create posters that display the steps of a science experiment or explain a scientific concept.

For example, if your students are learning about reactions between certain chemicals, use a poster to break apart the steps and why they happen. Suppose you teach your students about the reaction between baking soda and vinegar or the classic “volcano” experiment. You could use a poster to show the steps of the reaction by using an exploded view of the volcano, with little blurbs marking each step of the reaction.

This can be an excellent way to break down the information into easily digestible bits your students can understand.

4. Book Reviews

Do you teach language arts or English? Use your posters to enhance the reading experience! Encourage your students to create posters that review books they have read. Hang them up in the classroom library to help other students decide which books to read next.

Or, if having your students create posters is an overwhelming thought, have them submit forms after reading their favorite books. For example, you could add a sleeve of ready-made forms that ask for the title, overview, and why they liked the story. Have your students submit the forms to another folder, then choose one book review each week to feature.

5. Inspirational Quotes

Adding a splash of motivation can be the perfect way to finish a classroom. Create posters that feature your favorite motivational or inspirational quotes or those that mean the most to you. Rotate the quotes as you like, adding or moving them to keep your students intrigued. You could even rotate a quote at a focal point in your classroom every week and start each Monday with a quick focus on the quote and what it means to your students.

Not only will this help to create a positive classroom culture, but it will also give your students something to think about throughout the day.

Craft Beautiful Custom Posters for Your Classroom

Poster printers offer a range of creative and engaging ways to enhance the learning experience in your classroom. From displaying classroom rules to showcasing historical events, science experiments, book reviews, and inspirational quotes, posters can help keep your students engaged and motivated.

Use colorful and eye-catching designs to create a positive classroom culture and make learning a more enjoyable experience for your students. So, why not invest in a poster printer and explore the many possibilities it has to offer?
If you’re ready to adorn your classroom with custom posters, we have what you need. At AGC Education, we offer a complete range of poster printing supplies, from the best poster printers for schools to the supplies you’ll need to start printing!

5 Glass Sublimation Tumbler Ideas for Christmas

Larry Girty on December 21, 2023

Glass sublimation tumblers can be a unique and thoughtful gift idea for Christmas. With so many customizable designs available, you can create a personalized tumbler for each of your loved ones. From festive holiday designs to personalized name prints and themed designs, there are endless possibilities.

These tumblers are not only a great way to show your loved ones that you care, but they are also a practical gift that they can use all year round. So why not spread some holiday cheer this season with a customized glass sublimation tumbler?

Create a completely custom design in your favorite digital art software or purchase a ready-made design from an online craft store. Once you pick your designs, start crafting! Here are a few glass sublimation tumbler ideas to get the creative juices flowing!

1. Festive Snowman

Create a cute snowman design with a carrot nose, black hat, and red scarf on a white tumbler for a festive holiday look. Or, start with a clear glass tumbler. Start with an unfilled red, green, silver, or gold circle and position the festive snowman in the middle.

You could even add a splash of holiday cheer by creating a festive wreath teeming with ornaments, including a little snowman. Or, use your wreath to draw the eye to an adorable snowman nestled in the middle, almost like a window peeking into a winter wonderland.

2. Merry & Bright

Add the phrase “Merry & Bright” in a fun font and surround it with colorful holiday lights or ornaments for a cheerful design. Or, add an old-fashioned or cartoon-style Santa to spice up the mix, letting his cheery, smiling face add warmth to the design.

Add a splash of contrast with gold or silver metallic flecks or snowflakes meandering down the glass.

3. Winter Wonderland

If you enjoy the holidays but want to steer clear of a Christmas-themed glass, consider our winter wonderland glass tumbler idea.

Create a beautiful winter scene with snowflakes, trees, and a cozy cabin on a light blue or white tumbler for a serene winter wonderland look. Or situate a dimly lit cabin, illuminated only by Edison lights strung across the front porch, in the middle of a deep blue circle to create a focal point.

You could even skip the cabin idea altogether and focus on the beauty of the snowy mountains, highlighting the craggy peaks in the background with snowy trees flanking the foreground. Situate an icy lake in the middle, and let a few snowflakes fall softly.

4. Naughty or Nice

Add the phrase “Naughty or Nice” in a playful font and surround it with cute holiday icons like candy canes or mistletoe. Spice up the design with gold elements, like outlined letters or icons. Add a splash of contrast by starting with a solid white or red tumbler and incorporating a white ornament to help your designs pop.

5. Ho Ho Ho

Create a fun and festive design with the classic “Ho Ho Ho” phrase in bold red and green colors, surrounded by holiday designs like presents or snowflakes. If you prefer to stick with a white and blue theme, set the saying across a brushstroke of wintery blue and outline the white letters in a silvery finish.

6. Name Prints

Adding names to the tumblers is a great way to keep track of which one belongs to each person. Tinker with different fonts and colors to find a beautiful combination that matches your and your loved ones’ aesthetics. Whether you prefer a metallic sheen of silver-lined text or bright pops of blue, red, or green, name prints are versatile enough to match anyone’s preferences.

7. Themed Designs

If you’re gifting glass tumblers to your family and friends, you don’t necessarily have to stick with a Christmas theme. While the Christmas theme can be a great way to inspire holiday spirit, you can branch out and incorporate other fun themes.

For example, suppose your friend loves baseball. Create a fun design with baseball bats, baseballs, and mitts. Add splashes of their favorite colors to spice things up, or tie in the logos of your friend’s favorite baseball team.

Or, if your mom enjoys gardening, add an adorable cartoon succulent nestled in a brightly colored pot. Add a brushstroke of blue across the backdrop to add a splash of color. Or, you could even incorporate a Christmas theme alongside the gardening focus by adding Christmas lights to a little potted tree. It’s up to you!

Create Holiday Magic With AGC Education

If you’re ready to spread a festive splash of holiday cheer, sublimation glass tumblers can be the perfect way to do it! At ACG Education, we have everything you’ll need to get started, from the sublimation printer to the adorable glass tumblers, complete with no-leak bamboo lids and plastic straws. The tumblers feature frosted gradients in various colors, including festive hues like red, green, and blue.

Whether you’re ready to start from scratch on a blank tumbler or add holiday magic to a frosted gradient tumbler with sublimation, we can help! Learn more about our sublimation printers today!